The PSC pulse, 2018 Fall

Georgia Public Service Commission

December 2018

The PSC Pulse

COMMISSIONERS WIN ELECTIONS

Erica, Lydia, Lilly and Chuck Eaton

Commissioner Chuck Eaton won re-election to another six-year term on the Commission in the December 4, 2018 General Election Runoff. He defeated opponent Lindy Miller with about 52 percent of the vote. This will be Eaton's third term on the Commission since being elected in 2006.

Commissioner Tricia Pridemore won election to a full six-year term in the November 6, 2018 General Election, defeating opponent Dawn Randolph with just over 50 percent of the vote. She was appointed to the Commission in February 2018 when long time Commissioner Stan Wise resigned from the Commission.

Michael and Tricia Pridemore

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Commissioner Everett Announces Retirement................ .........2 Commissioners and Staff at NARUC....................................3 Groundbreaking for Georgia's Largest Solar Farm..................4 Three Commissioner Take Office...........................................4 Workshop on the Smart Grid..........................................5 Financial Year End Tips..........5 Welcome New Employees......6 Employee News......................8
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Pridemore attends New Commissioners Forum at NARUC
Pridemore Selected for Transition Team
Plant Vogtle Tour
Plant Vogtle Hearing
Commissioners Tour Hurricane Ravaged Southwest Georgia
Chairman McDonald Hosts Florida Commissioner

Page 1

PRIDEMORE ATTENDS NEW COMMISSIONERS FORUM AT NARUC ANNUAL MEETING
Commissioner Tricia Pridemore was one of ten new state regulators who attended the NARUC New Commissioner Forum on Sunday, November 11, 2018. The session, which was moderated by Idaho Commissioner Paul Kjellander, included an overview of the Association, information on committees, and presentations from NARUC department directors.
What do you get if you cross an IPad with a Christmas Tree?
A pineapple!

COMMISSIONER EVERETT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

L-R Chairman Bubba McDonald, Executive Assistant Lynn Page, Janice Everett, Commissioner Doug Everett

Commissioner Doug Everett of Albany, Georgia announced during the Commission Administrative Session on November 20, 2018 that he will retire from the Georgia Public Service Commission effective December 31, 2018. Commissioner Everett has served on the Commission since January 1, 2003 and is currently in the fourth year of his third sixyear term. The Governor has appointed State Representative James S. "Jason" Shaw, Jr. of Lakeland, Georgia to fill Everett's unexpired term which ends December 31, 2020. The new Commissioner will have to seek election to a full six-

year term in the November

3, 2020 general election.

Everett said, "It is with a

heavy heart that I announce

this decision. This Commis-

sion has been like a family

to me. I have not measured

my life by riches but by

friendships and in that I am

Janice and Doug Everett

truly rich. It has been a privilege

and

honor to serve the people of Georgia." "Commissioner Everett has

dedicated his life to public service and the people of Georgia, both

here at the Commission, in the Legislature and in the City of Alba-

ny," said Commission

Chairman

Lauren

"Bubba" McDonald. "He

will be missed." "From his

time serving the city of Alba-

ny, to refereeing football

games, to serving in the legis-

lature and then almost two

decades on the Georgia Pub-

lic Service Commission, Doug

Everett has been a true public

L-R Commissioners Echols, McDonald, Everett, Eaton and Pridemore

servant," said Commission Vice-chair Tim Echols.

Page 2

COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF TAKE ACTIVE ROLES IN ANNUAL NARUC POLICY SUMMIT

PRIDEMORE SELECTED FOR GOVERNOR ELECT BRIAN KEMP'S TRANSITION TEAM

Commissioner Pridemore (far right) at Governor-elect Kemp's Capitol news conference.

Chairman McDonald sings Star Spangled Banner to open the NARUC Annual Meeting

Commissioner Pridemore takes part in the Electric Committee discussion at NARUC

PSC AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF TOUR PLANT VOGTLE CONSTRUCTION SITE

Chairman McDonald and Tara Surratt discuss the deregulation of natural gas industry in Georgia
Commissioners and staff participated in the 2018 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in Orlando, Florida November 11-14, 2018. Commissioner McDonald got the Monday opening session started with a rousing rendition of the National Anthem and then sang a beautiful version of Amazing Grace during the annual remembrance of NARUC members who have passed away during the past year.
Commissioner Tricia Pridemore gave a briefing on Georgia's electric industry in the Electric Committee meeting.
Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Gas Utility Analyst Tara Surratt were part of a panel discussion on the de-regulation of natural gas industry in Georgia during the meeting of the Gas Committee.

L-R John Gunnells, PSC Gas Staff; David Hartman, House Budget Office; Bill Edge, PSC PIO; Samuel Johnson, PSC Gas Staff; Morgan Hall, House Budget Office; Tara Boockholdt, House Budget Office; Dick White, Georgia Power; Marc Vinson, Georgia Power.

Page 3

COMMISSION BEGINS FIRST ROUND OF THE
19TH VOGTLE CONSTRUCTION
MONITORING HEARINGS

COMMISSIONERS PARTICIPATE IN
GROUNDBREAKING FOR GEORGIA'S LARGEST SOLAR FARM

Georgia Power's witnesses
are sworn in to begin their direct testimony
The Commission on November 15, 2018 heard from Georgia Power Company witnesses during the first round of hearings on the 19th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report in Docket 29849. The Company is asking the Commission to approve and verify $571 million in expenditures from January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018. There will be additional hearings on December 18, 2018 and January 17, 2019. The Commission is scheduled to issue its decision in this docket on February 19, 2019.
PSC Commission Faithful Service Awards and Holiday
Luncheon! December 13th,
11:00 a.m.

Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, ViceChairman Tim Echols and Commissioner Tricia Pridemore took part in the groundbreaking for the 2,000 acre Georgia Solar 4 Farm in Twiggs County on November 8, 2018. The ceremonial groundbreaking brought together state officials, Georgia Power, the Commission, Twiggs County Commission, Origis Energy and First Solar, Inc. representatives to extoll the benefits of the 200-megawatt, GA Solar 4 project as the largest infrastructure project in Twiggs County, the solar facility will create up to 400 construction jobs and provide ongoing tax revenues for the county.
THREE COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE OFFICE
JANUARY 1, 2019
For the first time in more than 80 years, three Commissioners will take office on the same day, on January 1, 2019. Commissioner Chuck Eaton won re-election to his third six-year term while Commissioner Tricia Pridemore won her election to a full six-year term. She was appointed to replace Commissioner Stan Wise who resigned in February 2018.
Jason Shaw will take office on January 1, 2019 to serve out the remaining two years of Commissioner Doug Everett's term. Everett will retire effective December 31, 2018. Shaw is from Lakeland, Georgia and has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2011.

Page 4

COMMISSION HOSTS WORKSHOP ON THE SMART GRID
The Commission on September 12, 2018 hosted a daylong regional workshop on the Framework and Roadmap of Smart Grid Interoperability Standards. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sponsored the workshop, one of four regional workshops to be held around the country. Nearly 40 Commission staff, industry and technology representatives attended the Workshop. Chairman McDonald welcomes Workshop partici-
pants to the Commission
EERE Manager Jamie Barber takes part in panel on the Benefits of Smart Grid Inoperability
PSC STAFF JOIN THE KAISER WALK/ RUN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

COMMISSIONERS TOUR HURRICANE RAVAGED SOUTH-
WEST GEORGIA
Commissioners Chuck Eaton and Tricia Pridemore toured southwest Georgia on October 12, 2018 to get a firsthand look at areas devastated by Hurricane Michael. "You really get a sense when you're in a disaster situation like this how important electricity is. The first thing you do is clear the roads but then the second thing you do is to restore the electricity," said Eaton. Pridemore added that, "It will take years to restore this area to what it was before. There is nothing recoverable when you see the damage." The Commissioners viewed the damage both from the air and the ground.

Sheree Kernizan and Ben Deitchman

Sheree Kernizan and Samuel Johnson

Page 5

CHAIRMAN MCDONALD HOSTS
COMMISSIONER DONALD POHLMANN OF THE FLORIDA PSC
Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald hosted Commissioner

WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES

John Gunnells joined the Natural Gas Unit on Sept 1, 2018

John Gunnells was born and raised on a family farm in Ila, GA, and has lived in Atlanta for three years. He possesses a B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College and a M.P.A. from Georgia State University. John's work background is diverse, but most recently he worked on state budget projects as an aide in the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office. In his free time he likes to attend Atlanta United matches, visit family, play lacrosse, eat BBQ, and hang out with his beloved cat Mr. Bojangles.

Donald Pohlmann of the Florida Public Service Commission on September 12, 2018. Commissioner Pohlmann was attending the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) regional workshop here at the Commission. Commissioner Pohlmann has served on the Florida Commission since 2017.
Page 6

Kenneth Rowe has over 13 years of experience in the natural gas industry. He is excited to apply his skills and knowledge to become an asset to the team. Kenny is thankful for this opportunity and can't wait to see what the future holds.
Kenneth Rowe joined the Pipeline

Timothy Cook joined the EERE group on September 17, 2018

Timothy Cook grew up in Batavia, NY. He received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University, and, after a few years living in San Diego, came to Atlanta for a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech. His interests are in power generation and renewable energy. In his spare time, Tim enjoys biking of all kinds, motorsports and cooking .

Samuel Johnson worked in the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts for two years before starting at the PSC. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia. Sam is an Atlanta Native and enjoys attending local theatre and restaurants in Downtown Atlanta, where he resides.

Samuel Johnson joined the Natural Gas Unit on Oct 1, 2018

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
25 YEARS
Jamie Barber EERE
20 YEARS
Jada Brock Operations Support
Ann McCullough-Henry Electric Unit
15 YEARS
Tonika Starks Telecom Unit CONGRATULATIONS!

Jackson Branch grad-

uated from University of

Georgia School of Law in

2017 and passed the Tex-

as Bar in July of 2017.

After he began working

here, Jack studied for

and took the July 2018

Georgia Bar Exam and

found out his results on

October 26th.

He

Passed!!

NEW BEGINNINGS
Monique Andrews in Operations Support has joined the Grandmother Club. Her Goddaughter Janauvia gave birth to Zachariah on October 3rd, 8lbs and 20 inches long. Malachi is a VERY Proud Uncle.
CONDOLENCES
Mrs. Vivian R. Lewis, the mother of Beverly Franks passed away on September 20, 2018. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family during this difficult time.
FAREWELL
Beverly Franks, Executive Assistant to Commissioner Chuck Eaton is retiring the end of this year. Bev started in Consumer Affairs and became a permanent employee in 2005. She will be missed by the entire PSC family.
Commissioner Doug Everett is retiring the end of this year.
SEE PAGE 2

Page 7

COMMISSION CALENDAR

Dec 2018 4--Administrative Session 13--Committee Meetings

Jan 2019 1--Holiday 3--Administrative Session

Feb 2019 5--Administration Session 10-13--NARUC

13--Commission Faithful Awards 10 -- Committee Meetings and Holiday luncheon

14--Committee Meetings

18--Administrative Session

15--Administrative Session and 19--Administrative Session and

Legislative Affairs meeting

Legislative Affairs meeting

18--Plant Vogtle Hearing 24-25--Holiday

17--Plant Vogtle Hearing 21--Holiday 31--Committee Meetings

28--Committee Meetings

29-- Committee Meetings
HOLIDAYS COMING UP!

Monday and Tuesday, Dec 24 and 25

Tuesday, Jan 1

Monday, Jan 21

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

COMMISSIONERS
Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Chairman Tim G. Echols, Vice Chair Doug Everett Chuck Eaton Tricia Pridemore
Executive Director: Deborah Flannagan Executive Secretary: Reece McAlister