Georgia Public Service Commission Faces Busy and Challenging Case Load in 2019
Tuesday, January 29th, 2019
The Georgia Public Service Commission will face an unprecedented number of major proceedings and rate cases in 2019, beginning with the filing of Georgia Power Company’s Integrated Resource Plan on January 31. Both investor owned utilities, the Georgia Power Company and the Atlanta Gas Light Company, are expected to ask for increases in their base rates. The Commission will also continue to hold hearings on the Plant Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report and conduct hearings on the Atlanta Gas Light Company Capacity Supply Plan and Liberty Utilities’ Gas Supply Plan.
“Our staff will be pushed and our staff will be challenged,” said Commission Chairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald. ““Our staff will be occupied with analyzing and reviewing these rate cases, supervising our outside consultants and preparing testimony for the hearings. Our small staff of utility analysts and engineers as well as support staff will be incredibly busy.”
The Commission will designate two staff sections to consider these contested cases.
The Public Interest Advocacy Staff. The Public Interest Advocacy Staff is responsible for performing an independent evaluation of the filed case from the standpoint of promoting the public interest and advocating for that position. The Public Interest Advocacy Staff is considered a party to the case and may negotiate settlements with other parties, in the public interest.
Advisory Staff. The Commissioner Advisory Staff is not a party to this case, but will act as a technical advisor to the Commissioners. They will make recommendations to the Commission based exclusively on their own independent evaluation of the facts contained in the record.
The anticipated cases are as follows:
Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The Georgia Power Company is expected to file its forecast for the Company’s projected energy resources needed to serve its customers for the next 20 years. Once the Commission determines the fee as allowed by statute the Commission has 120 days to render a decision. (O.C.G.A. §46-3A-2(c))
Georgia Power rate case. The Company is expected to file its request for a change in its base rates on July 1, 2019. State law requires the Commission to issue a decision within six months. (O.C.G.A. §46-2-26) Georgia Power base rates have been frozen since 2014.
Georgia Power Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) Report. The Company is expected to file its 20th VCM Report on February 28, 2019 and file its 21st VCM report on August 31, 2019.
Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) rate case. AGLC is expected to file a base rate case on June 1, 2019. AGLC has not filed a rate case since 2010.
AGL Capacity Supply Plan and Liberties Utilities Gas Supply Plan. These are plans that detail how the utilities will ensure natural gas customers in Georgia have adequate supplies of natural gas to meet their needs. These cases will be heard in the fall of 2019.
The following is the Commission Case Calendar for 2019 with hearing and decision meeting dates:
APRIL
GPC Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)
Monday, April 8, 2019
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
MAY
20th Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) Report
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
GPC IRP
Monday, May 13, 2019
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Thursday, May 16, 2019
JUNE
GPC IRP
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
GPC 20th VCM
Thursday, June 27, 2019
JULY
No hearings
AUGUST
GPC 20th VCM
Thursday, August 1, 2019
SEPTEMBER
Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) Rate Case
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Liberty Utilities Gas Supply Plan/AGL Capacity Supply Plan
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
AGL Capacity Supply Plan
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Special Administrative Session: AGA Capacity Supply Plan & Liberty Utilities Gas Supply Plan
Thursday, September 26, 2019
GPC 2019 Rate Case
Monday, September 30, 2019
OCTOBER
GPC 2019 Rate Case
Tuesday, October, 2019
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
AGL Rate Case
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Thursday, October 24, 2019
NOVEMBER
GPC 2019 Rate Case
Monday, November 4, 2019
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
GPC 21st VCM
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
AGL Rate Case
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
GPC 2019 Rate Case
Monday, November 25, 2019
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
DECEMBER
GPC 21st VCM
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Thursday, December 12, 2019
