Following more than seven hours of testimony during a public hearing last week, the Georgia Public Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a three-year freeze for Georgia Power base rates.

In May, at the urging of the five Commissioners, the Georgia Public Service Commission Public Interest Advocacy Staff and Georgia Power came to an agreement stating that Georgia Power will not file an expected 2025 Rate Case. Instead, the company will freeze base rates at the current level for at least three years.

“I am so glad we are able to offer rate stability to Georgia Power customers,” said PSC Chairman Jason Shaw. “Customers have seen unprecedented inflation in the energy sector across the U.S. My fellow Commissioners and I urged staff and Georgia Power to come to some agreement where base rates would not increase. This is nothing but good news for Georgia Power ratepayers.”

Commission Vice Chair Tim Echols echoed the Chairman’s sentiment: “Freezing Georgia Power’s rates today is the best way to protect ratepayers against inflation and market volatility. Our focus continues to be reliability – making sure homes and businesses have the energy they need when they need it.”

Commission Tricia Pridemore added: “Freezing Georgia Power rates for the next three years is yet one more example of this Commission putting Georgians first. While states such as New York, Illinois and California have seen substantial spikes in electric rates, this Georgia Public Service Commission is providing stability to allow for the continued growth and reliability that makes Georgia the number one state for energy.”

Commissioner Fitz Johnson likewise touted the Commission’s decision to freeze rates: “This stability in rates is the exact place we want to be. Ratepayers deserve affordable, reliable, clean and safe energy.”

Part of the 2025 Rate Case was expected to include Georgia Power’s recovery of expenses for storm damage caused primarily by Hurricane Helene. According to the agreement with staff, Georgia Power will not file for recovery of storm damage expenses until 2026. Next year, the PSC will hold hearings to determine which of Georgia Power’s storm recovery requests are reasonable and prudent. A PSC audit of Georgia Power’s storm damage expenses is underway.

In 2022, a Georgia Power Rate Case ended with an agreement where a base rate increase was spread over three years. This was intended to prevent a one-time, large increase for customers. The last step of the 2022 increase came in January 2025. Per that agreement, Georgia Power would have been able to request another rate increase this year. The agreement passed Tuesday leaves base rates at the current level.

The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member Constitutional body that exercises its authority and influence to ensure consumers receive safe, reliable and reasonably-priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas service from financially viable and technically competent companies.

For more information on the Commission, see the PSC website at https://psc.ga.gov/