As Georgia’s economy and electricity system grows, keep energy affordable
Even before attacks on Iran sent gas prices soaring, energy affordability was top of mind for families across Georgia, as it has been in communities across the country.
Rising electricity bills have been squeezing household budgets and businesses alike. Surging demand from data centers and advanced manufacturing, the mounting costs of maintaining and upgrading an aging grid and more frequent and costly damage from climate-driven disasters have all played a role.
Solving for these challenges while maintaining reliability and holding costs down is one of the most critical tasks facing lawmakers at all levels, from members of the Public Service Commission here in Georgia to members of Congress in Washington.
First and foremost, we must build smarter and we must build faster, starting with homegrown Georgia resources like solar power and flexible demand.
It is important that we are thoughtful about the choices we make about what and how we build: the infrastructure, energy resources and policy frameworks that will deliver a more affordable, reliable and secure energy system.
A comprehensive strategy that’s good for Georgia ratepayers, and the country, should be anchored by three pillars: energy efficiency, grid modernization and affordable clean energy.
How to achieve energy efficiency
The cheapest unit of energy is the one that never has to be generated, because we can do the same work with less energy.
Energy efficiency, whether it takes the form of building upgrades, industrial efficiency programs or smarter demand-response tools, remains the lowest-cost energy resource available.
The Georgia PSC can play an important role by strengthening utility efficiency programs, expanding demand-response options and ensuring utilities pursue cost-effective efficiency investments rather than turning to more expensive generation projects.
Targeted programs that help households upgrade insulation, modernize appliances and improve building efficiency can reduce consumption while saving customers money.
Strategies for implementing grid modernization
Our second imperative is modernizing the grid itself while allocating costs fairly.
Throughout the United States, transmission and distribution infrastructure has not kept pace with rising electricity demand. With targeted investments and upgrades to our existing grid, we can avoid building brand new transmission lines and better use affordable and local energy resources.
Transmission upgrades like reconductoring that use existing towers with advanced wires to increase capacity are a great tool.
Deploying the set of tools known as Grid Enhancing Technologies is another way to modernize our grid. For Georgia, updating to a more flexible and resilient grid means enhancing transmission planning, upgrading distribution systems to accommodate distributed energy resources and expanding energy storage that can support reliability during periods of peak demand.
Modernization also means building for climate resilience. In recent years, stronger storms and extreme weather have imposed growing costs on utilities and their customers.
In May, the Georgia PSC will hold hearings on a request from Georgia Power Co. to recover costs from Hurricane Helene and other storms, with damages totaling $912 million. Events like these highlight a simple reality: When we fail to build infrastructure to withstand climate risks that we know are coming, families ultimately pay the price.
Ensure clean energy is affordable
Finally, Georgia should continue to prioritize the development of energy resources that are both affordable and reliable over the long term.
Solar power, battery storage and even nuclear power have become increasingly central to Georgia’s energy mix. Unlike fossil fuels, these resources do not rely on volatile fuel markets. Once built, their operating costs remain stable regardless of global commodity price swings.
That stability matters.
States with the strongest growth in clean energy have often seen smaller increases in electricity prices compared to states that remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Clean energy helps insulate consumers from fossil fuel-based price spikes, while also enhancing overall energy security and economic growth.
The PSC can continue advancing competitive procurement processes that ensure utilities secure the lowest-cost generation resources available, including solar paired with battery storage.
In all these areas, federal policy can complement and reinforce work being done at the state and local level.
Measures, such as the recently introduced Energy Bills Relief Act (HR 7977), would restore support for clean energy manufacturing and deployment, prevent the weaponization of federal permitting and approval processes to block clean energy projects and encourage investment in clean energy, energy efficiency and grid reliability.
Georgia’s economy is growing, and our electricity system must grow with it. But growth does not have to mean higher costs or brand-new fossil fuel power plants.
By doubling down on energy efficiency, making smart, fair investments in grid modernization and resilience and accelerating the build-out of low-cost, rapidly deployable clean energy, we can meet rising electricity demand while protecting households from escalating bills and global energy shocks.
Peter Hubbard, a Democrat, is a member of the Georgia Public Service Commission, a five-member statewide elected board that regulates energy and utility rates. He resides in Atlanta.
