Legislation That Would Increase Accountability for Electric Utility Companies Fails to Advance, Leaving Georgians in the Dark
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2025
Atlanta, GA– The first half of Georgia’s legislative session came to a close on Crossover Day, March 5, in which lawmakers have failed to progress any bills that would increase accountability for electric utility companies in the state. Over the last year, Georgians have seen skyrocketing utility bills while Georgia Power’s parent company is reporting a $400 million profit increase, or a 10% profit increase in just one year. Georgia will continue to be the only state in the nation that denies discovery rights to intervenors in state Public Service Commission hearings. This denial of fundamental procedural rights allows utility companies to operate with limited accountability and leaves families and businesses alike without a transparent process to challenge increasing bills and energy policy decisions.
Introduced by Representative Jordan Ridley (R-22), HB 446 would have granted discovery rights to all official parties in Commission hearings, ensuring that stakeholders had the right to request important information when utility companies, including Georgia Power, seek rate increases. Without discovery rights, stakeholders lack the necessary ability to request information that will allow them to evaluate utility companies’ reasoning for raising prices and making policy changes. Ultimately, this limits advocates’ and businesses’ ability to push for energy policies that prioritize affordability.
“The Georgia legislature failed to increase transparency at a time when many community members are struggling to pay higher energy bills. HB 446 would have allowed all stakeholders to better advocate for policies that encourage economic development and access to affordable, clean energy in Commission proceedings” said Allison Kvien, Vote Solar’s Southeast Regulatory Director. “Georgia Power shouldn’t be the only one with a seat at the table – Georgian households and businesses deserve to give informed input into decisions about their energy future. Vote Solar remains committed to utility accountability, and it is time for the Georgia legislature to stand with Representative Ridley and join in that commitment for their constituents.”
In addition to the intervenor rights bill, legislators had the chance to pass several other important bills. These bills would have promoted affordable energy options like community solar (HB 507 and SB 203), re-established the state Consumer Utility Council (HB 617 and SB 94), renamed the state Public Service Commission to the Public Utilities Commission to better describe the Commission’s important role (HB 653), and proactively protected Georgia households from the high costs associated with powering corporate data centers (SB 34).
Because 2025 is the first year in Georgia’s two-year legislative session, many of these bills will be up for consideration again in 2026. HB 446 (intervenor discovery rights at the Commission), HB 617 (reestablishing the Consumer Utility Council), and HB 653 (renaming the Commission) all currently sit in the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. HB 507 (community solar) currently sits in the House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee.
About Vote Solar
Vote Solar is an energy justice non-profit working towards a 100% clean energy future by bringing solar to the mainstream. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advocates for clean energy in legislative and regulatory arenas at the state level, where most decisions about electricity are made. Despite powerful opposition, we use a winning combination of deep policy expertise, coalition building, and public engagement to get the job done.