Electricity costs are on the ballot

While many residents hoped 2025 would provide a breather from elections, there are important elections this year for two seats on the Public Service Commission. (As background, the mission of the PSC is to ensure consumers have access to reasonably priced power, gas and phone service.) Due to litigation, elections have been on hold since 2020, but they are back on track this year and 2 of the 5 commission seats will be decided in November. The commission seats are by District, but the elections are statewide, so you can and should vote in both races.

The growing cost of electricity is in the spotlight. Since 2023, the all-Republican commission has approved 6 rate increases for Georgia Power, highlighted by the enormous construction overruns at Plant Vogtle (90% over budget, 7 years behind schedule), subsidizing the infrastructure to support the growing Data Center industry and largely ignoring renewable energy sources. The average Georgia Power residential customer pays $43 per month than they did 2 years ago!

Even if you get your power from an EMC, you are not totally shielded from rising electricity costs. EMCs buy power from a wholesaler, like Oglethorpe Power, who owns 30% of Plant Vogtle, so those cost problems ultimately find their way into EMC rates.

The long overdue elections of the PSC are important to hold them to account for poor cost control over the power infrastructure and for not prioritizing cheaper, renewable energy sources. Nationally, Georgia ranks 35th in affordability and 43rd in rooftop solar.

Georgia utility bills, including power, are the 5th highest in the nation, but this year, you get to vote for change. We need commissioners who value affordability and advocate for increasing sources of renewable energy. There’s a primary election on June 17th, with early voting starting May 27th. If you want to learn more … go to Georgians for Affordable Energy (https://georgiansforaffordableenergy.org/).

Harold Thompson

Chair, Oconee County Democratic Committee