Georgia Power: Your Bill is Going Up. Blame the Data Centers.

Okay, so Georgia Power wants to build a whole lotta new power plants – 10,000 megawatts worth – to feed these energy-guzzling data centers. We're talking server farms the size of small cities, all sucking juice 24/7. And who foots the bill? You guessed it, the average schmoe trying to keep the lights on.

The Data Center Gold Rush: Who Really Wins?

Georgia's apparently the new hotness for data centers. Cheap land, lax regulations, and, oh yeah, plenty of electricity. GA Power is all onboard, drooling over the prospect of all this new business. They claim these data centers have committed to using 11,000 megawatts. Committed, huh? Like a marriage vow? I'll believe it when I see it, especially since…

Data center operators, let's be real, are like digital nomads. They chase incentives and cheap power. If the deal ain't sweet enough, they pack up their servers and bounce to another state. So, we're potentially building all this infrastructure based on promises that might evaporate faster than my patience during a Zoom meeting.

The PSC staff – the supposed "adults" in the room – are suggesting a more cautious approach. They're only recommending approving a fraction of GA Power's wish list. A third, to be exact. And even that comes with conditions. Smart move, considering the alternative.

Vogtle's Ghost: A Cautionary Tale

Remember Plant Vogtle? Seven years behind schedule, costs ballooning to double the original estimate. And now we're trusting Georgia Power to manage another massive buildout without screwing it up? Give me a break.

The PSC staff even brought up Vogtle, pointing out the potential for delays and cost overruns. You'd think GA Power would have learned their lesson, but apparently not. They're still pushing for this massive expansion, consequences be damned.

And here's the kicker: these new power plants would nearly double GA Power's "rate base." Translation? They want to justify charging us even more money. A $20 increase on your monthly bill? That's what the PSC staff is projecting if the full buildout gets approved. Twenty bucks might not sound like a ton, but it adds up. Especially when you're already getting gouged for everything else. Analysts warn Georgia Power bills will rise if PSC approves data center buildout - AJC.com

The Ratepayer Revolt: Are They Listening?

Customer frustration over those rising ga power bill's was a big deal in the recent PSC elections. Two Republican incumbents got the boot. You'd think that would send a message, right? That people are fed up with getting shafted by the utility company.

But are they listening? I doubt it. GA Power will file additional testimony next week, probably full of rosy projections and promises they can't keep. And the PSC? Who knows what they'll do. They voted to keep base rates steady through 2028, but they'll decide next year whether to charge us for storm repairs and fuel costs. It's always something.

Oh and lets not forget that the PSC voted this summer to hold Georgia Power's base rates steady through 2028. So, what gives?

Another Scam, Plain and Simple.

I see this as just another power grab disguised as "economic development." The data centers get cheap power, GA Power gets to expand its empire, and the rest of us get stuck with the bill. It ain't right.