ICYMI: New York Times: Power Bills Are Squeezing Georgians. Voters Could Do Something About It.
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Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the New York Times reported that upcoming local elections in Georgia will give voters a chance to weigh in on rising electricity bills, just as pending GOP bills in Congress threaten further price hikes.
The New York Times: Power Bills Are Squeezing Georgians. Voters Could Do Something About It.
“Georgia is one of 10 states with elected, rather than appointed, utility regulators, who play a key role in energy and climate policy. So this week’s primary and the general election in November, when Mr. Echols’s seat and another will be up for grabs, will be a rare referendum on residential electric bills, at a time when prices have risen sharply across the country.
“The obscure but powerful commission, whose members are all Republican, has approved six rate increases over the last two years. Residential customers of Georgia Power, the state’s largest electric provider, have seen their bills rise by $518 a year, or 33 percent, on average…
“Factoring in natural gas, water and internet costs, Georgia residents now pay among the highest utility bills in the country, trailing only Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut and West Virginia…
“The races for the commission seats will be the only ones on the statewide ballot in November. Whether the energy bills will raise turnout for what have historically been low-profile elections is a big question. But three out of four Americans, across party lines, say they are worried about rising utility bills, according to a recent Ipsos poll commissioned by PowerLines, an advocacy group focused on reducing power bills…
“President Trump’s domestic policy bill could further inflate prices by ending federal tax credits for low-carbon sources of electricity like wind and solar power, companies and researchers say…
“The struggle to pay energy bills could become more difficult if President Trump follows through with a plan to eliminate a $4 billion federal program that helps low-income households pay their electricity bills. Nancy Thompkins, 65, of Savannah, recently sought and received an emergency grant of $500 from the program to help pay off her Georgia Power bills. “It’s a blessing,” she said of the program.”