Georgia Democrats turn data center backlash into fight for utility commission control
Georgia Democrats are leveraging public discontent over rising electricity bills and data center expansion to gain control of the state's Public Service Commission. The commission oversees utility rates, which have increased partly due to data center demand. Environmental groups are also scrutinizing a Serverfarm data center project and its 'pop-up power plant' in Newton County for alleged permit violations.
Georgia Democrats are making a concerted effort to flip control of the state's Public Service Commission (PSC), aiming to capitalize on public backlash over soaring electricity bills and the rapid proliferation of data centers. The five-member commission, which is responsible for setting electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications rates, has seen increased public attention following six PSC-approved rate increases for Georgia Power customers since 2023. These increases are partly attributed to the costs of new nuclear reactors and the growing electricity demand from data centers.
Commission member Peter Hubbard, a Democrat, is seeking reelection and is joined by fellow Democrat Shelia Edwards in a bid to secure a 3-2 Democratic majority on the PSC. Their efforts follow historic gains in a special election last year that reduced the Republican majority to 3-2. The commission's regulatory role has become increasingly complex due to Georgia's booming data center industry, which now hosts over 250 facilities, fueling debates over who should bear the costs of new energy infrastructure.
Adding to the controversy, Serverfarm, a data center developer, has drawn scrutiny for its