Georgia
Georgia Power proposal may freezes base rates — but could still raise bills
- The agreement lets Georgia Power charge customers later for storm damage — without public hearings.
- Georgia Power has increased its customer rates three times in the last six years.
- Watch the video to hear from neighbors about the impact storm damage hikes does to their income.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Georgia Power says it won’t raise your base rates for three years, but a proposed deal with state regulators could still mean higher bills.
Under a proposed agreement announced Monday, Georgia Power would skip its usual rate case this summer — and lock in base rates through 2027.
Spokesman Jacob Hawkins says the company is working to “balance the affordability needs of our customers while ensuring Georgia Power remains equipped to continue its support of our state’s incredible growth.”
But consumer advocates like the Southern Environmental Group warn that the deal lets Georgia Power charge customers later for storm damage — with no public hearing.
That’s a big concern in Valdosta, where nearly a third of families live in poverty and where some customers saw bills double after Helene.
“It’s been going up a lot like during the hurricane. You know you still have a balance because you have to pay for the service for having the service, so it makes it go up.”
Pamela Frazier’s monthly charges jumped from under $60 to over $130 — despite little change in her usage. She relies on Georgia Power’s prepaid app to keep afloat, but rising rates won’t help her catch up.
“For myself, paying has been a job — especially without having a job,” said Frazier. “So it’s been kind of hard. But when you got help, it’s OK. It’s a little help.”
Georgia Power has increased its customer rates three times in the last six years.
The Public Service Commission has until July 1 to approve or reject the deal.
In Valdosta, I’m Malia Thomas, reporting for ABC27.
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram and X.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Storm activity is expected to fire up around midday, starting inland from the Gulf sea breeze. From there, storms will track eastward at 20-25 mph, and that faster movement is actually good news for flooding concerns.
Some minor, temporary flooding is possible through tonight, especially in low-lying areas and spots that typically flood during heavy rain events.
The best chances for stronger storms and heavier rainfall will be north and near I-10 during the afternoon and evening hours.
The Weather Prediction Center has placed roughly the northern two-thirds of the area under a marginal risk of excessive rainfall.
What to expect through the night
Rain chances will stay elevated into the evening but should taper off after midnight. However, inland Northeast Florida could see a late round of showers or storms develop due to enhanced west coast sea breeze.
Gusty winds and frequent lightning can’t be ruled out. Always have your indoor plan ready to go for shelter access.
Cooler temperatures, patchy fog round out the forecast
High temperatures will run below average, topping out in the mid-to-upper 80s. Overnight lows will range from the upper 60s to near 70 degrees across inland Southeast Georgia, with mid-70s expected closer to the Atlantic coast.
Patchy fog is expected early this morning and again Sunday morning. Brief periods of dense fog are possible, so drivers should use caution on the roads during those early morning hours.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
Georgia baseball will resume its NCAA Athens Regional game with Long Island at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, after persistent rain—heavy at times—forced the suspension of the game.
The Bulldogs have a commanding 15-1 lead with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth.
The teams and some fans waited out a delay that started 7:14 p.m.
The game was suspended officially at 9:06 p.m. Long Island players were already grabbing their equipment in the dugout to depart for the team hotel before then.
The winner of Georgia-LIU will play No. 3 seed Liberty Saturday in the double-elimination tournament in a game scheduled for 5 p.m.
The loser will play No. 2 seed Boston College at noon.
The No. 3 national seed Bulldogs hit six homers before the game was delayed due to heavy rain.
There was a 53 percent chance of rain at 9 a.m. Saturday, according to weather.com, decreasing to 17 percent at 11 a.m., but there’s a threat of storms in the afternoon.
The Georgia Public Service Commission this week approved a plan expected to reduce utility bills for Georgia Power customers by a few dollars a month.
The commission said the change will generate about $285 million in total annual savings for Georgia Power customers, or roughly $50 per year — about $4.04 per month — for the average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.
The Georgia PSC voted Thursday to lower overall rates as part of the approved plan.
Georgia Power Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Tyler Cook said the decision will provide “real savings for Georgia families and businesses as the heat of summer begins and energy use increases.”
“At Georgia Power, our teams work every day to run our business efficiently and keep reliable and affordable energy flowing to our customers,” Cook said.
Cook said the outcome followed months of work between Georgia Power and PSC staff, including reviews, public hearings and input from residents and intervenors.
The approved plan is tied to a stipulated agreement reached earlier this month involving two cases filed with the PSC in February, the Fuel Cost Recovery case and the Storm Cost Recovery case. Those cases addressed recovering fuel costs used to generate electricity and expenses tied to restoring power after storms.
Georgia Power said its rates remain, on average, about 15% below the national average and that it is still on track to provide additional annual savings of about $102 per year for typical residential customers beginning in 2029.
-
Pennsylvania2 minutes agoMan accused of using excavator to destroy home with family inside
-
Rhode Island5 minutes agoRhode Island high school yearbook printed with the word ‘school’ misspelled on its cover: ‘Shocking to see’
-
South-Carolina10 minutes agoSouth Carolina Democrats celebrate redistricting win as governor hopefuls clash
-
South Dakota17 minutes agoSouth Dakota’s annual History Conference returns to Fort Pierre
-
Tennessee19 minutes agoABC broadcast goes out during Tennessee softball vs Texas Tech in WCWS
-
Texas25 minutes agoLive Updates: Lady Vols Softball vs. Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series
-
Utah32 minutes agoMan guilty of crash that killed Utah CEO and his daughter gets maximum sentence – East Idaho News
-
Vermont35 minutes agoFallen solar panels in Vermont prompt environmental concerns – Valley News
