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How the Georgia state agency that regulates energy and electricity operates — and its impact on you and your community.

Collage of the state of Georgia with power lines and cooling towers

About this project

Each state in the U.S. has a board responsible for regulating utilities, such as electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and water. Known as public utility commissions or public service commissions, these small but powerful panels make major decisions that drive the cost of electricity, the future of renewable energy, and how much fossil fuels a state burns. But many voters have no idea who the commissioners are, what they do, or how they're selected. Georgia is one of the states where the PSC is directly elected, although elections have been delayed for years in the face of a lawsuit over voting rights. Its commission is a prime example of how lesser-known elected positions can have an outsize impact on climate policies.

Grist and WABE are collaborating to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission. To ensure our journalism reaches and involves residents who face major barriers to accessing accurate, consistent information, we are hosting workshops with community partners, creating printable resources, and launching a paid journalism training program around this topic.

Dive in with an explainer on how the Georgia PSC works, or explore this page for more coverage and resources.

Terms to know

From rate case to rooftop, a glossary for understanding how public service commissions work.

Public Service Commission (PSC): A public agency tasked with regulating utilities. The format of these boards varies by state: some are elected, some are appointed, and their rules and responsibilities differ. In addition to PSCs, they are called a Public Utilities Commission, a Board of Public Utilities, or something similar. In Georgia, the PSC is a five-member elected body that regulates the main electric utility, Georgia Power, as well as natural gas pipelines and telecommunications.

Rate: The price per unit of electricity. As of February 2024, the average retail rate in Georgia is 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. Public utility commissions generally have final approval of these numbers for investor-owned utilities.

Energy affordability: The idea that people should be able to pay for their home electricity use while also paying for other basic living expenses without having to choose.

View the full glossary

What do you want to know about energy and electricity?

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