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Facts About Electricity
Rates in Georgia
Fact #1.
The Georgia General Assembly does not set electricity rates.
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 46-2-23 regarding the PSC
specifically provides that
the commission shall have exclusive power to determine what are just and
reasonable rates and charges to be made by any person, firm, or
corporation subject to its jurisdiction. Its
jurisdiction for electricity providers is limited to investor-owned
electricity providers.
Fact #2.
Georgia Power is Georgia’s only investor-owned electricity provider, and
therefore its rates are set by the PSC.
Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) and municipal electric
utilities are not subject to PSC retail rate regulation.
Fact #3.
Georgia Power’s base rates are established through PSC proceedings
involving public hearings, sworn testimony, review and recommendations
by PSC staff, and a final vote by the commissioners. Rates may increase
or decrease, and certain charges are adjusted through separate
proceedings. A rate decrease was approved by the PSC on May 28, 2026.
Fact #4.
Electricity rates reflect numerous costs, including fuel, generation,
transmission, environmental compliance, and infrastructure investments.
Some costs are recovered through separately identified charges on
customers’ bills.
Fact #5.
The General Assembly establishes energy policy - not rates - through
legislation. As Chairman of the House Energy, Utilities and
Telecommunications Committee, I work to support legislation that puts
downward pressure on electricity rates and oppose measures that would
increase recoverable costs or force some ratepayers to subsidize others;
an example is legislation that would cause one set of ratepayers to
subsidize another set by providing special pricing of electricity
purchased or electricity sold back to the utility.
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