Who's On Your Ballot: Public Service Commission

Floyd County Democrats
Apr 13
2 min read

Updated: Apr 28

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is a five-member elected board that regulates investor-owned utilities—primarily electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications—to ensure safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services. It acts as a quasi-judicial agency, setting utility rates, balancing consumer costs with corporate financial viability, and promoting open-market competition.

Key responsibilities of the PSC include:

Setting Utility Rates: Determining rates for companies like Georgia Power and overseeing natural gas pipeline safety.
Infrastructure Approval: Approving or denying construction of new power plants and reviewing 20-year energy plans (Integrated Resource Planning).
Consumer Protection: Enforcing utility regulations, resolving customer disputes, and ensuring fair, adequate service.

► Read more and find sources about Georgia's May 19 Democratic primary for Public Services Commission

More info

Why this is important

Until last November the entire PSC was Republican, with several positions appointed rather than being elected. Democrats then won the two seats up for election. The District 3 race was simply to complete the last year of a term. That commission seat (held by Peter Hubbard) is up for election again in addition to District 5.

While Democrats won the last contest in a landslide, the Republicans still have a 3-2 majority on the commission. If Democrats win both District 2 and 3 this year we can start reversing some of the bad policies we’ve experienced under decades of Republican control including:

Unchecked air pollution from coal-fired power plants: At one point, Plant Scherer in Juliette GA was the #1 highest polluting power plant in the US.
Ongoing water pollution from coal ash: Coal ash is the byproduct from burning coal for power. Millions of tons of coal ash are currently being stored in unlined ponds, possibly leaking into groundwater.
Increased energy burden and cost of power bills: Continued investments in dirty energy sources that pollute air and water ways, and are expensive to operate and clean up are driving power bills up.
Delayed retirement of coal-fired plants in order to satisfy energy demands of data centers who will pay less for electricity than GA residents.

The Candidates

NOTE: Even though the PSC is represented by district commissioners, ALL Georgians vote on each race. The candidates must have a home in their district but we can vote on each district race regardless of where we live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcfzABwyD4A