Latest news with #Waites
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Historic laundry given fresh coat
Katy and Greg Waite are pleased with renovation work on their Tees St premises. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A historic Oamaru site has been given a fresh new look, thanks to a Heritage New Zealand grant awarded to longtime traders and residents Greg and Katy Waite. The New Zealand Heritage Fund, administered by the Waitaki District Council, allocates $100,000 annually for historic site conservation as part of the council's Long-Term Plan. In the funding round closing April 28, three grants were awarded to heritage building-owners Michael and Glenys Roche, Pascal Brosnahan and Greg and Katy Waite. Of the $12,753 allocated, the Waites received $5253 for site repainting and restoration. The Waites have spent over 50 years in the antiques and art industry and own 8 to 12 Tees St, their home, gallery and business all located in Oamaru's historic precinct. The site is also home to their two boutique accommodation businesses, The Whitestone and The Whitfield, both of which operate at full occupancy from October through May. The buildings, once home to New Zealand's first Chinese laundry, have undergone careful restoration by the Waites. The final step in the couple's restoration was the paintwork, which began in early May. Mr Waite said scaffolding was erected on May 1, with paintwork carried out over the following three weeks. He said he applied for the funding but proceeded with the restoration at his own expense, uncertain if and when the grant would be approved. As part of the application process, Mr Waite obtained multiple quotes from various contractors and included them with his submission. This meant Mr Waite could begin painting the rear of the building with his preferred contractor immediately and complete the front work while awaiting the grant decision. The grant was later approved and covered part of the project, an outcome Mr Waite described as "fabulous". "It covered all the scaffolding," Mr Waite said. "It's fantastic we're getting the support." Mr Waite said he opted for a neutral light cream paint to complement the building's historic surroundings. The next round of Heritage New Zealand funding opened for applications on July 7 and will close September 8. — APL Student Reporter
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peter Hubbard defeats Keisha Waites in Democratic Georgia PSC primary
The Brief Peter Hubbard defeated Keisha Waites in the Democratic runoff for Georgia Public Service Commission District 3 and will face Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in November. The race centers on rising Georgia Power bills, utility accountability, and expanding access to green energy alternatives like solar and battery storage. All five PSC seats are currently held by Republicans; voters statewide will decide two seats in the 2024 general election. ATLANTA - Peter Hubbard emerged victorious Tuesday in the Democratic runoff for Georgia Public Service Commission District 3, defeating former state lawmaker Keisha Waites to claim the party's nomination in a low-turnout election centered on rising energy costs and representation, according to the Associated Press. PREVIOUS: Runoff to decide Democratic nominee for Georgia's Public Service Commission What we know The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates electric and natural gas utilities across the state, including Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light. Hubbard now advances to face Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in the November general election. The runoff was triggered after no candidate received a majority in the June 17 primary. Waites led that three-way race, but Hubbard built a decisive lead in metro Atlanta counties Fulton and DeKalb, according to unofficial returns posted by the Georgia Secretary of State's office. The five-member PSC has been fully controlled by Republicans. Hubbard, a longtime advocate for green energy, pledged to bring change. He claims that he will fight for seniors, low-income households and for all those who deserve a lower power bill. The backstory The PSC's decisions have had direct impact on Georgia residents' monthly energy bills. Georgia Power customers have seen their bills increase six times in recent years, driven by rising fuel costs, infrastructure investments, and the costly expansion of Plant Vogtle's nuclear reactors. A typical customer now pays more than $175 a month, including taxes. Hubbard supports a transition to solar power backed by battery storage, rather than continued expansion of natural gas generation. Waites campaigned on the need for representation of Black voters and Democrats on the commission. Both candidates criticized current commissioners for failing to rein in Georgia Power's rising charges. What they're saying Waites conceded Tuesday night in a message to supporters and urged unity heading into the general election. She said she would support Hubbard in November in a "shared vision for a Public Service Commission that truly serves the public." By the numbers 100,000+: Turnout in the runoff, about 1% of Georgia's 8 million registered voters $175+: Average Georgia Power residential monthly bill, including taxes 2.3 million: Georgia Power customers served statewide 5: Number of Republican-held seats on the Public Service Commission What you can do Georgia voters will weigh in on two PSC seats in the upcoming election. In addition to District 3, voters will choose between incumbent Tim Echols (R) and Democrat Alicia Johnson (D) in District 2. Although candidates must reside in their district, all Georgia voters cast ballots for all five commission seats. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election Day in Georgia: What to know about Public Service Commission runoff
Polls open at 7 a.m. in Georgia as voters decide which Democratic Public Service Commission candidate will get the chance to contend against incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson in November. Here's what to know about Tuesday's election. The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member panel of energy regulators which reviews proposals from electric companies such as Georgia Power. All five members are elected, and while they each represent certain districts, all Georgians get to vote on each race. The proposals that the PSC votes on outline how much the company plans to charge customers for electricity and where the company will get its energy — whether from solar, natural gas, coal, batteries, hydropower, or other sources. The runoff election is between between former state lawmaker Keisha Waites, and energy consultant and expert Peter Hubbard. Waites and Hubbard were the top two vote-getters in the primary last month, but didn't secure more than 50% of the vote, so a runoff is required by Georgia law. Waites received 57,800 votes, Hubbard received 41,832. Hubbard has a nonprofit, the Georgia Center for Energy Solutions, which consults on electric utility Integrated Resource Plans. He has testified on Georgia Power's Integrated Resource Plans for six years, across four different plans from 2019 to 2025. 'I'm an expert in the subject matter,' he said. 'You need an energy expert to be able to understand all the ways that that costs are being shifted onto residential rate payers and customers like me and you, and that's what I bring is that 15 years of experience in the energy industry putting together power plants of what to build and retire, understanding the different mechanisms and ways that in a rate case you can shift costs.' Waites is a seasoned public servant, which she argues is what makes her the better candidate. She also has established relationships with sitting commissioners. 'I have nearly two decades of public service,' she said. 'I spent 15 years serving with the federal government: 10 in the Department of Homeland Security, and another five years working for the SBA, writing disaster assistance loans for businesses and corporations.' Who's in the Georgia PSC primary runoff? 'Energy future is on the ballot' Georgia residents can find their polling place online by visiting Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Runoff to decide Democratic nominee for Georgia's Public Service Commission
The Brief Voting has begun in the Democratic runoff for one of the seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission. Keisha Waites and Peter Hubbard are the two candidates remaining in the race, which has seen extremely low turnout despite the importance of the commission in overseeing utility rates. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson, who ran unopposed in the primary and has been on the commission since 2021. ATLANTA - Georgia voters will head back to the polls on Tuesday to pick which Democratic candidate will be on November's ballot for one of the posts on the Georgia Public Service Commission. The commission oversees utilities, including Georgia Power. The backstory Keisha Waites and Peter Hubbard are competing in a runoff after neither won a majority on June 17. Waites earned 47% of the vote, while Hubbard received 32% in the three-way race. Under Georgia law, when no candidate wins a majority, a runoff is required to choose a winner. A green energy advocate, Hubbard touts his experience testifying before the commission and developing alternative plans that emphasize a shift toward solar power stored in batteries, rather than building more natural gas plants. Waites is a former state House member and former Atlanta City Council member. She emphasizes that she would give representation to Black people and Democrats on the commission. In a statement Wednesday, Waites said her previous experience in office would help her work with others to lower rates. Dig deeper Turnout was exceedingly low in early voting, and fewer than 100,000 voters are likely to decide the nominee. Debate has centered on bills charged by Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Co. Georgia Power customers have seen bills rise six times in recent years because of higher natural gas costs and construction projects, including two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta, and other factors. A typical Georgia Power residential customer now pays more than $175 a month, including taxes. The commission sets rates and oversees generation plans for Georgia Power, which serves 2.3 million customers statewide. The five-member commission, currently all Republicans, also oversees some natural gas rates for Atlanta Gas Light and Liberty Gas. Georgia usually doesn't have statewide elections in odd-numbered years, but these were pushed back after elections were delayed by a lawsuit that unsuccessfully challenged the statewide voting scheme as discriminatory towards Black people. No Georgia Public Service Commission elections have been held since 2022 because of the lawsuit. What's next The winner of the primary will face incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson, who ran unopposed in the primary. Johnson was appointed to the commission in 2021 by Gov. Brian Kemp and has never faced voters. He was originally scheduled to run in 2022 for the last two years of his predecessor's term . Instead, the District 3 winner can run again next year for a six-year term, after lawmakers rewrote the terms. In the District 2 Republican primary, incumbent Tim Echols won the primary. Echols has been on the Public Service Commission since 2011. Echols will face Democrat Alicia Johnson, who ran unopposed in the primary, come November. The Source Information for this article came from previous FOX 5 stories and a report by the Associated Press' Jeff Amy.
Axios
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Georgia runoff to decide Democratic PSC candidate
Georgia voters will decide Tuesday which Democrat will get a shot at influencing energy policy and energy bills. Why it matters: The Georgia Public Service Commission has authority to set electricity rates and promote clean energy. Nearly every debate involving solar power, high energy bills and kilowatt-chugging data centers will involve the regulatory agency's five commissioners. Driving the news: Clean-energy advocate Peter Hubbard is battling former Atlanta City Council member Keisha Waites for the District 3 Democratic nomination. Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm. Find your polling place at My Voter Page, and remember to bring a valid photo ID. Catch up quick: Waites won 46% of the June 17 primary election vote count, just below the majority threshold required to win outright. Hubbard trailed by more than 16,000 votes, earning roughly 33% of the vote. Zoom in: Waites stepped down from her City Council at-large post to run an unsuccessful campaign for Fulton County Superior Court Clerk. She also served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. Hubbard, who has intervened at the PSC to challenge Georgia Power rate hike requests, is endorsed by Georgia Democrats including former Gov. Roy Barnes and three of Waites' former City Council colleagues. Yes, but: The PSC's recently approved deal with Georgia Power to freeze electricity rates for three years won't do anything to stop Georgia's insatiable hunger for electricity. Georgia Power says the utility might need to add the output of roughly eight nuclear reactors to meet peak energy demand by 2031, the AJC reports. Consumer advocates, environmental groups and PSC staff question whether Georgia Power is overestimating that rising demand. Georgia Power customers' bills have jumped an average of $43 per month since 2023 thanks to rate hikes approved by the all-Republican panel, Georgia Recorder reports. State of play: According to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, 33,099 voters — just 0.4% of the electorate — had cast a ballot.
