by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – An energy watchdog launched a nonprofit organization Monday aimed at bringing transparency and accountability to energy regulation in Georgia.
The goals of Georgia Utility Watch, the brainchild of Patty Durand, a former candidate for a seat on the state Public Service Commission, is to advocate for fair electric rates, a more transparent PSC, and more accountable state leadership on energy issues.
“Decisions are made with complete disregard for the state mandate to set rates that are just and reasonable,” Durand wrote in her new organization’s inaugural newsletter. “Never, ever are people prioritized or protected.”
Durand cites an unprecedented 23.7% increase last year in the rates Georgia Power’s residential customers pay that she says went unchecked by either the commission or the General Assembly. Specifically, she pointed to the legislature’s failure for two years in a row to pass a bill that would have reestablished the state Consumer Utility Counsel, disbanded in 2008 amid budget cuts brought on by the Great Recession.
She also criticized Gov. Brian Kemp’s veto last year of a bill that would have temporarily suspended a state sales tax exemption aimed at attracting data centers to Georgia after business interests objected to the measure. Another measure introduced this year to prohibit Georgia Power from passing on the costs of providing electricity to data centers to residential and small business customers cleared the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee but failed to reach the Senate floor for a vote.
Durand also noted that nearly 200,000 Georgia Power households were disconnected last year, an alarmingly high rate.
