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Georgia Needs the Consumers Utility Counsel and Jim Powell at the PSC

Written by charlenedeutsch on

Jim Powell for PSC Commissioner, as opposed to Bubba “Lauren” McDonald is important for Georgia consumers. I can well remember Bubba's history at the PSC and it was always pro corporation. Jim Powell will fight for Georiga's consumers.

Powell for PSC is made all the more important because the Consumers Utility Counsel is being eliminated. The CUC was the lawyers representing Georgia consumers in electric and gas cases. While the Georgia budget is in trouble, consumer representation in electric and gas cases shouldn't be eliminated. Given the economy, Georgia consumers need the CUC all the more, especially if Bubba is elected. I want Governor Perdue to do something to save our representation at the PSC. Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas and Light have lawyers fighting for them. I hope those concerned about gas and electric prices, especially AARP members, will contact Governor Perdue 404.656.1776 and our legislators and ask them to save the CUC! Then go vote for Jim Powell for PSC Commissioner. If there is any question, just look up Bubba's history at the PSC.
I think Governor Perdue will do the right thing if he knows how concerned we are about our electric and gas prices. There have been many stories recently about how electric and has customers are being overcharged by the Georgia corporations from ‘billing errors’ and how disconnections are increasing in record numbers. Georgia needs consumer attorneys looking out for us at the PSC now more than ever. I can't afford to lose my lawyers at the PSC and I can’t afford six years of Bubba. Charlene Deutsch, 76 Years
Marietta, Georgia
AARP-Georgia Member

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Editorial from AARP-Georgia: State's consumers shouldn't lose voice at PSC The Athens Banner-Herald By Cas Robinson AARP-Georgia

Sunday Edition

When Georgia Power shows up for a big hearing at the Georgia Public Service Commission, it is very clear that they mean business. Recently when the PSC was deciding how much Georgia Power could raise electric rates for fuel costs, an army of skilled attorneys and company representatives and boxes of documents descended on the commission in white, 15-passenger vans - all in the defense of Georgia Power. And while the vans and the armies might be reserved for the biggest of cases, it is clear Georgia Power and other utility companies take the decisions that are made at the PSC very seriously.But what about consumers? These, after all, are decisions that impact how much small utility customers pay each month for keeping the lights and the heat on. For consumers, there are no white vans, no armies of attorneys and, after a recent decision in state government, not even a small agency with a staff of three people to defend the little guy.The Georgia Consumers' Utility Counsel has been de-funded and effectively eliminated. Very simply, the CUC, which was part of the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, worked to defend the interests of regular people who often must struggle to pay monthly utility bills. The CUC engaged at the PSC on behalf of small customers in a way that no other party could or would.And here's why: Public Service commissioners, although elected by the people, are not solely responsible for protecting small ratepayers. As the judge and jury in utility cases, their charge is to balance the interests of ratepayers and utility companies while keeping an eye on the state's well-being. The CUC was effective because it made sure the PSC knew how utility proposals would impact households in Georgia . They took sides and worked solely on behalf of small customers. That was their strength.Georgians are paying more every day for just about everything. Times also are tough for our state government, but eliminating one of the only defenses consumers have against ever-increasing utility bills simply is unacceptable. Ask 20 of your friends what state agency approves utility rates and see how many correct responses you get back. The Georgia Public Service Commission might very well be one of the more obscure agencies in our state performing some of our most important work.In the coming weeks and months, the PSC will be making some decisions that could save lives and others that could cost ratepayers literally billions of dollars. Without question, their decisions will impact your bottom line.And when the white vans carrying the armies of attorneys and boxes show up, who will be there for you? Call Gov. Sonny Perdue's office and your state legislators today. Ask them to restore funding to the Georgia Consumers' Utility Counsel. Tell them that by restoring funding to the CUC, they'll restore a strong voice for the people.

Cas Robinson is state president of AARP Georgia and resides in Stone Mountain . AARP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization representing nearly 1.1 million Georgians.

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Please call Governor Perdue and ask him to save the CUC 404.656.1776

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