Ga. regulators push back on Ossoff inquiry about data centers

Georgia's Public Service Commission (PSC) is actively pushing back against an inquiry from Senator Jon Ossoff regarding the escalating power costs driven by data centers. Senator Ossoff had requested detailed plans from the PSC on how it intends to regulate data center power consumption and safeguard consumers from increased utility bills. The PSC maintains that it has already provided such outlines and asserts that Georgia is a leader in data center regulation. This dispute comes amid a backdrop of increasing statewide and national opposition to data center development. Several Georgia counties, including Richmond, Burke, McDuffie, Columbia, and Aiken, are experiencing ongoing public pushback. As an example of this growing resistance, a Columbia County resident has filed appeals after Superior Court orders dismissed their lawsuit against county leaders over two data center decisions. The case is now pending review by the Georgia Court of Appeals. The article also highlights the financial impact of the data center boom, noting that Georgia Power, the state's largest energy provider, has implemented six rate hikes in the past three years. Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy, attributes a significant portion of rising average monthly bills to increased energy demand. Experts predict that energy consumption by commercial buildings, including data centers, in Georgia will more than double in the next five years, potentially adding billions to electricity rates if not adequately managed. While Georgia Power has announced a rate freeze and committed to using revenue from large customers to offset resident costs, concerns persist about the long-term affordability of energy amidst data center expansion.