Georgia Public Service Commission GPSC News Fall 2015 Fall 2015 Volume 13 Issue 4 *$5 million over next five years *Money allocated from Universal Service Fund *Community Action agencies, Salvation Army and H.E. A.T. to administer program In this issue Commission Assists Low- 2 income Natural Gas Consumers 2 Commissioners Take Part in 3 King's Bay Solar Project Groundbreaking Commission Celebrates 4 Lifeline Awareness Week Commissioner Approves 5 Vogtle Expenses Staff Tours Vogtle 5 Commission Actions May Lessen EPA Rule Impact 6 Commission Approves Assistance for Natural Gas Customers The Commission September 1 approved $5 million in grants over the next five years to enable three community service agencies to assist both low- income citizens and low- income senior citizens in paying natural gas bills and replacing or repairing natu- ral gas furnaces and water heaters. The agencies who will actually administer these programs are Hope- Works, composed of six Community Action Agencies through their Emergency Gas Light Company dis- administers under the Program, The Salvation Ar- tribution system. 1997 Natural Gas Com- my and the Heat Energy The Commission will al- petition and Deregula- Assistance Team or locate the grant money tion Act. Georgia law H.E.A.T. The grants for from the Atlanta Gas allows the Commission assistance with natural gas Light Company Univer- to allocate funds from bills are only available for sal Service Fund (USF), the USF for three main customers on the Atlanta a fund the Commission (Continued on page 2) Commission to Review Southern Company and AGL Employee News 7 Resources Merger Commission Calendar 8 Next Issue February 2016 The Commission reacted to the August 18, 2015 announcement of the proposed merger between Southern Company and AGL Resources, both headquartered in Atlanta. Both companies have affiliates under the regulatory authority of the Commission, Georgia Power Company of the Southern Company, and Atlanta Gas Light Company and Georgia Nat- ural Gas of AGL Resources. At this time the Commission has not received any filings related to the merger. If the Commission receives a filing, staff will review it to determine what action is needed. Among the issues the Commission may review in a proposed merger are what impact it could have on the customers of the companies under the Commission's jurisdiction, what impact it could have on the public interest generally, and whether it complies with all applicable laws and rules of the Commission. "While I will withhold final judgment until the commission has an opportunity to (Continued on page 2) PAGE 2 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4 Commission Approves Assistance (Continued from page 1) purposes: 1. Ensure natural gas is available in areas served by natural gas marketers; 2. Extend natural gas service to under or unserved areas; and 3. Assist low-income residential consumers in times of emergency as determined by the Commission under O.C.G.A 46-4161. Commission Chairman Chuck Eaton said, "These programs help to ensure the most vulnerable low-income citizens on AGLC's system have natural gas heating during the winter." If you have a story for the next GPSC News, please send to Bill Edge, bille@psc.state.ga.us. Next issue deadline is January 15, 2016. "Today's action continues this Commission's long standing tradition of assisting low-income Georgia natural gas customers with their heating bills and enabling them to stay warm this winter," said Commission Vicechairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald. "When the Georgia legislature deregulated natural gas in 1997, they tasked the Commission with being a steward of the Universal Service Fund created as a part of the legislation," said Commissioner Tim Echols. "Today's action of the Commission to disburse funding for low-income heating assistance through HopeWorks, The Salvation Army and H.E.A.T. will benefit the poorest in our state." The HopeWorks Emergency Program will provide grants to replace and/or repair natural gas furnaces and water heaters for low-income senior citizens in their respective areas. The six agencies involved in the Emergency Program are: Central Savannah River Coastal Ga. Area Community Action Authority Gainesville 9th District Oppor- tunity, Inc. HopeWorks (Formerly Re- source Service Ministries) Middle Georgia and Heart of Georgia Community Action Agency Tallatoona CAP, Inc. "I would like to thank the Com- mission for their vision and their compassion for low-income senior citizens here in the state of Georgia and their vote of confidence for continuing this much needed program," said Michael Kimsey, Executive Director of HopeWorks. You can contact HopeWorks at http:// hopeworks4us.org or by calling 404-872-0167. The Salvation Army will provide grants to low-income customers on the Atlanta Gas Light Company distribution system. The Sal- vation Army will receive and concern of the Georgia $200,000 a year for five years Public Service Commission," beginning in 2016. Since 2011, said Michael J. Bradford, Direc- The Salvation Army has distrib- tor of Project SHARE. uted more than $900,000 to over 12,000 households in Geor- H.E.A.T. will also provide grants gia from USF grants provided by to low-income customers. the Commission. To contact The H.E.A.T. will receive $200,000 a Salvation Army, call 1-800-25- year for five years beginning in SHARE or visit their web site at 2016. Since 2008, H.E.A.T has www.salvationarmygeorgia.org. provided more than $689,000 "We are looking forward to serv- in assistance for nearly 1,800 ing thousands of additional cli- households in Georgia. Inter- ents who otherwise would not be ested parties can contact served without the generosity H.E.A.T. by calling 678- 406.0212 or visiting them on the web at www.heatga.org. "This funding will help thousands of low-income Georgians throughout the state who will need emergency energy assistance and we are happy to have this funding to be able to help them," said Janet Joseph, Executive Director of H.E.A.T. Any unused funds will carry over to the next year. Merger choices," said Commissioner Doug Everett of Albany. (Continued from page 1) "Anything that helps Georgia review this merger, I am im- consumers is of interest to me," pressed that both Southern said Commissioner Tim Ech- Company and AGL Resources ols. "The commission will review are committed to continuing to the merger and I will be looking expand their lines and pipelines to see if it could potentially help to support economic develop- provide additional natural gas ment throughout Georgia, and infrastructure, economies of to keep a robust, competitive scale, more expertise to Georgia market place for energy availa- Power, and ultimately more cus- ble for customers to have real (Continued on page 7) VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4 GPSC NEWS PAGE 3 Commissioners Take Part in King's Bay Naval Base Solar Project Groundbreaking C ommission Chairman ViceLauren "Bubba" McDonald and Com- missioner Doug Everett took part September 10, 2015 in the groundbreaking ceremony for Georgia Power's solar project at King's Bay Naval Submarine Base near St. Mary's on the southeast Georgia coast. Com- missioner McDonald opened the ceremony with a rousing rendiNavy, Georgia Power officials and tion of the National Anthem. Commissioners turn first dirt at Among the more than 100 at- groundbreaking tendees were Department of the Navy officials, local Navy com- manders and representatives of Commissioner McDonald in relocal government and business marks to the attendees noted that organizations. Commissioner McDonald gives remarks at the groundbreaking today's groundbreaking was due to a team effort between the Georgia Public Service Commission, the Georgia Power Compa- ny and the U.S. Navy. "At the end of next year, we will have close to one thousand megawatts increase in rates. "We continue of solar power in this state," said to make sure our people have Commissioner McDonald. He not- electrons when you flip the ed the progress in solar develop- switch, have the ability to pay for ment in Georgia has taken place it and have the reliability to be without mandates and without an clean and there for a very long time," McDonald added. Other speakers were Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment Dennis V. McGinn; Paul Bowers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Power Company; and Navy Captain James W. Jenks, Commanding Officer, King's Bay Naval Submarine Base. "This project again demonstrates that renewable energy can be cost effective with no upward pressure on rates while generating clean carbon free energy. This partnership between the Navy and Georgia Power will also contribute to national security Georgia Power President Paul Bowers speaks at the ground- breaking and help the Navy meet its renewable energy goals," said Commissioner Everett. "Helping our military meet their energy goals helps the whole state, and quite possibly avoids base closures," said Commissioner Tim Echols. "This is yet another way Georgia is leading the nation." The Commission on December 16, 2014 approved the Memo- (Continued on page 5) PAGE 4 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 Commission Celebrates Lifeline Awareness Week Governor Nathan Deal joined with the Com- vice discount of at least $9.25 per month. More mission in proclaiming information on program September 14-20, 2015 as eligibility, rules and key National Lifeline Aware- messages is available at ness Week in Georgia. Ac- http://www.fcc.gov/ cess to local emergency lifeline/outreach. services and community "We want to make eligi- resources is vital to all res- ble Georgians aware of idents. Lifeline helps low- this program which can income consumers connect provide this crucial link to to the nation's communi- services and family in cations networks, find times of need," said jobs, access health care Commission Chairman services, connect with Chuck Eaton. Lifeline family, and call for help in isolation. Under the federal Awareness week is a nationwide Lifeline an emergency. For some, program, telephone customers program who between the Commis- a local phone can be the participate or are eligible for certain sion, the National Association of difference between social public assistance programs are enti- Regulatory Utility Commissioners connection and complete tled to receive a basic telephone ser- (NARUC) and the Federal Com- munications Commission to pub- Federal Public Housing Assistance "I am pleased with the federal licize the Lifeline Program. (Section 8), Low-Income Home government's emphasis on As of June 30, 2015, there are Energy Assistance Program, Na- strictly enforcing eligibility for 433,641 Georgians who are re- tional School Lunch Program's this important program. We ceiving this credit but there are free lunch program; or Tempo- have been able to reduce dupli- thousands more who could qual- rary Assistance for Needy Fami- cate and fraudulent Lifeline ac- ify but are not signed up. A con- lies, or senior citizens discount counts in Georgia by 60 percent sumer is automatically qualified from power or gas company. A over the past two years, " said to receive the Lifeline discount if consumer, whose household in- Commissioner Doug Everett. he or she currently participates come is equal to or below 135% The Lifeline program has under- in any one of the following pro- of the Federal Poverty Guidelines gone a transformation in recent grams: Medicaid, Supplemental for a household of that size, will years to improve program effi- Nutrition Assistance Program, also qualify for the discount. ciency and combat waste, fraud Supplemental Security Income, and abuse to ensure that only those eligible are receiving this her household currently has more vital support. Program rules than one Lifeline discounted ser- and requirements that consum- vice, they must select a single ers should know include: provider immediately or be sub- Lifeline is available only to eligi- ject to penalties. ble consumers. Existing Lifeline subscribers must Only low-income consumers recertify their eligibility every with proof of eligibility are qual- year and should respond to their ified to enroll. Lifeline providers' attempts to Only one Lifeline benefit is per- recertify eligibility. Subscribers mitted per household. Federal must verify that they remain eli- rules prohibit consumers from gible to participate in the Lifeline receiving more than one Lifeline program once each calendar service. If a consumer or his or year. Subscribers who fail to recertify their eligibility will be de-enrolled from the Lifeline Program. To sign up, consumers should contact their prospective telecommunications provider. Consumers should be aware that not all providers offer the Lifeline discount and should contact any potential provider before making a commitment. Consumers can find more information at: http://www.fcc.gov/ lifeline/outreach. Consumers VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 GPSC NEWS PAGE 5 Commission Verifies and Approves Plant Vogtle Construction Expenses The Commission August 2015 for the Company's direct testi- forecasted in-service dates as 18 unanimously ap- mony and on June 23, 2015 for the part of its future Vogtle Con- proved Georgia Power Com- Public Interest Advocacy Staff and struction Monitoring filings. pany's request to verify and other parties' testimony. According The Company to provide for approve the expenditures in to the Company's latest filings with each delay scenario an estimate the Twelfth Vogtle Construc- the Security and Exchange Commis- of total project cost and the full tion Monitoring Report for the sion, Unit Three will begin commer- embedded cost revenue require- period between July 1, 2014, cial operation in late 2019, and Unit ments associated with the total and December 31, 2014, in Four will begin operation in late project cost result that the Com- Docket Number 29849. 2020. pany expects customers have The total amount approved "We continue to support Plant Vogtle and will continue to incur both for this period for the Vogtle as a project that will provide clean, during construction and over the expansion is $169 million, carbon free energy for Georgia's fu- operating lives of the Units. bringing Georgia Power's cu- ture," said Commission Chairman The Company to develop and mulative construction and Chuck Eaton. implement a mechanism to track capital costs verified to date The Commission decision also re- replacement fuel costs in all fu- at $2.966 billion. quires: The Company to continue to ture reporting periods. The decision follows Commis- provide delay scenarios of 24, 36, The Commission on March 17, sion hearings held on June 2, and 48 months beyond the current 2009, certified Georgia Power's share of the cost for the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Construction Project as $6.114 billion. Plant Vogtle is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, City of Dalton Utilities and the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia. More information about Plant Vogtle can be found on the Commission website, www.psc.state.ga.us, under Docket Numbers 29849 and 27800. Staff Tours Plant Vogtle Construction Site From left to right: Bill Edge, Lynn Page, Chris Wells OPB, Kelsey Tomblin OPB, Heather Aquino OPB Commission staff members Bill Edge and Lynn Page accompanied three budget analysts from the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget on September 2, 2015 on a tour of the Plant Vogtle Construction site near Waynesboro, Georgia. The OPB staff members were Chris Wells, Kelsey Tomblin and Heather Aquino. Lifeline King's Bay (Continued from page 4) (Continued from page 3) and Georgia Power will develop can find Lifeline providers by State randum of Understanding be- this large scale solar project of (www.lifelinesupport.org) and a tween Georgia Power and the approximately 258 acres on the Lifeline Eligibility pre-screening U.S. Navy to initiate this project King's Bay Naval Submarine tool (http:// which is scheduled to come on- Base. Georgia Power will build, www.lifelinesupport.org/ls/am-i- line in 2016. The project is own, operate and maintain the eligible.aspx). based upon capacity from the 42 megawatt (MW) direct cur- 2014 cancellation of Plant Mitch- rent (DC) or 30 megawatt alter- ell in Albany, Georgia conversion nating current (AC) solar farm to biomass. that will produce power for its The Department of the Navy (Continued on page 6) PAGE 6 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 Commission's Previous Actions May Lessen Effects of E.P.A. Clean Power Rule The proactive decisions of the units will produce no carbon In 2014 the Commission apCommission over the past emissions or other greenhouse proved Georgia Power's purchase six years will lessen some of the gases for at least sixty years. of 250 megawatts of wind pow- onerous effects of the U.S. Envi- Since 2011, working with the er, another clean energy source, ronmental Protection Agency Commission, Georgia Power has which produces no carbon or Clean Power Plan rule released increased their purchases of solar other greenhouse gases. It is on August 3, 2015. These deci- generation from almost nothing expected that having this carbon sions have put Georgia ahead of to approximately 1 gigawatt of -free energy source will assist many other states in this pro- electricity. If all of this solar was the state in meeting its carbon cess if the state is forced to im- in production today, Georgia emissions targets under the new plement the EPA mandated re- Power would have the fourth rule. ductions in carbon emissions. largest solar portfolio in the na- Georgia Power is in the process Those actions are listed below: tion. In 2013 the Commission of adding 282 megawatts of In 2009, the Commission ap- approved the closing of 16 of homegrown, Georgia biomass proved the plan to construct two Georgia Power Company's coal capacity to our grid. new nuclear power units currently and oil fired electric generating Georgia Power Company, at the under construction at Georgia units, a decision that has already urging of the Commission, has Power's Plant Vogtle near reduced carbon dioxide emissions increased its demand-side power Waynesboro, Georgia. These and other greenhouse gases. initiative and energy efficiency programs. Both of these pro- exact effect this rule, should it in our state. The rule will seri- grams have reduced power con- take effect, will have on Georgia's ously tie the Commission's sumption, which in turn reduces electric rates. We believe that, hands in our Integrated Re- greenhouse gases. overall, it will increase electric source Planning (IRP) process These programs, implemented power rates in Georgia and nation- that allows this Commission, by Georgia Power under Com- wide. The Commission will contin- working with our investor- mission orders, will make the ue to provide input to the Georgia owned utility and other interest- process less difficult for Georgia Environmental Protection Division ed parties, to decide on the to meet its initial emission re- as it works to complete the com- generation mix that best pro- duction goals in 2022. In addi- pliance plan for our state. vides reliable electricity at rea- tion, if the Commission stays on However, the Commission still be- sonable rates. This rule may its current course, it will also be lieves the rule is a federal over- significantly limit fuel diversity less difficult to meet Georgia's reach and tramples over the care- and increase the cost of electric 2030 goals. However, it is diffi- ful planning which has achieved power in Georgia and nation- cult to predict with certainty the competitive and reliable electricity wide. Commission Approves Liberty Utilities Gas King's Bay Supply Plan The Commission September 15 approved Liberty Utilities 2015-2016 Gas Supply Plan. The Commission approved a stipulation agreement between the Commission staff and Liberty Utilities. This is an annual proceeding to ensure that Liberty Utilities customers will have an adequate supply of natural gas during this time. Liberty Utilities witness Francisco "Choco" DaFonte and Commission Utility Analyst Tara Surratt testify at hearing customers, including King's Bay. The scheduled completion date is at the end of 2016. This project is part of the Navy's one gigawatt (GW) initiative of renewable energy into procurement by the end of 2015. The Navy project will join three projects on three Georgia U.S. Army bases that stem from a 2007 decision by the Commission which authorized the Company (Continued on page 7) VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 GPSC NEWS PAGE 7 Employee News Sympathy Merger The Commission recently lost a friend and valued colleague. Joyce Johnson, who previously worked in Consumer Affairs, passed away on September 1, 2015. Each of us not only grieves at the passing of a tremendous individual but also for the loss her family suffers. The funeral service was held September 8 at Berean Christian Church Community Center in Stone Mountain. (Continued from page 2) Joyce started at the Com- tomer choice." mission in 2005 and left The focus of any Commission in 2008. She had previ- review of the a merger be- ously worked over 30 tween Southern Company and years with Atlanta Gas AGL Resources will be on its Light Company. mission to exercise its authori- ty and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, relia- ble, and reasonably-priced tel- ecommunications, electric and natural gas service from finan- cially viable and technically competent companies. Commission Receives Honor from Solar Group King's Bay The Georgia Solar Energy Association honored the (Continued from page 6) to build three 30 MW renew- Commission with its "Solar able projects provided that Stars Awards" during a recep- the cost of the projects is tion on August 6. equal to or less than the Sharon Lee, President of GSEA, Company's avoided costs, presented the award. On hand meaning no upward pressure for the presentation were on rates. These projects will Commissioners Tim Echols, contribute towards the De- Lauren "Bubba" McDonald partment of Defense man- and Stan Wise. dates regarding renewable energy and energy security and represent a significant investment in Georgia Army bases. Commissioners Wise, McDonald and Echols with GSEA President Sharon Lee Everett Grandson to Swim for University of Florida Taylor Delk, grandson of Commissioner Doug Everett, has signed a scholarship to swim on the University of Florida varsity swim team. Delk, who attends Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County, excels in distance free as well as backstroke. The high school senior really turned things up this summer in backstroke, garnering Olym- pic Trials cuts in both the 100 and 200 meter backstroke races after he placed 6th in the 200 and 8th in the 100 at the 2015 U.S. Junior Nationals. Looking ahead, he will certainly add depth to the Florida distance and backstroke groups, and he's been improving at such a rapid rate that he might be ready to score in a bigger manner when he gets to Gainesville next year. Taylor is the son of Boyd and Deneice Delk. PAGE 8 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 Georgia State Holidays for 2016 New Year's Day M.L. King, Jr. Day State Holiday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day State Holiday Washington's Birthday Christmas Day January 1 January 18 April 25 May 30 July 4 September 5 October 10 November 11 November 24 November 25 December 27 December 26 Commission Calendar November 2015 3-Administrative Session 5-Georgia Power hearing 11-State Holiday 12-Committee 17-Administrative Session 24-Committees 26-Holiday 27-Holiday December 2015 1-Administrative Session 1-Georgia Power hearing 10-Committees Commission Calendar 15-Administrative Session 31-Committees January 2016 1-Holiday 5-Administrative Session 14-Committees 18-Holiday 19-Administrative Session 28-Committees NARUC Annual Meeting 2015 November 8-11, 2015 Austin, Texas Winter Meeting 2016 February 2-5, 2016 Washington, D.C. Summer Meeting 2016 24-27 July, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee SEARUC Annual Meeting 2016 June 12-15, 2016 Palm Beach, Florida 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 Chuck Eaton, Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald Jr., Vice-Chairman Tim G. Echols Doug Everett Stan Wise EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deborah Flannagan EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Reece McAlister