December 15, 2020 (ATLANTA) – The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a policy for broadband expansion pursuant to House Bill 244 today that requires Electric Membership Cooperatives to charge a simple $1-per-year fee for entities to attach utility service to poles in areas "unserved" by broadband. The $1 per year fee would be set for six years.
Commissioner Tricia Pridemore added a successful motion to set pole rates in areas currently served by broadband to $27.71 per pole per year. This represents an “at cost” fee to cover service and upkeep of the poles.
“Served” and “unserved” areas are determined by the Georgia Broadband Initiative map published by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
December 02, 2020 (ATLANTA) – A Georgia Power rate plan that caters to energy customers who monitor their usage will become the default rate for newly-constructed homes beginning January 1. This is the first time new sign-ups for Georgia Power will default to any rate other than the standard residential rate.
All Georgia homes built after January 1, 2021 will default to the “Smart Usage” plan when residents activate new accounts with Georgia Power. New-home customers can, however, opt out of the Smart Usage plan and choose any other eligible plan when they sign up for power. At the request of the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power will discuss the new-construction default with the state’s home building industry. Georgia Power is likewise launching an education campaign for consumers.
October 28, 2020 (ATLANTA) – With continued growth in Metro Atlanta, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) notified the Georgia Public Service Commission that the 404, 770, 678, and 470 area codes will exhaust by the second quarter of 2023.
In its October 6, 2020 Administrative Session, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved an “overlay area code” for the Metro Atlanta area. The overlay maintains the existing 404, 770, 678, and 470 area codes and simply adds another area code.
September 8, 2020 – (ATLANTA) – Under Georgia House Bill 244, the Georgia Public Service Commission will determine the rates, fees, terms, conditions and specifications in any pole attachment agreement entered into by a communications service provider and an electric membership corporation on and after July 1, 2021.
The Commission has now adopted rules prescribing the process for making this determination. The following link directs to the Procedural and Scheduling Order:
In its continuing mission to ensure Georgians receive access to low-priced and uninterrupted utility service, the Georgia Public Service Commission has been working with Georgia Power and natural gas companies to create the easiest methods possible to start repaying utility bills that fell behind during the Governor’s stay-in-place order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any customer in arrears is urged to call their power company or gas marketer immediately to enroll in a repayment plan.
Georgia Power is offering a special payment plan for past-due balances where customers who enroll will be able to repay over a six-month period between October 2020 and March 2021. No late fees will be assessed, as long as customers keep current with their payment plans. To sign up for the repayment plan, call Georgia Power at 888-660-5890 or logon to www.georgiapower.com/paymentplan.
