Sticker shock: Georgia Power hikes, summer heat send bills skyrocketing

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Many Georgians are reporting sticker shock as they open up their recent power bills with Georgia Power.

“Everyone is saying, ‘Wow, what happened to the Georgia Power bills?’” said Gene Milkey, during a Public Service Commission board meeting on Wednesday.

The heat this summer has certainly factored into the rising power bills.

Georgia Power spokesperson Amanda Arnold said the heat is certainly factoring into more expensive power bills.

“It’s very heat-driven, so with more energy usage comes more demand, which it costs more to produce power,” Arnold said.

But the heat is not the only factor driving higher power bills.

Georgia Power energy rates have increased three times since June 2023.

An average retail customer would have seen approximately a 10% total increase for the same amount of power used.

“It has gone up,” ratepayer Rebekah Brown said.

“Show mercy for all of us, because everything else is so expensive, so it would help if utilities was lower,” said Brown.

The increases occurred August 2023 (3.2%, following Vogtle Unit 3 achieving commercial operation), January 2024 (roughly 2 percent, general increase), and May 2024 (roughly 5 percent, following Vogtle Unit 4 achieving commercial operation).

The rate increases help fund Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro.

Arnold said while nuclear energy has a high cost to build, it offers predictable fuel and operating costs over the life of the units.

She said that helps keep energy rates low in the long-term.

“We have a very reliable grid, and it costs money to have that kind of reliability. But it’s very important, and I don’t regret it,” said Tim Echols, a Georgia public cervice commissioner.

The Public Service Commission regulates utility companies on behalf of the public.

Echols said the board has never accepted a proposed rate increase by Georgia Power on its first offer.

“Getting clean energy is not free, and we’re really greening our grid and that’s not cheap to do,” Echols said.

Saving money on your power bill in the summer

• Recycle your refrigerator – By recycling a secondary refrigerator or freezer, customers can save an average of $125 in energy costs per year. By recycling an old refrigerator through Georgia Power’s program, customers can earn $35 and have their old refrigerator picked up for free. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Refrigerator to learn more.
• Think thermostat – Heating and cooling costs make up nearly half of your average power bill. Set manual thermostats to 78°F in the summer for peak efficiency and make the most of programmable thermostats, which help decrease energy use based on your lifestyle. Each degree cooler can increase your bill by 4%.
• Use your fans – A ceiling fan costs only about $1.50 a month and will help you feel cooler without having to adjust your thermostat.
• Air vents – To maintain consistent temperatures throughout your home, keep air vents and s clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs.
• Trim plants and change filters – To ensure your unit receives proper air flow, change filters regularly and trim plants outside your unit.
• Food storage – Set your refrigerator thermostat between 35°F and 38°F, and your freezer to 0°F to run at peak efficiency, but be careful not to overfill and avoid leaving the door open for long periods.
• Heat in the kitchen – Reduce the temperature inside your home by cooking food on outdoor grills, in the microwave or stove top instead of the oven when possible. Match pots and pans to the burner size to minimize heat loss. Use lids on pots to keep in heat.
• Conduct a free, online energy checkup – Take a quick and easy online energy checkup that provides a customized energy usage report and ways to save money. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyCheckUp to get started.
• Home Energy Improvement Program – The program helps customers reduce energy use, save on energy costs and improve the indoor air quality and comfort of their homes. Residential customers can earn rebates from Georgia Power for implementing and installing qualifying energy savings improvements.
• Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program – The program helps eligible income-qualified customers make free energy efficiency improvements in their single-family home. At no cost to the customer, a program contractor performs the recommended energy efficiency upgrades. Customers can learn more and apply at www.GeorgiaPower.com/HEEAP.
• Lighting – Customers can replace their incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs to use 90% less energy. Each bulb can save an average of $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime.

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