Georgia Power deal to power OpenAI data center is approved, with some fine print
Staff for the Georgia Public Service Commission approved a deal for Georgia Power to supply electricity to a $20 billion OpenAI data center near Savannah. The agreement includes new protections for ratepayers, addressing concerns from environmental and consumer advocacy groups about the risks posed by data center energy demands.
Staff for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday officially approved a contract for Georgia Power to provide electricity to a $20 billion OpenAI data center project planned near Savannah, Georgia. The approval, submitted just an hour before a 4 p.m. deadline, also incorporated new provisions designed to protect ratepayers should the data center, or similar facilities, discontinue service prematurely.
Environmental and consumer advocacy organizations, while acknowledging the agreement as a positive step, emphasized that further actions are necessary from regulators. They cautioned about the potential financial risks that the rapid expansion of data centers could pose to residential ratepayers in the state. The joint statement confirming the agreement was signed by both the Georgia Public Service Commission staff and Georgia Power.