2015 News Releases

12/15/2015
Commission Reduces Fuel Rate for Georgia Power Customers; Sets Schedule for Proceedings in Southern Company Acquisition of AGL Resources

ATLANTA, December 15, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today unanimously approved a decrease in the Fuel Cost Recovery (FCR) rate for Georgia Power Company customers that will save the average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours about $5.00 a month for a total reduction of 14 percent on their monthly bill.

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10/20/2015
Commission Approves Atlanta Gas Light Company’s Natural Gas Line Extension in Gilmer County
ATLANTA, October 20, 2015—Today the Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) unanimously approved the first phase of a six-phase line extension project by Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC). Phase one will serve 10 of the 50 poultry farms in Gilmer County. When all phases of this project are complete, natural gas service will be available to all 50 farms, as well as other businesses and homes.

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10/6/2015
Commission Hands Down $250,000 Civil Penalty Against Atlanta Gas Light Company on Eastside Pipeline

ATLANTA, October 6, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today unanimously approved a $250,000 civil penalty against the Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) that will settle issues surrounding the construction and deployment of the Eastside Pipeline while protecting ratepayers from future costs involving deficiencies in the Eastside Pipeline. The Commission approved a negotiated settlement that means AGLC ratepayers will not be liable for the costs to repair and replace those parts of the Eastside Pipeline which were found to have corrosion deficiencies and other problems. AGLC has admitted no wrongdoing, however the Company will pay the $250,000 into the state treasury.

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9/10/2015
Commissioners Celebrate Groundbreaking of Solar Facility at King’s Bay Naval Submarine Base

KING'S BAY, GEORGIA, September 10, 2015 – Georgia Public Service Commission Vice-Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Public Service Commissioner Doug Everett took part today in the groundbreaking ceremony for Georgia Power's solar project at King's Bay Naval Submarine Base near St. Mary's on the southeast Georgia coast.

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9/8/2015
PSC Joins Governor Deal in Celebrating September 14-20, 2015 a Lifeline Awareness Week in Georgia

ATLANTA, September 8, 2015 – Governor Nathan Deal has joined with the Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) in proclaiming September 14-20, 2015 as National Lifeline Awareness Week in Georgia. Access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to all residents.

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9/1/2015
Commission Approves $5 Million in Assistance for Low Income Natural Gas Customers over Next Five Years

ATLANTA, September 1, 2015 -- The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved $5 million in grants over the next five years to enable three community service agencies to assist both low-income citizens and low-income senior citizens in paying natural gas bills and replacing or repairing natural gas furnaces and water heaters.

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8/24/2015
Commission Statement on Proposed Southern Company and AGL Resources Merger

ATLANTA, August 24, 2015 -- The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) is aware of the merger announcement between Southern Company and AGL Resources, both headquartered in Atlanta. Both companies have affiliates under the regulatory authority of the Commission, Georgia Power Company of the Southern Company, and Atlanta Gas Light Company and Georgia Natural Gas of AGL Resources. However, at this time the Commission has not received any filings related to the merger. Southern Company officials have stated they will make filings with state utility regulators within the next 30 to 45 days. If the Commission receives a filing, staff will review it to determine what action is needed.

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8/18/2015
Commission Verifies and Approves Expenditures from the Twelfth Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report

ATLANTA, August 18, 2015 -- The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today unanimously approved Georgia Power Company's request to verify and approve the expenditures in the Twelfth Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report for the period between July 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014, in Docket Number 29849.

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8/12/2015
Commission Announces Notice of Inquiry and Workshop into Renewables and Distributed Generation

August 12, 2015- ATLANTA- The Georgia Public Service Commission announces a Notice of Inquiry and Workshop into the Value of Renewables and Distributed Generation in Docket 39732. The formal notice and Commissioner order is attached.

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8/7/2015
Commission’s Previous Actions May Lessen Effects of E.P.A. Clean Power Rule

ATLANTA, August 7, 2015 – The proactive decisions of the Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) over the past six years will lessen some of the onerous effects of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Power Plan rule released on August 3, 2015. These decisions have put Georgia ahead of many other states in this process if the state is forced to implement the EPA mandated reductions in carbon emissions.

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8/3/2015
Commission Statement on Release of Final E.P.A. Clean Power Plan Rule

ATLANTA, August 3, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today issued this statement about the final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan Rule under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. 

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7/21/2015
Commission Approves Construction of Solar Facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base in

ATLANTA –July 21, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the construction of a new 46 megawatt (MW) solar facility at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia. The Commission approval follows a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Navy and Georgia Power Company with the aim of furthering the Marine Corps' renewable energy, climate action and energy security goals.

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7/13/2015
Commissioner Wise to Testify in Washington, D.C. on July 14, 2015 before U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Pipeline Safety

ATLANTA –July 13, 2015 –Commissioner Stan Wise, a member of the Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission), will testify before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing entitled "Oversight of Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011 and Related Issues." The hearing will take place at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday July 14, 2015 in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

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5/14/2015
Commissioners Attend Groundbreakings for Army Solar Facilities

ATLANTA, May 14, 2015 – Commissioners from the Georgia Public Service Commission are attending groundbreakings today and tomorrow for two new 30 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic installations for the U.S. Army on Georgia military bases. Commissioner Stan Wise attended the ceremony at Fort Gordon today and Commissioner Chuck Eaton is attending the groundbreaking at Fort Stewart tomorrow. The Fort Gordon and Fort Stewart projects are two of three Georgia Power solar projects for the Army that the Commission approved in October 2014. The groundbreaking for the third project, located at Fort Benning, was held on April 17, 2015.

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4/28/2015
From the Office of Commissioner Tim Echols: Eight Georgia Cities Selected to Host 5th Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow

Atlanta, GA April 28, 2015 -- Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols has announced the host cities for the 5th Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow statewide educational tour, June 15th – 26th. The series is designed to assist municipal leaders and private enterprise business fleets with critical transportation and operations planning information. This year's theme will be "Advancing the Choice for Clean Energy" and will focus on Georgia's growing number of new natural gas, propane, electric and biofuel fleets.

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4/7/2015
Commission Approves Schedule for Hearings on the Nuclear Plant Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report

ATLANTA, April 7, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission today approved a Procedural and Scheduling Order in Docket 29849 for Georgia Power Company's Twelfth Semi-annual Construction Monitoring Report for Plant Vogtle Units Three and Four. The schedule establishes a series of hearings on the Company's request to the Commission to verify and approve actual expenditures made on the construction of the units through December 31, 2014.

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4/2/2015
Commission Reminds Georgians That April Is National Safe Digging Month

ATLANTA, April 2, 2015 – The Georgia Public Service Commission reminds all Georgians that April is National Safe Digging Month. The law requires anyone who plans to excavate where underground utilities are located to call 8-1-1 before they dig. The process is simple and can prevent major damage that can endanger and inconvenience our communities and cause economic disruption.

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3/17/2015
COMMISSION APPROVES SELECTION PROCESS FOR GEORGIA POWER COMPANY’S 2015 DISTRIBUTED GENERATION PROGRAM

ATLANTA, March 17, 2015 -- The Georgia Public Service Commission ("Commission") today took another step forward in bringing renewable energy resources to Georgia Power customers by its unanimous approval of 100 Megawatts (MW) of Distributed Generation (DG) as part of Georgia Power's 2015 Advanced Solar Initiative (ASI) Program. Distributed Generation refers to power generated on site, usually at a site where it will be used and interconnects to the utilities' distribution system therefore reducing the need to transport the power elsewhere. This DG program is part of a total of 525 MW of solar capacity that was approved in Georgia Power's 2013 Integrated Resource Plan

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2/19/2015
Commission Verifies and Approves Expenditures from the Eleventh Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report

ATLANTA, February 19, 2015—The Georgia Public Service Commission today unanimously approved Georgia Power Company's request to verify and approve the expenditures in the Eleventh Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report for the period between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2014, in Docket Number 29849.

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2/4/2015
From the Office of Commissioner Tim Echols: Echols Presents Award for Innovation to Windstream Communications

ATLANTA – February 4, 2015 - Today, Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols joined with executives from Eco-Cool to present Windstream Communications Georgia with a Green Initiative Award. The award recognizes Windstream for making significant energy efficiency gains and reducing their overall usage by installing Eco-Cool refrigerant catalyst in their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The chemical has a "Lipitor" effect in a heat pump or similar system.

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1/21/2015
Echols Hosts “Unholy Tour” to Highlight Human Trafficking in Atlanta

ATLANTA – January 21, 2015 - On Tuesday evening, January 20, 2015, Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols assembled a group of legislators, elected officials and concerned citizens for what he called an "Unholy Tour." Echols, using a donated bus from Samson Trailways, took the group into areas of Atlanta where sex trafficking and prostitution is rampant.

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1/8/2015
WISE PICKED TO LEAD GAS COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY UTILITY COMMISSIONERS

ATLANTA, January 8, 2015 — The President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) today appointed Georgia Public Service Commissioner Stan Wise as Chair of NARUC's Committee on Gas. NARUC President Commissioner Lisa Polak Edgar of Florida made the announcement today.

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