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July 12, 2026

Georgia PSC Launches Investigation Into Whether Data Centers Are Shifting Power Costs to Other Customers

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The Georgia Public Service Commission has voted to move forward with an investigation into whether Georgia Power’s largest electricity customers—including data centers—are paying their fair share of fuel costs or shifting those expenses onto residential and small business customers.

June 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Trion Proposes Smaller Budget With No Tax or Utility Rate Increases

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Residents in Trion could see no increase in property taxes or utility rates under the town’s proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.

The proposed budget totals approximately $14.7 million across all funds, a decrease of about 3.2 percent compared to the current fiscal year. According to Trion Town Clerk Missy Duncan, most of the reduction is tied to lower projected natural gas sales.

Duncan said Mount Vernon Mills, the town’s largest employer and largest natural gas customer, is expected to use less natural gas during the coming fiscal year based on projections from the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia. Even with the anticipated decline in gas revenue, town officials are not proposing any increases in water, sewer, natural gas, sanitation, or property tax rates.

The proposed budget includes approximately $4.05 million for the General Fund, $5.21 million for the Gas Revenue Fund, $4.75 million for the Sewer and Wastewater Treatment Fund, $292,500 for the Water Fund, and $391,950 for the SPLOST Fund.

Town officials also expect to receive about $33,000 per month in Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) revenue, providing additional funding for transportation projects.

Residents will have an opportunity to review the proposed budget and offer comments during a public hearing before the budget is considered for final adoption

June 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Power Customers To See Small Rate Decrease, But Questions Remain About Future Costs

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Georgia Power customers are seeing a small reduction in their electric bills this month, but consumer advocates and energy experts say larger cost concerns may still be on the horizon.

May 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Proposed Georgia Power Deal Promises Small Savings After Years Of Rising Bills

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Georgia Power customers could see slightly lower electric bills later this year under a proposed agreement now headed to the Georgia Public Service Commission for approval.

May 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Power Customers Seeing Higher Electric Bills In 2026

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Georgia Power customers across northwest Georgia continue adjusting to higher power bills in 2026 as rate increases and infrastructure costs impact monthly residential expenses.

March 15, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Power Seeks Nearly $912 Million From Customers For Storm Recovery Costs

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Georgia Power is asking state regulators to approve a plan that would charge customers $912 million over the next four years to recover costs tied to Hurricane Helene and other major storms. The proposal, filed with the Georgia Public Service Commission, would add about $4.42 per month to the typical residential bill based on 1,000 kilowatt-hours of usage, with higher-use households likely paying more.

February 27, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Senate Panel Rewrites Data Center Power Cost Bill as Northwest Georgia Families Worry About High Electric Bills

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A Georgia Senate committee has rewritten legislation meant to protect consumers from higher electricity costs tied to the state’s fast-growing data center industry, advancing a version that supporters say is less explicit about shielding residential customers. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved the revamped proposal after rejecting language that would have clearly barred utilities from passing certain data center-related costs onto regular ratepayers.

February 20, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Power Promises Lower Rates, But Critics and Local Residents Say Bills Tell a Different Story

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Georgia Power has filed its expected Fuel Cost Recovery and Storm Cost Recovery cases with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), saying the combined filings could result in slightly lower electric rates for customers beginning this summer. However, critics and many local residents across Northwest Georgia say that promise rings hollow as power bills continue to climb dramatically.

February 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Summerville Sanitation Rate Increase Sparks Pushback From Councilwoman Simone Adams

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A major sanitation rate increase approved by Summerville City Council is drawing criticism from Councilwoman Simone Adams, who says she voted against the change because the jump is too steep for residents to absorb at one time.

December 21, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

PSC Approves Georgia Power Data-Center Expansion, Critics Say Georgians Will Pay the Price

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The Georgia Public Service Commission voted unanimously this past Friday (Dec. 19) to approve Georgia Power’s request to acquire nearly 10 gigawatts of new energy capacity—a major expansion the utility says it needs to meet projected electricity demand from data centers in coming years. The vote was taken before two new Democratic Public Service Commissioners take office next month, a timing critics say is hard to ignore.