GPSC GPSC News Spring 2011 Volume 10 Issue 2 *Session ends April 14 *Budget passed *Commission budget cut 7.8 percent in AFY 2011 *FY 2012 cut of 7.8% *Special Session set for August 15 In this issue Legislative Update 2 Commissioners Receive 3 Nuclear Safety Briefing Wise Supports Merger of 3 AT&T with T-Mobile April is Dig Safely Month 3 Echols Announces Crack- 4 down on Illegal Movers Commission Fines Telecom 4 Company Echols Speaks on Nuclear 5 Waste Pipeline Staff Gets Training 5 Legislature Ends 2011 Regular Session L awmakers adjourned sine die on April 14 to though the Commission will absorb a more than end the regular session of eight percent cut in this the 2011 General Assem- year's budget. bly at approximately 20 For FY 2012, H.B. 78, minutes before midnight. the Commission will see With a budget agreement an additional one percent for Fiscal Year 2012 al- reduction above the Gov- ready on the books, the ernor's original 7.8 per- final day was more re- cent budget cut recom- laxed and less dramatic mendation delivered to than in the past. the Legislature in early For the Commission, the January. session meant more Due to the need to reap- budget cuts and fighting portion the state's legis- off efforts to reduce the Chairman Wise presents lative, Congressional, Fiscal Year 2011 Amended Commission Budget to Commission and local Budget by draconian pro- Legislature election districts, the portions. Legislature will return on However, the conference H.B. 77 thanks to the August 15 for a Special hard work and lobbying committee on the budget Session. The Special efforts by the Commis- restored the funding in Session is expected to sioners. Ultimately the FY 2011 Budget in last two to three weeks. Commission Advises Con- 6 sumers on Renting Limos Commission Seeks Additional Facts on a Risk Sharing Mechanism for Georgia Employee News 7 Power's Plant Vogtle Nuclear Power Commission Calendar 8 Next Issue August 2011 The Commission April 5 voted to seek additional evidence and testimony on a risk sharing mechanism to deal with any potential construction cost overruns at the Georgia Power Company Plant Vogtle construction project in Waynesboro, Georgia in Docket 29849. The Commission unani- mously ap- proved a motion proposed by Commission Chairman Stan Wise that re- quires Georgia Power to file testimony de- tailing why the Company be- (Continued on page 2) PAGE 2 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 Legislative News Commission Chairman Stan Wise on March 17 tirement of several experienced told members of the Georgia personnel in our State Senate Economic Devel- Utilities Regula- opment Appropriations Sub- tion Unit in the committee that the Commission next two to three is facing a critical point due to years. We need the past three years of budget the resources to cuts and staff reductions. properly evaluate Chairman Wise presented the utility rate cases Commission's Fiscal Year 2012 against utilities Budget to the Subcommittee as who have unlimited resources." the Senate begins its review of Wise noted that the Utilities Regula- the FY 2012 Budget approved tion Unit now has a vacancy rate of by the House last week. 25%. Commissioner Wise also "We have been able to take the pointed out the need to retain fund- tional Regulatory Research In- cuts through attrition and re- ing for membership dues in the Na- stitute (NRRI) and the National tirements but at some point we Association of Regulatory Utility need to be able to replace criti- If you have a story for the next Commissioners (NARUC). cal positions," said Wise. "We are facing the loss due to re- GPSC News, please send to Bill Edge, bille@psc.state.ga.us. Next issue deadline is April 15, 2011. "NRRI especially provides an (Continued on page 7) Commission Seeks More Information on Vogtle Risk Sharing Proposal (Continued from page 1) sion will convene a hearing to The Commission set a schedule lieves the risk sharing mecha- hear testimony and evidence on at its April 19 meeting. nism proposed by the Commis- this issue on July 6. "Because we are on time and sion's Public Interest Advocacy An amendment proposed by we are under budget, it is ap- Staff will not work and to file Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" propriate that we look at these their own risk sharing mecha- McDonald, Jr. and approved instances where there is disa- nism proposal. The staff could unanimously asks both sides to greement and understand the then respond to the Company's present a timetable for these pro- impact," said Chairman Wise. filing with the Company being ceedings to the Commission so "It becomes clear that there is allowed to file rebuttal to the that all parties will have sufficient an impact on the Company, the Staff's comments. The Commis- time to present their evidence. shareholders and ultimately the ratepayers of this state, and that an agreement on a risk sharing capacity at Plant Vogtle in its it is a huge issue. If the impact is mechanism pursuant to the March 17, 2009 decision in one way or another, I think this Commission's order in this Dock- Docket 27800. Commission needs to fully ex- et on February 25, 2010 in the plore what these issues are," Commission's certification of the Wise added. Chairman Wise's full Plant Vogtle construction project remarks are available on the cost. In that same order the Commission's YouTube channel Commission certified the Georgia at http://www.youtube.com/ Power share of Plant Vogtle pro- ThePSCGa. ject at $6.1 billion. The Commis- The Company and Commission sion certified the need for the Staff have been unable to reach additional units and generating VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 3 Commissioners Briefed on Nuclear Power Safety in Georgia S everal members of the Com- pan and sends its sympathies to construction of two new units at mission received a briefing those afflicted. Plant Vogtle. The co-owners re- on March 14 from Georgia Power The Commission also reiterated main committed to the projects Company officials on the nuclear its ongoing commitment to en- and expected commercial operat- reactor incident in Japan. The sure the health and safety of ing dates for Units 3 and 4 re- Commissioners received details Georgia's citizens, noting that all main 2016 and 2017 respective- about the incident in Japan at nuclear plants in Georgia are op- ly. the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear erating safely. The Commission points out that Power Plant and about the integ- As with every U.S. nuclear power there are a number of key differ- rity and design of the nuclear plant, Southern Company's ences between the Vogtle plant power reactors operated by plants Hatch and Vogtle were de- site near Waynesboro and those Georgia Power and Southern signed, licensed and built to en- in Japan. For example, Japan is Company near Waynesboro and dure environmental hazards and in a high seismic activity area Baxley, Georgia. disasters. whereas the potential for an The Commission wants the pub- In addition, the Commission earthquake near the Vogtle site, lic to know it is monitoring the does not expect the events un- as well as Plant Hatch, is signifi- information coming in from Ja- folding in Japan to have signifi- cantly lower, and the magnitude cant impacts on the licensing and (Continued on page 5) Commissioner Wise Supports Proposed AT&T Purchase of T-Mobile USA Commissioner Stan Wise issued this statement supporting the AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA on March 21, 2011. "Georgia has traditionally been a leader in wireless communications and this proposed merger would build off of that and be good for the state. The Georgia wireless market is fiercely com- Commissioner Wise petitive and this merger will not af- fect that. However, it does appear that the merger would result in 4G LTE reaching many rural parts of the state that otherwise might not get the service. The additional broadband coverage that would result from this expansion of LTE would be good for Georgia consumers. I am supportive of the proposed merger because of the benefits that would accrue to (Continued on page 6) Governor Proclaims April as Dig Safely Month Georgia Governor Nathan Deal proclaimed April 2011 as Dig Safely Month in Georgia. During a ceremony April 11 at the State Capitol, Governor Deal presented a proclamation to Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr. and Commissioner Tim Echols, who accepted on behalf of the Georgia Proclamation Day at the Capitol Public Service Commission, and to Georgia 811 President and CEO Claudette Campbell. Also present were members of the Commission staff and representatives from the Georgia Utility Contractors Association, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Power Com- (Continued on page 6) PAGE 4 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 Echols Announces Crackdown on Illegal Movers Commissioner Tim Echols on March 11 an- rates within the confines of Commission approved tariffs. nounced the first of many pro- After stopping the truck, Depart- posed joint sting operations ment of Public Safety officers between the Georgia Public discovered two moving helpers Service Commission and the faced outstanding criminal war- Georgia Department of Public rants. Officers arrested these Safety. At approximately employees and took them to jail. 10:30 a.m. on March 11, 2011 They also cited the driver of the in the Polo Fields Subdivision vehicle cited for failure to have a in Cumming, Georgia, "Let's medical certificate as required by Move It", a "rogue" moving law and cited a fourth employee company unregistered with the for having a fraudulent Depart- Commission began loading the ment of Driver's Services identi- household goods of a local fication card. Officers summoned homeowner onto a rented car- the company owner to the scene go truck. State law and Com- Commissioner Tim Echols and issued him a citation for fail- mission rules require all house- Commission, provide cargo liabil- ing to register his company with hold goods movers operating ity insurance, medical certificates the Commission as required by in Georgia to register with the for all drivers and to keep their law. He faces a possible $1,000 fine and/or 12 months in jail on elements thumbing their nose at company, a limousine company, the criminal citation. In addition, the law." Echols said he is put- a charter bus company or a non- the Commission may levy up to ting all rogue household goods consensual towing service," said a $5,000 fine for civil charges. movers, limousine companies, Echols. "Under no circumstances should and charter bus companies and Unfortunately for the family in- Georgia consumers hire movers non-consensual towing compa- volved in today's moving incident not registered with the Georgia nies on notice that the Public they were left to unload all of Public Service Commission," said Service Commission will not tol- their possessions themselves Echols. "As the case today erate the unscrupulous exploita- from the cargo truck rented by proves, you not only put your tion of Georgia consumers. the moving company following worldly possession at risk by us- "Georgia consumers should al- the arrest of all the company em- ing a rogue mover, but you put ways check the Public Service ployees. The specific violations your family's safety at risk by Commission web site before hir- include a criminal misdemeanor exposing them to the criminal ing a household goods moving (Continued on page 7) Commission Fines Telecom Company; Sets Hearing for Vogtle Risk Sharing The Commission April 19 telecommunications services (ITS) month for the next six months. unanimously approved a without a valid certificate issued Legacy must make the final consent agreement with Legacy by the Commission in Dockets payment of $25,000 by the end Long Distance International, 8076, 28152 and 30554. Legacy of the eighth month from the Inc. that requires the company must pay $40,000 to the Commis- date of the Commission order. to pay a civil penalty of sion within one month of the All monies received are paid into $125,000 to resolve issues that Commission's order, and make the state treasury. In Docket include providing institutional additional payments of $10,000 a (Continued on page 7) VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 5 Echols Speaks in Savannah on Nuclear Waste Commissioner Tim Echols spoke to Utility and Indus- cooling pools, alone nine." and then later it Echols said he favors a Heritage try officials March 31 in Savan- is moved to dry Foundation proposal that would nah at the Georgia Utilities Co- casks. That dry allow utilities, nuclear technology ordinating Council meeting at waste is what the companies and consumers to the Hyatt Hotel on Bay Street federal govern- manage used nuclear fuel. That about the importance of privat- ment trash truck plan suggests that valuing used izing the nuclear waste man- is supposed to fuel against the cost of perma- agement process and getting it pick up." nent burial is a calculation best out of government hands. Echols said that done by the companies that pro- "We have in this country over while he wished the government vide fuel management services. 60,000 tons of high-level nu- would take the waste to the par- "Congress should repeal the pen- clear waste stored at more tially completed Yucca Mountain ny per kilowatt-hour flat fee that than 100 sites in 39 states, and repository in Nevada as promised, Georgia rate-payers have been the 104 commercial reactors he is not holding his breath. paying all these years," said Ech- produce about 2000 additional "It would take nine Yucca moun- ols. "The total paid in so far by tons of additional used fuel tains by the turn of century to exceeds $1.2 billion--just for our each and every year," said Ech- house all the waste we are produc- state." ols. "The hottest waste is in the ing," he said. "Getting one Yucca (Continued on page 7) has proved almost impossible, let McGriff Speaks to Washington, D.C. Pipeline Meeting Pipeline Safety Director Danny McGriff spoke to the Pipeline Safety Executive Forum on April 18 in Washington, D.C. McGriff appeared at the invitation of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. McGriff spoke to the group on excavation damage, inferior and aging pipes and pipeline construction quality. Commissioners Get Nuclear Briefing (Continued from page 3) that requirement for of any earthquake is the Vogtle site. likewise much lower. The AP1000 relies on The Vogtle site was passive safety systems evaluated for the most that rely on gravity, severe earthquake that natural circulation, might occur once in a convection, com- 10,000 year period. pressed gas and con- The reactor design se- densation to maintain lected for AP1000 de- safe operation and sign greatly exceeds (Continued on page 6) Pipeline Safety Staff Attends Training During the week of March 7, 2011 members of the Commission's Facilities Protection Staff attended a General Pipeline Safety Awareness course in Leak City in Athens, Alabama. Jason Smith, Lisa McKnight, David Lewis and Chris Swann gained knowledge in training on Methods conducting a safe in- and Procedures for vestigation recogniz- during an ac- ing, eval- cident involv- uating ing hazardous and con- materials. trolling In addition, hazard- they received ous sub- stances. PAGE 6 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 Commission Advises Consumers on Renting Limos and other passenger carriers Prom and graduation season is Commission's website. sines for prom night events. here again and the Georgia "We want to make sure parents "Limousine companies without Public Service Commission offers and their children do not be- proper insurance and back- some helpful advice for Georgians come victims of illegal and un- ground checks can place your who may be hiring passenger car- scrupulous chauffeurs," said children at risk. Make sure you riers for these events. Commission Chairman Stan only hire properly certified and Be aware of illegal companies. Wise. "Check out our web site licensed companies," said Ech- Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. and make sure the company ols. 46-7-2, 46-7-3, 46-7-85.3, 46-7- you are considering is listed as Chauffeurs who drive for li- 85.4 and 46-7-12) all passenger certified and vetted by the Com- censed limousine carriers are carrier companies that fall under mission." required to have permits which the Commission's authority and Commissioner Tim Echols, are only issued to drivers that operate within the state are re- who chairs the Commission's work for limousine companies quired to be registered and have Transportation Committee, says approved by the Commission proof of insurance on file with the the Commission is also con- and who have successfully com- Commission. A list of the licensed cerned about the safety of high pleted a criminal history investi- companies can be found on the school students who rent limou- gation from the Georgia Depart- ment of Driver Services. All pas- lates the rates charged by lim- and state laws including prohibi- senger carriers that fall under the ousine companies so shop tions on serving alcoholic bever- Commission's authority are also around for the most competitive ages to underage minors. Any required to obtain from the Geor- price and confirm that price to violations should be reported to gia Department of Revenue an avoid last minute surprises. local police and the Georgia De- intrastate registration permit and Parents should be aware that partment of Revenue. vehicle ID stamps. under state law limousine com- When making your reservations panies are allowed to sell alco- always get a written confirmation. holic beverages only if they have As a reminder, contact the com- been issued a permit to sell al- pany a few days prior to the coholic beverages from the scheduled event to confirm the Georgia Department of Revenue. arrangements. Remember that However, limousine companies the Commission no longer regu- must obey all applicable local Dig Safely Month Wise Supports AT&T Merger Nuclear Briefing (Continued from page 3) pany, Atlanta Gas Light Company, Atmos Energy, AT&T and STS, who are involved in the prevention of damage to Georgia's underground utility infrastructure. (Continued from page 3) Georgians." "Additionally, it is my understanding the AT&T Wireless will remain headquartered in Atlanta. It is huge for Atlanta and the state of Georgia that we are home to the largest wireless company in the U.S." Wise is Commission Chairman in 2011. (Continued from page 5) shut down safely. Many of the enhanced features of the AP1000 design are specifically intended to eliminate the dependence upon mechanical and electrical support systems to keep the fuel cool during an event. VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 7 Employee News Congratulations Sympathy To Michelle Thebert and husband Matt on the birth of their second child, Collin Thomas Thebert. He was born at 11:55 pm on April 14, 2011. He weighed seven pounds and seven ounces. Collin and Michelle are doing well. Condolences to: most needed and appreciat- Dona Cucich on the pass- ed. Thank you for being a real ing of her husband Steven on family for me. I appreciate you April 12. The funeral was held all." on April 16 at Arlington Memo- rial Gardens in Sandy Springs. To Lisa Jensen on the passing of "I just wanted to thank all of her brother on April 11. you who have expressed your "I would like to sincerely thank sympathy and support to me everyone for your prayers, cards, during my husband's illness and generous donations. Your and death. I have felt the love kind and thoughtful expression of from you all during my whole sympathy was definitely comfort- long time ordeal and this cur- ing and a source of strength for rent expression of kindness is my family and me in this difficult time." Commission Fines Telecom Firm; Sets Hearing Schedule for Plant Vogtle Risk Sharing Illegal Mover Sting (Continued from page 4) June 10-Staff files testimony (Continued from page 4) 29849, the Commission also ap- June 24-Georgia Power files charge of O.C.G.A. 46-7-3 and proved a Procedural and Schedul- rebuttal 46-7-39 for failure to have a ing Order for the special hearing July 9-Hearing Commission certificate. The com- in the Plant Vogtle Construction July 18-Briefs and orders due pany will also face civil violations Monitoring Report on the pro- The Commission will issue a before the Commission under posed Risk Sharing Mechanism. decision during the August 2, O.C.G.A. 46-2-90 and 46-2-91. The hearing and filing schedule is 2011 Administrative Session. The criminal charge will be in the as follows: form of a Uniform Traffic Citation April 27-Georgia Power files tes- in the State Court of Forsyth timony County. Wise Testifies on Commission Budget Echols on Nuclear Waste (Continued from page 2) 2008, the Commission has seen invaluable resource for staff a 22% overall reduction in state training through webinars that funds. reduces travel expenses," added Commissioner Wise is serving Wise. He noted these organiza- as Commission Chairman in tions enable the Commission to 2011. He has served on the say abreast of national issues Commission since 1995 and this that affect all Georgians. is his fourth term as Chairman. The Governor's recommended FY 2012 Budget for the Commission is a 7.8% cut to the Commis- sion's FY 2011 budget. Since (Continued from page 5) Echols said the events in Japan are tragic, and we certainly don't want to ever see it happen again. "Hopefully, this will energize our Congress to take nuclear waste management out of the hands of government bureaucrats," he said. PAGE 8 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 Commission News Commission Calendar Georgia State Holidays For 2011 New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Robert E. Lee's Birthday Washington's Birthday Christmas January 3 January 17 April 25 May 30 July 4 September 5 October 10 November 11 November 24 November 25 December 26 December 23 May 2011 4-Administrative Session 9-10-Georgia Power hearing 13-Committees 18-Administrative Session 20-Vogtle hearing 24-Special Administrative Session 30-holiday June 2011 2-Committees 7-Administrative Session 16-Committees Commission Calendar 23-Administrative Session 23-Georgia Power hearing 24-Committees July 2011 4-Holiday 5-Administrative Session 6-Georgia Power hearing 14-Committees 21-Administrative Session 21-Georgia Power hearing 28-Committees NARUC Summer Meeting 2011 July 17-20, 2011 Los Angeles, California Annual Convention 2011 November 13-16, 2010 St. Louis, Missouri Winter Meeting 2012 February 5-8, 2012 Washington, D.C. SEARUC Annual Meeting 2011 June 12-15, 2011 Nashville, Tennessee GPSC ONLINE:.psc.state.ga.us The Public Information Office publishes GPSC News for the Georgia Public Service Commission. Information for GPSC News should be sent to: Bill Edge, 244 Washington St. S.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30334. Discussion of regulatory matters in this newsletter should not be construed as legal interpretations of orders or rules issued by the Commission. COMMISSIONERS Stan Wise, Chairman Chuck Eaton, Vice-Chairman Tim Echols H. Doug Everett Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deborah Flannagan EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Reece McAlister