The PSC pulse, 2018 Spring

Georgia Public Service Commission

Spring 2018

The PSC Pulse
Legislative Wrap Up

Governor Nathan Deal signed the Fiscal Year 2019 State Budget, H.B. 684, on May 2, 2018, which includes an additional $231,652 to fund two positions at the Commission. The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up its 2018 session at midnight on March 29, 2018.
Among the other bills which passed this session was S.B. 402 which designates the Georgia Technology Authority to provide grants to local governments to expand broadband throughout rural Georgia. The measure however contains no funding mechanism to provide money for those grants. Lawmakers are expected to address that issue in the 2019 General Assembly.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Vogtle News ............................2 Dig Safe ....................................2 Older Americans Month.. ........3 EBA panel discussion ..............3 Georgia Focus on Radio...........4 NARUC Subcommittee............5 Grandfather clock repair....... ..5 Pridemore appointed to NGIMP ..................................................5 Low income assistance............6 Employee News........................7 Calendar and Holidays.............8
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Commissioner reduces NCCR fee
Refunds for Georgia Power customers
Community Solar visit
Echols visit to see AP 1000
New Employees

Page 1

COMMISSION REDUCES NUCLEAR
CONSTRUCTION COST RECOVERY
FEE

COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST HEARINGS FOR THE 18TH VOGTLE CONSTRUCTION
MONITORING REPORT

Beginning April 1, 2018, Georgia Power Company customers will save an estimated $139 million in 2018 following the unanimous Commission decision on March 20, 2018 to the reduce the Nuclear Construction Cost Recover (NCCR) fee in Docket 32539.

The NCCR is collected from Georgia Power customers to pay the financing cost on the construction of two new nuclear power units at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia.

The reduced fee is due to two factors: one, the reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 to 21 percent; and two, the payment of the remaining parental guarantee by the Toshiba Corporation.

The reduction will save the average Georgia Power residential customer using 1,000 kilowatts about $1.03 per month.

"This reduction means

keeping more money in

the pockets of Georgia

Power customers," said

Commission Chair

Lauren

"Bubba"

McDonald.

News for the next newsletter? Send to Lynn Page...

NARUC President Jack Betoski of Connecticut, Commissioner Stan Wise and NARUC Executive Greg White
Georgia Power witness panel takes the stand to present their testimony. L-R: Jeremiah Haswell, Stephen Kuczynski, David McKinney
The Commission completed the first set of hearings for the 18th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report on May 2, 2018 as Georgia Power witnesses presented direct testimony in support of the report. The Company is seeking Commission approval of $448 million in expenditures on the Plant Vogtle project from July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. Additional hearings are set for June 27, 2018 and July 26, 2018. The Commission will issue a decision at its August 21, 2018 Administrative Session.
APRIL WAS DIG SAFE MONTH

Commission

Chairman Bubba

McDonald (left)

and Commission-

er

Tricia

Pridemore (right)

join Governor Na-

than Deal (center)

Commission staff,

Utility representa-

tives and excavators

in proclaiming April

as Dig Safe Month.

Page 2

CONSUMER AFFAIRS TEAM PARTICIPATE IN OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

L-R: Lisa Jensen and Stephanie Billups
impact exercising and dancing, and a healthy cooking demonstration.
The PSC Consumer Affairs team were on hand to assist seniors with their utility questions.

May was Older Americans Month, and The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA), in conjunction with Quality Living Services (QLS) hosted their 11th Annual Senior Wellness and Resource Fair on Thursday, April 19th.
Over 350 seniors attended and participated in health screenings, information dissemination, low-

CHAIRMAN MCDONALD MODERATES PANEL ON "THE FUTURE OF THE ENERGY
INDUSTRY"IN WASHINGTON D.C.

L-R: Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald-GA, Chairman Gladys BrownPA, Commissioner Dan Lipschultz-MN, Commissioner Talina R. MathewsKY and Chairman Swain Whitfield-SC.

COMMISSION APPROVES ADDITION-
AL REFUNDS FOR GEORGIA POWER
CUSTOMERS

The Commis-

sion on April

3, 2018 unan-

imously ap-

proved $330

million in re-

funds

to

Georgia Pow-

er Company

customers

over the next three years as a

result of the lower corporate

tax rate under the Tax Cuts

and Jobs Act (TCJA) which

President Trump signed into

law on December 22, 2017.

The first refunds will total

approximately $70 over the

three year period for a resi-

dential customer using 1000

kilowatt hours per month.

"This Commission is pleased to ensure that Georgia Power customers will enjoy the benefits due to the lowering of the federal tax rate," said Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald.

An additional $700 million in benefits for Georgia Power customers is being held for the Commission to allocate during the upcoming Georgia Power base rate case in 2019. These monies are deferred income taxes held as a regulatory liability by the Company.

The Commission action brings to more than $482.6 million in Commission approved refunds and reductions that Georgia Power customers will receive over the next three years.

Page 3

COMMISSION APPROVES SCANA AS REGULATED PROVIDER
OF NATURAL GAS

CHAIRMAN MCDONALD GOES ON THE AIR AT THE GEORGIA NEWS NETWORK PROGRAM "GEORGIA FOCUS"

On May 1, 2018 the Commission approved natural gas marketer SCANA Energy as the state's regulated provider for another two

year term.
The Georgia Legislature established the regulated provider program in 2002. The Commission administers the program which enables low income natural gas customers to obtain service at lower rates. The regulated provider also provides natural gas service to credit challenged customers who are unable to obtain service from other natural gas marketers. The regulated provider offers service only in those areas served by the Atlanta Gas Light Company distribution area.
"The regulated provider enables thousands of lowincome Georgians to enjoy natural gas service at reasonable prices or to obtain service they otherwise could not obtain," said Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald.

Chairman McDonald discusses Safe Digging and Georgia 811. Also on the program from left to right are Roy Rogers (Blount Construction Company) Meghan Wade, President Ga811, Chairman McDonald and John Clark, host of Georgia Focus.
COMMISSION STAFF ATTTEND NARUC FINANC-
ING AND ACCOUNTING SUBCOMMITTEE

(L-R) Tom Bond, Ade Adeniyi, Bill Edge

Bill Edge

Commission Public Information Officer Bill Edge briefed the NARUC Finance and Accounting Subcommittee on March 8 during their semi-annual meeting in Savannah. Edge updated the group on the Commission's hot topics and current activities. Commission staff members Tom Bond, George Brown and Ade Adeniyi also attended the Subcommittee meeting.

Page 4

ATLANTA CLOCK ENTHUSIASTS REPAIR PSC GRANDFATHER CLOCK
An Atlanta clock club recently repaired and serviced the big grandfather clock that graces the Executive Secretary's Office. State Representative Brooks Coleman, a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, led the repair efforts. Coleman says the Commission's clock dates from between 1870 and 1890, making it well over 120 years old, and probably dates back to the establishment of the Commission in 1879. Coleman says his group has repaired a number of the big clocks that belong to the state including one that now sits in the Governor's office that was headed for the trash heap. "It is in great shape and should last another hundred years," said Coleman following the service and repair of the Commission clock. He said the clock probably cost $45 to $75 in the late 1800s but is worth considerably more than that now. Coleman added that at one time the state probably owned several hundred of these grandfather clocks but unfortunately many have been lost.
NARUC APPOINTS PRIDEMORE TO DOE NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE
MODERNIZATION PARTNERSHIP
Congratulations to Commissioner Tricia Pridemore on her appointment to the NARUC DOE Natural Gas Infrastructure
Modernization Partnership Program. (NGIPM) The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners on May 15 appointed new members to its natural gas partnership program with the U.S. Department of Energy. When the NARUC-DOE NGIMP was established in 2016, its membership was assigned two primary goals. The first goal is to facilitate the exchange of information on emerging technologies and investments in natural gas infrastructure modernization. The second goal is to serve as a repository of information on the pipeline replacement and expansion mechanisms available to distribution networks. NGIMP is a cooperative effort that convenes state regulators, federal agencies and other natural gas stakeholders to discuss natural gas pipeline leak detection and measurement tools and identify new technologies and cost-effective practices for enhancing pipeline safety, efficiency and deliverability.

L-R: John Kaduk, Jamie Barber and Jared Bozarth
The PSC Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy staff visited the Georgia Power two megawatt (MW) Community Solar Site located in Comer. Georgia Power completed the solar facility in January 2018. It provides energy for the Commission approved Community Solar Program which allows residential customers to support the development of solar power in Georgia. The Commission approved this program in 2017.
WELCOME SHAUNDRA WORTHY
Shaundra Worthy joins the PSC Consumer Affairs team. She is a graduate of Georgia State University with a BBS degree. Shaundra enjoys hanging out with friends and listening to music. She enjoys motivating, empowering, and uplifting people.

Page 5

Commissioner Tim Echols visited China May 4-11 to see China's completed AP 1000 reactors and to speak at the Asian Nuclear Business Platform Conference. "Seeing the reactor in operation helped me know that we can complete our project here in Georgia", said Echols.
WELCOME NICK HALL
Nicholas Hall joined the Electric Unit on April 16th. He is originally from Houston, Texas but recently returned to Atlanta for this position. He is a graduate of Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. He has industry experience in marketing, sales, and analytics, but he was first exposed to the utility industry by multiple consultants in Texas and Georgia.

COMMISSION APPROVES LOW-INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The Commission has approved three low-income assistance programs funded by the Universal Service Fund ("USF"). The Salvation Army was originally approved in February 2011 and focuses on helping with late bills, deposits, and reconnecting natural gas service. Through March 2018, it has been approved for $1.6 million and it has expended over $1.2 million and served 6,241 low-
income customers.
HopeWorks, formerly Resource Service Ministries, was originally approved in December 2011 to help with the repair or replacement of natural gas furnaces and water heaters for lowincome senior citizens. Through March 2018, it has been approved for $6.3 million and it has expended $5.3 million and served 1,607 low-income senior citizens.
Heating Energy Assistance Team ("H.E.A.T") was originally approved in October 2015 for USF funding to serve low-income customers to help with late bills, deposits, and reconnecting natural gas service. Since October
2015, it has been approved for $1 million and it has expended $521,316 and served 2,700 low-income natural gas customers. Through March 2018, the Commission has approved $8.5 million in USF funding for these three low-income assistance programs and a total of $7 million that has helped to keep 10,548 low-income customers on Atlanta Gas Light Company's ("AGLC") system. This has provided a direct financial benefit to AGLC's revenue requirement, to the bottom line of the natural gas marketers, and a benefit to all customers on the system. The average benefit to each low-income customer has been $700. Since 1998, the Commission has approved a total of $77 million in USF funded low-income assistance not connected to general refunds, the Regulated Provider program, or Social Responsibility Cost payments. Thank you to the Natural Gas Unit here at the PSC for managing such important programs.
The PSC on May 15 celebrated Employee Appreciation Day with coffee and donuts for all!
Chairman McDonald and Jamie Barber enjoy the refreshments

Page 6

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
10 YEARS Allison Morris (6/1) David Lewis (6/1)
WELCOME JACK BRANCH

NEW BEGINNINGS

Commissioner Tim Echols is

the proud grandfather of Caeden

James Truax, his first grandbaby!

Caeden was born on May 2, 2018

at 8:55am, weighing in at 7 pounds

and reaching 21 inches long. Pic-

tured here are the proud parents,

Proud parents TJ and Emily

Commissioner Echols daughter

Emily and her husband TJ. Congratulations!!

Monica Flannagan, Executive Director Deborah Flannigan's daughter, is graduating from Maynard Jackson High School in May. Since the beginning of her junior year Monica has been taking classes at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. She has already earned 60 hours of college credit with a GPA of 3.05 and will complete her Associate of Arts in Mass Communications by the end of the year. She wants to work in the film industry after college.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Sheree Kernizan, Director of the Electric Unit is proud to announce that her son, Marcus Kernizan is engaged to be married to Miss Desirae. Some of you may remember when Marcus interned with the Commission in the Natural Gas Unit. He proposed at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The couple lives in Boston. Congratulations!

Jackson T. Branch was born and raised in Tifton, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for both his undergraduate and graduate studies earning degrees in Economics and a Juris Doctor respectively. Jackson has studied and trained to go specifically into the utility and energy sectors with courses and experience in Administrative Procedure, Environmental Law, and Corporate Structure. In his free time, Jack enjoys traveling, hiking, and cooking new recipes.

CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts and prayers go to Cheryl Vinson-Dumas on the passing of her husband, Alexander Dumas on March 22, 2018. They were married for 6 1/2 months after a two year courtship but the memories of their happiness live on.
We are saddened to hear of the unexpected passing of Max Stroev's father who resided in Russia. Our hearts are with Max and his family during this difficult time.
Page 7

COMMISSION CALENDAR

June 2018 5 -- Administrative Session 9-13--SEARUC 14--Committee Meetings 19--Administrative Session
28--Committee Meetings

July 2018 3 -- Administrative Session 4--July 4th Holiday 12--Committee Meetings 15-18--NARUC
19--Administrative Session

August 2018 2--Committee Meetings 7--Administration Session 16--Committee Meetings 21--Administration Session
30--Committee Meetings

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS!

Flag Day Thursday, June 14th

Sunday, June 17th

Wednesday, July 4th

Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington Street Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-4501 Toll free: 1-800-282-5813 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.

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

Page 8