Contact: Bill Edge Phone 404-656-2316 Fax 404-656-2341 www.psc.state.ga.us Georgia Public Service Commission NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 244 Washington St S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-4501 Toll free: 800-282-5813 48-10 Tim Echols Takes Oath of Office for Public Service Commission ATLANTA December 21, 2010 Tim Echols took the oath of office today for the Georgia Public Service Commission as he prepares to begin his six-year term on the Commission on January 1, 2011. Governor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Echols as Echols's wife, seven children, parents and other friends and colleagues looked on. Echols won election to the Commission in the general election of November, 2010 after spending 15 years in the non-profit sector. Echols founded "TeenPact" and grew the mock legislative youth program to 38 states in his tenure. He continues to serve on the group's Board of Directors. Echols noted that one of his goals as a college student while at the University of Georgia was to become a statewide elected official and that he has now achieved that goal. Echols' campaign focused on consumer protection, clean energy, and accountability. He plans to travel the state speaking to high school and college students as well as civic groups about the importance of reliable energy at low prices and other aspects of the Commission's responsibilities. Additionally, Echols has a goal to tour every power plant owned by Georgia Power during his first year in office. Tim also has a strong interest in the transportation responsibilities of the Commission. He was instrumental in persuading a Macon television station to do an investigative report on "rogue" moving companies who are in violation of the law and hurting legitimate businesses. Additionally, he promotes the use of CNG (compressed natural gas) as a transportation fuel and hopes one day America will be less dependent on foreign oil. Tim attended North Clayton High School in Riverdale, Georgia and eventually served as Student Council President, and owned his own car clean-up shop, housed in the family auction barn. In 1978, Tim went to Athens to attend the University of Georgia where he met his wife Windy Davis and also served as Baptist Student Union President. They were married shortly after Echols graduated with a degree in English and Windy went on to graduate with a teaching degree from Georgia State. She teaches 2nd grade at Athens Christian School. Windy and Tim have seven children ranging from 10 to 21 years old. They have been married 27 years and live in Winterville, just outside Athens. Tim has a Bachelor of Arts and two Masters Degrees from the University of Georgia. ### Page 2 Georgia Public Service Commission