A new non-profit organization, Georgia Utility Watch, launched Tuesday with the mission of advocating for reform in Georgia’s utility sector and lowering energy bills for consumers served by Georgia Power. This launch comes after a recent study alleged that Georgia Power, which serves millions of customers across the state, made nearly $2 billion in 2022 while also having some of the highest power shutoff rates in the nation.

The study cited data published by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), the regulatory body overseeing energy production and distribution in the state. Georgia Utility Watch plans to champion increased use of sustainable energy sources and advocate for policies that prevent residential customers from shouldering the burden of rising data center costs expected in Georgia in the coming years. The organization is led by Patty Durand, a well-known critic of the current PSC.

In addition to policy advocacy, Georgia Utility Watch intends to track and publicize the voting records of PSC members, two of whom are up for reelection in November.

In response to the allegations of high shutoff rates and potential cost shifting related to data centers, Georgia Power issued the following statement: “Many utilities and states do not report disconnections, so this is not a verified claim. It’s important to note that Georgia Power has a strong history of working with customers every day to address past due bills and make payment arrangements to avoid disconnection, which is always a last resort for our company. Also important, around 2/3 of disconnected customers make payments to restore service quickly. During 2024, approximately 184,000 residential customers were disconnected with nearly 137,000 (74%) of those customers paying to restore their service – often the same or next day. We have long focused on connecting customers – including senior citizens, those with special needs or limited incomes – with programs and resources from Georgia Power and those offered by established non-profit, faith-based or governmental organizations to aid them when they’re in need. Georgia Power will follow new rules established by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in January that are designed to protect ratepayers from cost shifting.”

The formation of Georgia Utility Watch signals a potential shift in the landscape of energy policy advocacy in Georgia, and its impact on the future of utility rates and renewable energy development remains to be seen.