Terms to know
From rate case to rooftop, a glossary for understanding how public service commissions work.
Public Service Commission (PSC): A public agency tasked with regulating utilities. The format of these boards varies by state: some are elected, some are appointed, and their rules and responsibilities differ. In addition to PSCs, they are called a Public Utilities Commission, a Board of Public Utilities, or something similar. In Georgia, the PSC is a five-member elected body that regulates the main electric utility, Georgia Power, as well as natural gas pipelines and telecommunications.
Rate: The price per unit of electricity. As of February 2024, the average retail rate in Georgia is 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. Public utility commissions generally have final approval of these numbers for investor-owned utilities.
Energy affordability: The idea that people should be able to pay for their home electricity use while also paying for other basic living expenses without having to choose.
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All stories
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![Four men and one woman sitting at long wooden desk.]()
![Four men and one woman sitting at long wooden desk.]()
How should Georgia elect key utility regulators? US Supreme Court is asked to weigh in.
Elections for the state's Public Service Commission have been on hold for years.
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![A Black woman with short hair and sunglasses stands next to a white woman with short blonde hair and glasses. They both hold signs that say No Railroad in our community.]()
![A Black woman with short hair and sunglasses stands next to a white woman with short blonde hair and glasses. They both hold signs that say No Railroad in our community.]()
Rural Georgia community battles railroad trying to take their land
An officer with the Georgia Public Service Commission says a private company can take land from 18 property owners in Sparta.
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Georgia residents: Apply to our community reporting fellowship
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