What is a Consumer Utility Counsel?

• Georgia is one of only four states with no Consumer Utility Counsel (CUC), a state agency designated to represent ratepayer interests in utility regulatory proceedings. 
• Business and utility interests invest heavily at rate proceedings to achieve their desired outcomes because lobbying works. Consumers have no lobbyists. 

What is Georgia’s CUC history?

• Georgia’s CUC was a department that existed in the state Consumer Protection Division from the 1970s until it was defunded in 2008 by Governor Perdue as part of the great recession. 
• At the time of its repeal in 2010, every PSC Commissioners was quoted in an AJC article as saying the role the CUC had was of critical importance.

Why have a CUC – doesn’t the Public Service Commission protect ratepayers?

• The PSC is responsible for regulating public utilities. To fulfill that mandate the PSC must weigh evidence presented by both utilities and third parties similar to a court proceeding. 
• The PSC cannot be responsible for both weighing evidence (as the utility regulator) and supplying that evidence (via an internal function like PIA Staff). 
• The results tell the story: since 2010 consumer rates have increased nearly 9 times faster than industrial rates have increased, and twice the rate of inflation.
• In 2024 nearly 190,000 GA Power households were disconnected for inability to pay,, about 18,000 every month. This is almost 9 times the national disconnect rate of 1%. 
• GA Power pushes hard for new generation because the state of Georgia richly rewards them for building new generation, a legacy of 20th century priorities. Until the state adopts a new utility business model that aligns with modern goals, a state funded CUC is a critical voice in the regulatory process.