Did you know that five people control your utilities?
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is a group of five elected officials responsible for regulating electricity, natural gas, and telecommunication utilities in the state of Georgia. The PSC is the only group with the ability to regulate Georgia Power, so the decisions they make directly impact how much people in Georgia pay for electricity and other utilities and determine how much fossil fuels Georgia Power burns. According to their website, the mission of the PSC is to “ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced telecommunications, electric, and natural gas services”.
The Integrated Resource Plan
Every three years, the PSC votes on an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) presented by Georgia Power. Each IRP has a 20-year forecast of energy generation and usage, including how much renewable vs. nonrenewable energy Georgia Power will use. During the IRP hearings, we can advocate for changes to the IRP before it is approved by the PSC. This gives us a major opportunity to make our voices heard and advocate for clean, healthy energy sources, rather than relying forever on dirty, unhealthy fossil fuels.
Why clean energy matters
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are high in carbon. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, causing climate change. Climate change causes extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, hurricanes, and other dangerous storms.
But burning fossil fuels doesn’t just effect the environment; it’s also devastating for human health. Pollution caused by fossil fuels causes at least 15% of all deaths in the U.S. They affect our health from before we’re born until we’re seniors. Pollution from fossil fuels causes premature birth, damages children’s lungs, and impacts mental development and I.Q. Burning fossil fuels causes lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and dementia, as well as many other chronic health conditions.
How you can advocate for clean energy
Every time the PSC reviews Georgia Power’s IRP, the public has a chance to provide input on their plans. If you don’t want your utility bills to fund the climate crisis, now is your chance to say so! There are two important things you can do right now to advocate for clean energy.
Use our simple form to send a message to the PSC. With our template, sending a message takes only five minutes!
Sign up to speak in person at PSC hearings. This is the most impactful way you can advocate for clean energy!
PSC Elections
