Representatives of the state Public Service Commission’s Public Interest Advocacy (PIA) staff believe Georgia Power has overestimated how much additional electrical generating capacity it will need to meet the demands of data centers.
In its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), Georgia Power is forecasting a need for 13,140 megawatts of additional peak generating capacity, mostly from “large-load” customers including data centers.
The PIA staff is recommending that the commission reduce Georgia Power’s load forecast by 2,000 megawatts, saying the utility hasn’t produced adequate evidence to support the increase.
While the PIA staff’s recommendation to reduce Georgia Power’s load forecast is supported by consumer watchdogs and environmental advocates, staff witnesses backed up the utility’s plan to continue using fossil fuels to generate power at two coal plants in Georgia.
