(The Center Square) – The Georgia Public Service Commission unanimously greenlighted a plan from Georgia Power that allows the utility to add nearly 10,000 megawatts of power amid protests and requests to delay the vote.
“The people say ‘nay,'” was chanted by the large group that attended the meeting as the commission prepared for its vote, which was unanimous. Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol escorted the group out before the vote took place.
Georgia Power said it would ensure that $556 million in annual revenue from large load customers when the company makes its next rate case in 2028. The revenue would put downward pressure of at least $8.50 a month for the typical residential customer in 2029 to 2031, the utility said in a news release. The utility made an agreement with the Public Service Commission in July that froze rates through 2028.
Opponents questioned the utility’s promise that rates would experience “downward pressure” or that the demand from data centers and other large customers would materialize.
“Public interest groups raised red flags and legitimate concerns about the incredible consumer and environmental risks in this request,” said Thomas Farmer, vice president of advocacy for Southface Institute. “We can’t risk current customers’ bills on the hope data centers will come.”
Georgia Power Chairman and President Kim Greene said after the vote that the agreement was good for ratepayers.
“This plan means more money stays in your pocket while we power Georgia’s future,” Greene said in a statement. “Unlike any other market in the country, we’re doing things differently here in Georgia to capture and serve this projected unprecedented growth. Large energy users are paying more so families and small businesses can pay less, and that’s a great result for Georgians.”
The expansion plan includes five new gas-burning units. Commissioner Tim Echols said he hoped the plan would include five nuclear reactors instead.
“Data centers and their AI need to take the financial risk for building out America’s nuclear future because it doesn’t appear it’s going to happen any other way and I do think they ultimately will,” Echols said. They’re using the bulk of the power. It is my hope that in the future that we’ll see data centers powered in 20 years by SMRs all over America.”
SMR is an acronym for small nuclear reactors.
The meeting was the last one for Echols, who was defeated by Alicia Johnson in the November election. Some who opposed the plan asked that the commission delay the vote until March, when Johnson and Peter Hubbard, who defeated Fitz Johnson in November, would be in office. The commission refused the request.
