Georgia Public Service Commission
Winter 2020
2019 BUSIEST YEAR IN RECENT MEMORY
FOR COMMISSION
2019 provided many challenges and successes for the Georgia Public
Service Commission and its staff. Almost immediately following the 2019 Legislative Session, the PSC began holding hearings for Georgia Power Company's Integrated Resource Plan. The year was also highlighted by new rate cases for both Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light as well as continued work to oversee the construction of two new nuclear power generators at Plant Vogtle. By the end of the year, the Commission had voted to nearly double Georgia's use of solar power. Commissioners likewise altered Georgia Power's requested rate increase by approving a smaller increase that will still help the utility to repair storm damage and to clean up coal ash ponds at plants around the state. Atlanta Gas Light received a modest rate increase but it came with caveats that the company must ramp up safety measures and improve customer service. Construction of the new reactors at Plant Vogtle have been behind schedule and over cost, and PSC consultants have expressed doubts about the project making it's current deadlines (opening Vogtle 3 by November 2021 and Vogtle 4 by November 2022). They also determined that the project is still viable and will offer Georgians clean and reliable electricity for years to come.
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COMMISSIONERS EDUCATING OTHERS
COMMISSIONER ECHOLS' 9TH ANNUAL
CLEAN ENERGY ROADSHOW HOLDS SIX EVENTS ACROSS GEORGIA
From Savannah to Albany, Augusta to Atlanta, Commission Vice Chairman Tim Echols brought out Bolts, Teslas, and big machinery too, showing off what some call the vehicles of the future -- but they're being used right now.
Commissioner Jason Shaw visited LaGrange College to discuss clean energy from a conservative perspective. Shaw, at left, was joined by former U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, executive director of The Ray Allie Kelly and State Sen. Randy Robertson.
A school bus powered by propane. The only com- In 2011, Commissioner plaint schools receive is that parents inside Echols wanted to find a
homes can't hear this quiet bus coming.
way to highlight trends in
alternative-fuel-vehicle technology, transportation, mobility and
sustainability. The Clean Energy Roadshow was born. At the 2019
Roadshow's two-hour seminar, experts discussed how rural and
urban communities use electric,
propane and natural gas vehi-
cles in private and commercial
transportation. They also dis-
cuss how fleets can make in-
formed decisions.
The Clean Energy Roadshow is
sponsored by Georgia Power,
Blue Bird, Clean Cities Georgia,
Nissan, the Natural Gas Associ-
ation of Georgia, and Atlanta Commissioner Tim Echols stands next
Gas Light.
to a Chevy Bolt fully electric vehicle.
Commissioner Tricia Pridemore visited Lexington, Ky, where she sat on a panel called "The Intersection of Telecom and Electric Utilities." The EnVision Summit was presented by FERC Chairman Neil
Chatterjee .
Even in a slight rain, people came to the Atlanta Roadshow to see a "cherry picker" truck owned by DeKalb County and powered by compressed natural gas.
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COMMISSION CHAIRMAN MCDONALD NAMED `SOLAR ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR'
The Georgia Solar Energy Association has presented Commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald with its "Solar Advocate of the Year" award for his long dedication to solar energy and for his hard work expanding solar energy in the state of Georgia.
Association officials said the solar industry provides more than 4,000 jobs to Georgians and adds billions of dollars in economic impact to the state.
At the awards luncheon, a video celebrating Chairman McDonald's life and work was aired. It included comments from Governor Brian Kemp who con-
gratulated the Chairman for his many efforts to expand solar energy without upward pressure on ratepayers and without state subsidies.
While accepting the award, Chairman
McDonald reiterated his long-held
stance that nuclear energy and solar en-
ergy go hand in hand. When the two new
nuclear plants go online, and the state
Commission Chairman McDonald and his wife Shelley attend the awards ceremony
continues to retire more Georgia will have some of
coal plants, the cleanest
air in the country.
COMMISSIONER PRIDEMORE VISITS HER ALMA MATER...TWICE
With Football season at full tilt, Commissioner Tricia Pridemore visited Kennesaw State University where she tossed the coin before the game against Northern Alabama. Commissioner Pridemore earned her bachelor's degree from KSU. The KSU Owls won the toss and went on to defeat the North Alabama Lions 41-17.
Commissioner Pridemore returned to KSU a few weeks later at the invitation of the Association of Energy Engineers Student Chapter. The event was titled "Cobb County's Energy Generation Fleet and Economic Development." Among the topics discussed was nuclear power and its ability to produce clean, carbon-free energy, and a lot of it.
PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore walks onto the field of Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University to toss the coin at the start of a
game against the North Alabama Lions.
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COAL ASH CLEANUP
Commission Chair Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, his wife Shelley and a few PSC staffers visited a coal ash site at the nowclosed Plant McDonoughAtkinson in Smyrna. There are four coal ash ponds at the site. Contracting company Cooper Barnette Page has removed all the coal ash from two of the ponds and have two more to go.
The coal ash is removed from unlined ponds and is placed in more-secure lined areas where contaminates cannot make it into the ground water.
The process can be more than a little dangerous. Crews are knowledgeable and conscientious, but mounds of fine coal ash can give way to the weight of bulldozers.
At the event attended by the chairman, several Cooper Barnette Page employees were given awards for their specific attempts to ensure crews remained safe.
COMMISSIONER ECHOLS ORGANIZES PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A SOLAR PAVILION ON SAPELO ISLAND
Off the Georgia coast, Sape-
lo Island's Hog Hammock
community remains the
home of the Gullah-
Geechee, a community of
people who can trace their
ancestors back to the plan-
tations of the late 1700s. Af-
ter a visit to the island,
Commissioner Tim Echols
offered to take on a project
that involved nearly a dozen Commissioner Tim Echols and Dr. Carolyn
partners and a year's worth Dowse, who started the Hog Hammock Public
of work. Together, they built Library many years ago. The solar pavilion is
a solar pavilion outside the
now named in her honor.
Hog Hammock Public Library. It is expected to help pay the power
bill for the small library over the next 30 years.
The $35,000 project, which included a play-
ground upgrade, was funded through donations.
Southern Current donated the solar panels. Yella-
wood donated materials for a pavilion. EDF Re-
newables donated the construction costs. The
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources donated ferry time to
bring materials to the island. DS
Smith provided services to clear
dilapidated trees. The Universi-
ty of Georgia provided students
to landscape. Darien Telephone
donated picnic tables. Island
Vaughnette Goode- residents themselves pitched in
Walker, author and and assisted with site prepara-
historian, spoke tion and assembly of picnic ta-
about the Geechee people , their customs
bles
and
playground
equip-
and history.
ment.
In August, about 40-50 people attended a ribbon-
cutting ceremony. Historians, storytellers, library staff and elected officials braved the hot sun for an
A plaque on the solar pavilion includes
afternoon celebrating the Gullah-Geechee. One the logos of all the
Georgian who can trace her ancestry to the com- partners who helped
munity came all the way down from Atlanta -- PSC make the project
Program Associate Pat Welcome.
possible.
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PSC CUSTOMER SERVICE HELPS SENIORS
Lisa Jensen and Karen Howell, with Public Service Commission Consumer Affairs, went to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church to represent the Commission at the Council on Aging Community
Outreach Program.
VISITORS FROM AFAR
The program, geared toward seniors, had three goals.
First, to inform the public on procedures used in referring, accessing services and connecting seniors to needed services and to do it in a timely Lisa Jensen and manner.
Karen Howell with
PSC Customer Service Second, to educate the community about available services on the state, regional and county lev-
els and about the referral process to access those services. Specifically, they discussed services available through the Older Americans Act.
Third, the program helped
seniors develop a clearer
understanding on how the
system works to connect
seniors to available ser-
vices, how they can stay
better informed about what
is available to them and fol-
low-up procedures used to
maintain contact with sen- People gather at Peachtree Road United Methodiors to ensure they receive ist Church to hear about services available to
the best outcomes.
seniors and how to connect with those services
The U.S. Department of
State hosted a visit by a
group from Pakistan.
Commission Chairman
Lauren
"Bubba"
McDonald took the
time to discuss with
them the role of the
Georgia Public Service
Commission and how it
handles its many duties.
ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
Facility Protection inspectors Kenny Rowe and Ben Stair stand high above the ground as they perform an inspection of Atlanta Gas Light's liquid natural gas plant in Macon.
Consulate General Heike Fuller of Germany speaks with Commissioners Tim Echols and Chuck Eaton on her visit to the Public Service Commission. One of the many interesting facts she shared: most German cars made in the U.S. South are sold to drivers in China.
Page 5
Jada Brock, the director of Operations Support and Samir Ahmed, Operations Support Developer, have been selected into a Master's degree program in cybersecurity at Georgia Tech. They are in the Energy and Public Policy tracks. Georgia Tech ranks second in the nation for cybersecurity curriculum according to Degree Prospects.
TOP CAUSES OF SECURITY BREACHES
Courtesy of cipher.com
Page 6
PSC REPRESENTS AT 5K
Electric Unit Director Sheree Kernizan, Utilities Analysts Sam Johnson and George Brown, and Administrative Assistant Ann McCullough sweated it out to represent the Public Service Commission at the Kaiser Permanente Run, Walk, Roll 5K.
The event is intended to promote health and fitness for metroAtlanta businesses and their employees.
More than 5,000 runners participated in the race. Both Johnson and Kernizan finished in the top 20 percent of the field.
PSC'S FIRST CHILI COOK-OFF
As the fall weather set in, Administrative Assistant Quawanda Boyer founded and organized the
Public Service Commission's first Chili Cook-off.
Two commissioners and eight staffers mixed up bowls of their inventive concoctions for a chance to win coveted ribbons and one very important golden trophy.
The ten entrants included Commissioners Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Tim Echols, along with staffers Faith Henning, Deborah Flannagan, Reece McAlister, Sallie Tanner, John Gunnells, Jada Brock, Nick Cooper and Tom Bond.
First, second and third place went to McAlister, Tanner and Gunnells respectively.
Those who opted not to
throw their chili bowl Executive Assistant Sallie Tanner hands out
into the ring pitched in samples to judges including former Commission-
with cornbread, muffins,
er Stan Wise and former Consumer Affairs head James Gibson. Utilities analyst Ben De-
cheese, onions, crackers
itchman also served as a judge.
and desserts.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
20 YEARS
Lynn Buffington
MILESTONES
10 YEARS
Shemetha Jones
5 YEARS
Lynn Page
In the last issue of The PSC Pulse, Electric Unit Director Sheree Kernizan was celebrating the wedding of her son, Michel. No need to stop celebrating. Her other son married in September. Congratulations Marcus and Desirae Kernizan.
Administrative Assistant Sallie Tanner has been appointed to the board of directors of the Women's Energy Network Greater Atlanta Chapter. This organization works to provide mentoring and networking opportunities for women in the energy profession.
Members include women from private and public energy organizations including careers from electricity production to gas pipelines.
Consumer Affairs Administrative Assistant Stephanie Billups and her husband welcomed a beautiful new addition to their family, a daughter named Dallas.
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COMMISSION CALENDAR
January 2020 1--New Year's Day
February 2020 4--Administrative Session
March 2020 3--Administrative Session
2 -- Committee Meetings waived 7--Administrative Session
13--Committee Meetings 18--Administrative Session
12--Committee Meetings 17--Administrative Session
16--Committee Meetings 20--Martin Luther King Day 21--Administrative Session
27--Committee Meetings
26-- Committee Meetings 31-- Administrative Session
30--Committee Meeting
HOLIDAYS COMING UP!
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Monday, Jan. 20
Tuesday, March 17
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 Tom Krause, Public Information Officer or Lynn Page, Newsletter Editor.
Page 8
COMMISSIONERS
Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Chairman Tim G. Echols, Vice Chair Chuck Eaton Tricia Pridemore Jason Shaw
Executive Director: Deborah Flannagan Executive Secretary: Reece McAlister