Georgia Power extends deadline for PSC to consider its contract with data center operator OpenAI

Georgia Power has extended its deadline for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to review a power purchase agreement with data center operator OpenAI, for a $20 billion facility planned in Effingham County. The extension from August 14 to August 26, 2026, was granted after PSC staff indicated they were prepared to object to the contract's terms, citing a need for additional information and negotiations. OpenAI's data center, projected to launch in 2028, will require 3.2 gigawatts of energy, equivalent to three times Atlanta's power consumption, to be supplied in phases through 2032.

The PSC had enacted a rule in April 2025 requiring review of all data center contracts over 100 megawatts. During a public meeting, Tom Bond, the agency's director of utilities, confirmed staff's readiness to object, prompting Commissioner Peter Hubbard, a Democrat, to call for the commission to take a more active role and implement "sufficient financial guardrails." Fellow Democratic Commissioner Alicia Johnson echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for rigorous scrutiny for such a substantial energy consumer.

Public commenters also pressed for increased transparency, with Jeff Beauvais of One Hundred Miles advocating for longer review periods and more stringent requirements for utility providers claiming trade secrets, particularly given the complete redaction of the public contract copy. Mark Woodall, legislative chair of the Sierra Club in Georgia, criticized Georgia Power's energy sources for data centers, labeling it an "environmental disaster" and expressing concern for ratepayers, also demanding greater transparency. Hubbard later stated that the extended time may not be sufficient to incorporate the necessary changes.