Georgia Public Service Commission Summer Volume 18, Issue 3 The PSC Pulse SEARUC IN GEORGIA Opening session: some of the GA PSC staff More than 250 people gathered at beautiful Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia June 11-14, 2017 for the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners under the theme "Leading the Way-Nuclear, Solar, and Leadership." SEARUC President Stan Wise of Georgia presided over the meeting. The gathering heard from keynote speakers Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Colette Honorable and Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Conference sessions included a range of panels covering Nuclear Energy, Broadband, Renewable Energy, Water, Natural Gas, Solar Energy, Natural Gas Infrastructure and Continued on page 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE SEARUC................................1-2 Echols Appointment ...............3 NARUC.................. ......... ........3 Plant Vogtle Review.................4 Robins Air Force Base .............4 Solar Power Summit................5 Finance Corner ........................5 Pipeline Safety .........................6 International Visitor Leadership ..................................................6 More Employee News..............7 Calendar and Holidays............8 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST EPD Town Hall Meeting Award received Dig Safely Month At the Whitehouse Announcements throughout Page 1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION HOSTS ALBANY TOWN HALL MEETING SEARUC (CONTINUED) Pipeline Safety as well as a discussion of the Trump Administration's effect on utility strategic planning. One of the panel sessions included "Nuclear: Where Do We Go From Here?" which Commissioner Stan Wise served as moderator. Commissioner Doug Everett attended one of several town hall meetings hosted by the Environmental Protection Division. The EPD was seeking input from citizens regarding the Plant Mitchell closing, specifically concerning how the utility plans to deal with the almost two million tons of coal ash waste stored in the plant's three coal ash ponds. L-R Jeff Baggett, Michelle Theibert, Jack Hudson, Daphne Jones and Tom Bond Officials from the Georgia Power Company, the Nuclear Energy Institute and the University of Georgia took part in a panel discussion on the issues facing new nuclear reactors in Georgia and South Carolina, and the long term prospects for Commission Chair Stan Wise moderates panel developing nuclear technology and integrating the lessons learned from the current new nuclear projects. Plant Mitchell Commissioner Bubba McDonald on panel Another panel session " Solar: Solar, Solar, Where Art Thou Solar?" was moderated by Ed Finley of the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission. The panel included our own Commissioner Bubba McDonald and representatives of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), Duke Energy and Strata Solar who discussed the different ways that solar power is growing across the Southeast. Rob Trokey, Electric Unit, enjoying the Welcome Reception Page 2 COMMISSIONER TIM ECHOLS APPOINTED AS VICECHAIR OF NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL UTILITY REGULATORS ASSOCIATION National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) appointed Commissioner Tim Echols as Vice-chair of the Nuclear Issues-Waste Disposal Subcommittee. NARUC President Robert Powelson of Pennsylvania announced the appointment on April 21, 2017. Echols succeeds Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald as Vice-chair of the subcommittee. NARUC has also appointed Commissioner Echols to the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. CHERYL VINSON RECEIVES AWARD FOR HER PERFORMANCE IN THE FY2017 HUMAN RESOURCES ASSESSMENT COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF ATTEND NARUC SUMMER POLICY SUMMIT Commissioners and staff attended the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Summer Policy Summit held this summer in San Diego, California. The NARUC Policy Summit was four days of fo- cused discussions on energy, telecommunications and other utility issues. President Robert F. Powelson, of Pennsylvania, presided over the event and served as moderator for the opening general session, which focused on innovative technologies across energy sectors. Representatives from American Water, the Nuclear Energy Institute, PG&E Corporation and Sunrun offered various sector-focused perspectives. Commissioners Wise, Everett and McDonald at the Policy Summit Other general sessions under scored the importance of innovation, the state of America's infrastructure and bringing veterans into the utility work space. Our own Bill Edge won the NARUC app contest with the most points and received a $150 Visa gift card! President Powelson of NARUC and Bill Edge, Public Information Officer of GPSC. Terry Pritchett, Chuck Eaton, Cheryl Vinson and Christopher Nunn On May 12, Our very own Human Resources Officer, Cheryl Vinson accepted the Human Resources Assessment Award presented by the Department of Administrative Services. Thanks to her involvement, the GPSC has shown itself as a model for others to follow in Classification Management. Her diligence in ensuring effective implementation of HR policies and practices help our organization attract, develop and retain the talent needed to realize our core mission. Well done Cheryl! Next Issue: November 2017 Don't' forget to send us news as you get it! Page 3 COMMISSION TAKES PART IN PROCLAMATION FOR DIG SAFELY MONTH Commissioners Stan Wise, Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, and Doug Everett joined Governor Nathan Deal in proclaiming April 2017 as "Dig Safely Month in Georgia" for a photo op at the State Capitol. Also taking part were Commission staff members Bill Edge, Marilyn Morris, Lynn Page and Ben Stair. CONDOLENCES Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Janice Sears in Natural Gas and Stephanie Sears in Consumer Affairs in the passing of Michael Patterson on May 21. Michael was Janice's dear brother and Stephanie's Uncle. Cathy Nesbitt, Assistant in GUFPA lost her mother Christine Marie Whitney on April 30. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and the family as they go through this difficult time. Page 4 COMMISSION VERIFIES EXPENSES FOR GEORGIA POWER'S 16TH NUCLEAR PLANT VOGTLE CONSTRUCTION MONITORING REPORT The Commission on August 15 requires the Company to address took two actions related to the 14 issues listed in the motion. Plant Vogtle Nuclear Power Con- Among the questions the motion struction Project. First, the Com- asks the company to address are: mission ap- 1. Should the proved $222 Commission million in verify and expenditures approve ex- on the Pro- penditures ject for the made be- period July tween Janu- 1, 2016 ary 1st and through De- June 30th? cember 31, 2. What is the 2016. Total capital costs of Vogtle Unit 3 containment vessel company's new estimate to the project are $3.68 billion as of complete the project and what is December 31, 2016. In a related the new schedule for commercial issue, the Commission approved operation of the two units if the on a vote of 4-1 a motion by Com- Commission decides to go forward mission Chairman Stan Wise with one or both units? Georgia which requires Georgia Power Power is expected to file its 17th Company to file in the Company's Vogtle Construction Monitoring next Vogtle Construction Monitor- report later this month on August ing Report the Company's inten- 31. tion to proceed with the Plant Vogtle construction project. It also COMMISSIONERS ATTEND GROUNDBREAKING FOR ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE SOLAR FACILITY Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Commis- sioner Doug Everett joined representatives from Georgia Power, Robins Air Force Base, local business and government for a news conference at the Robins Muse- um of Aviation on May 17 to announce the approval of the Warner Robins Air Force Base Solar Facility. The Com- mission on May 17 unanimously ap- L-R Norrie McKensie, Commissioner McDonald and proved the largest Commissioner Everett solar facility in Geor- gia that will provide power to a Georgia military base. The Commission has been instru- mental in approving more than 2500 Megawatts of solar power to Georgia Power's portfolio. STAFF PARTICIPATES IN SOLAR POWER SUMMIT On May 11 Jamie Barber, Manager of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Commission, attended the Solar Power Southeast Summit held at the Lowes Atlanta Hotel. She participated in a panel discussion on Distributed Generation and Net Metering. Jamie Barber (arrow) takes part in panel discussion COMMISSIONER MCDONALD'S INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE THE FY 2017 BOOKS HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR THE PSC! Angela Hwang and Winifred Gaines did a great job closing the books and making sure all the expenses were booked properly. You probably wonder what we actually do besides travel vouchers and issue checks. The PSC maintains four sets of books: Administration, Facility Protection, Utilities Regulation and overall Agency. We book the expenses in 30 different `Object Classes' or categories and have three Revenue streams to support our Commission (State, Terry Pritchett, CFO Federal and Other). The Expenses can not exceed our Revenues. The total expenses for FY2017 were $10,948,399. Personnel Services for our Staff were $9,140,610 (83.5 %). We had 82 Staff members on June 30, 2016 and we closed out FY 2017 with 80 staff members. During FY 2017, we hired 5 employees and 7 left the PSC. Building Rent was $670,072 (6.1%), $360,928 (3.3%) for the STARS program funded by Bonds leaving $776,789 (7.1%) for all other expenses. Revenues were $9,121,934 (State), $1,333,900 (Federal) and $493,226 (Other). When everything was balanced to the `penny' we had $661 of surplus State Funds that will be returned to the State Treasury. We are now in to FY2018 with eleven months to go before we perform the next annual closing! Thanks! Terry On June 28th, Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald attended an Energy meeting in D.C. at the request of President Trump, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and Administrator Scott Pruitt of the Environmental Protection Agency. Senior White House staff and members of the President's cabinet met with Governors, state officials and tribal leaders to discuss removing burdensome regulations that hinder energy infrastructure growth and to encourage energy development. Page 5 COMMISSION HOSTS GATHERING OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PIPELINE SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES In June, Commissioner Doug Everett is shown here with Fred Sumter visiting the Georgia Power Flint River Hydro Plant. MONIQUE'S LITTLE STAR MALACHI Many of you may see Monique Andrew's little guy Malachi in the office on any given day. His smile is infectious and he definitely has a spring in his step! Malachi, now 7, has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old. He is currently on the Rookie League Milford Orioles as the 3rd baseman and catcher while Mom Monique is the team Mom! The Commission hosted the Southern Regional Annual Conference of the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) in Savannah on April 24-28, 2017. Commission Chairman Stan Wise and Commission Pipeline Safety Director Michelle Thebert welcomed the attendees to the conference. Those in attendance heard reports from the states in the southeastern region, attended workshops on safety, risk management and received the latest developments and initiatives in pipeline safety on both the national and state level. Federal officials from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration also provided updates. WE HAVE A NEW FACE ON THE TEAM! Welcome new employee Dhwani Chheda to the Natural Gas unit as a Financial Analyst. COMMISSIONER WISE WELCOMES THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM MEMBERS In May, Commission Chairman Stan Wise welcomed visitors from nine different countries including Israel, Egypt, Malawi. The discussion centered around the review of U.S. national energy and climate policy challenges and international cooperative efforts to develop secure and transparent global energy markets. The group also discussed state and local energy initiatives that use alternative energy technologies to promote U.S. energy independence and responses to the impacts of climate change. Page 6 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 30 YEARS Rachael Perry (10/1) Telecom 20 YEARS Winifred Gaines (11/16) Administration 15 YEARS John Kaduk (9/1) EERE 10 YEARS Daphne Jones (9/1) Pipeline Safety Chris Swann (9/1) Pipeline Safety Tara Surratt (10/1) Natural Gas FAREWELL AND WELCOME Krystle Edge, daughter of Public Information Officer Bill Edge, and Johnathan Chase were married on April 25, 2017, at McDaniel Farm Park in Duluth, Georgia. Stephanie Sears, Consumer Affairs, was married on July 17, 2017. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Billups! Janice Sears, Assistant in Natural Gas is the proud mother of Stephanie. Celeste Brewster, daughter of Tonika Starks, graduated Langston Hughes High School and is attending the University of West Georgia for Nursing. Bethany Walker, Assistant to Commissioner Tim Echols left the commission to take a position in the corporate world. We will miss her and wish her all the best. Faith Henning returned as Commissioner Tim Echols Assistant and we are excited to have her back! Yolanda Clay's daughter Nadia will be attending Brenau University Women's College. She re- ceived partial schol- arships for track and academics and plans to major in the Nursing/PreMed pro- gram. Onterio Johnson's oldest daughter Jelani Johnson is now attending Graduate school at Auburn University majoring in Audiology. His youngest daughter Courtney Johnson will be attending the University of South Alabama majoring in Speech Pathology. Page 7 COMMISSION CALENDAR August 2017 1-- Administrative Session 10-- Committee Meetings September 2017 4-- Holiday 5--Administrative Session October 2017 3--Administrative Session 9--Holiday 15-- Administrative Session 31-- Committee Meetings 14--Committee Meetings 19--Administrative Session 28--Committee Meetings 12--Committee Meetings 17--Administrative Session HOLIDAYS COMING UP! Monday, September 4th Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington Street Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-651-4501 www.psc.state.ga.us The Public Information Office publishes The PSC Pulse for the Georgia Public Service Commission. Information for The PSC Pulse should be sent to the attention of Bill Edge, Public Information Officer or Lynn Page, Newsletter Editor. Page 8 Monday, October 9th COMMISSIONERS Stan Wise , Chairman Tim G. Echols, Vice Chair Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr. Doug Everett Chuck Eaton Executive Director: Deborah Flannagan Executive Secretary: Reece McAlister