The state commission that oversees the pricing for Georgia’s utilities could see its term limits extended by two years after multiple blocked election cycles, if a new measure by state lawmakers comes into effect.
The Georgia Public Service Commission is an elected five person board that regulates what Georgia Power and other natural gas companies can charge. Commissioners typically serve a six-year term with staggered elections. They have historically been voted on statewide, although each member represents a different district within the state.
A federal judge ruled in 2022 that Georgia’s statewide elections illegally diluted the power of Black voters and banned the election from occurring without a change to a district voting approach. A federal appeals court overturned this decision in November 2023 to keep the statewide election. However, a final order was never issued and the federal judge’s original election block still stands.
This means that two of the commissioners that were supposed to run in 2022 remain on the commission to this day because their election was never held. Commissioner Tricia Pridemore was supposed to run this election cycle, but Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger says it’s too late to schedule elections in 2024.
The plan would temporarily allow eight year term limits for the other two commissioners, since two of the five commissioners have already served two years over their six year term limit with another following the same path. Their positions would revert back to six year terms after all commissioners had served “equitable” terms.
The plan would push the election of any of the commissioners until 2025. Critics of the plan say that the lack of elections means voters do not get a say in what the commission is doing, especially as the PSC has approved rate increases by Georgia Power to make up for cost overruns at their nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle.
The plan has already been approved by the Georgia House and Senate on Thursday and now awaits a decision from Governor Brian Kemp.
