AARP Georgia watching new Georgia Power rate case

Georgia Power customers, please stand by. Your electric power bill may be going up. Again.

Georgia Power has asked the Georgia Public Service Commission for approval to increase the amount its residential and business customers pay by 6.1 percent, or $482 million, over the next three years. In addition, the utility wants to raise its set rate of return on equity, or profit, from 11.15 percent to 11.5 percent.

The utility is expected to hold hearings later this year on the rate request, with the first round of hearings scheduled for Oct. 1-3.

AARP Georgia and other consumer groups will follow the case closely.

“As the former director of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, I know how major rate cases directly impact consumers’ utility bills,” said Georgia AARP President Barry Reid. “Georgia customers can’t afford to ignore what is happening at the commission. They need to let their elected officials know what they think about rate increases at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet.”

It’s been three years since Georgia Power filed its last rate case. It was then granted a revenue increase of $844.6 million, and its rate of return on equity was set at 11.15 percent. Additional rate increases for conservation, environmental remediation and new nuclear power plant construction have also been approved. Georgia Power customers have seen rates and special fees go up in January 2011, January 2012, April 2012 and January of this year.

To calculate your current Georgia Power bill – and to learn more about the “riders,” or supplemental charges you pay – visit the Georgia Power Bill Calculator.

Watch this space for regular updates on the Georgia Power rate case.