The Georgia Public Service Commission is meeting this week. The body is considering a request from Georgia Power to raise the mandatory minimum fee for $10 to nearly $18. The move would add about $200 a year to the average residential customer’s bill.
Channa Childs is the clean energy fellow for Environment Georgia. She testified at the proceedings in opposition to the rate hike.
“So that’s just the cost of turning on your lights every month,” according to Childs. “So this would be really, really bad for solar energy efficiency and energy conservation as a result because people would miss out on those savings since Georgia Power is upping the base rate.”
This is the second round of hearings about the matter since September. Opponents say the increase would hurt customers in other ways as well.
“At least at the current rate you can reduce your energy bill every month by turning off your lights when you leave the room or making sure your thermostat is set at a certain level, but all of that goes away once the mandatory monthly fee is increased.”
Childs says consumers can have some say in the matter.
“People should call their Public Service commissioner, leave emails. Let people know in their neighborhoods that they’re going to be affected by this and they we all have to take a stand.”
This round of hearings wraps up Thursday. The PSC has until December 17th to make a decision.
