GPSC GPSC News Volume 6 Issue 1 Fuel Case Proceedings *January 23 hearings *February 6 decision *Request reduced $44 million Commission Decides Georgia Power Fuel Case In this issue Winter 2007 Budget Request 2 Submitted Commissioner Wise 3 Begins Third Term on Commission 3 Commissioner Eaton Begins First Term on Commission Wise Calls for Use of Electric Structures for Telecommunications Commission Fines City of Monroe Commission Stops Buzz Telecom 4 4 5 T he Commission February 6 approved new rates for Georgia Power Company to allow the utility to pay for forecasted fuel prices for the year beginning March 1, 2007 as well as recover fuel costs that have been under collected since approval of fuel rates in the past year. The Commission approved a stipulation with the Company that reduces the Companys request by $44 million. The Commission decision means the average monthly bill for a residential consumer using 1,000 kilowatt hours will increase by $5.00. The Companys original request would have resulted in an increase of $5.50 per month. The Companys filing sought an increase in fuel costs of $416 million. Georgia law allows electric utilities to recover their fuel costs on a dollar for dollar basis. Commission Approves 5 3-1-1 for DeKalb County Commission Moves Ahead on Speir Proposed Ex Parte Rule Baker Takes Over as Commission Chair Commission Approves Transfer of Commerce Customers Employee News State Holidays Commission Calendar 6 C ommissioner Angela Elizabeth Speir is nication by one party with a Commissioner renewing her proposal 6 that the Commission about a case without the other parties to the case adopt a policy requiring having the opportunity to that the Commission respond and without 7 hearing process be trans- members of the public parent and prohibiting ex being able to know what parte communications. was said. The Commission March 6 "Commission decisions 8 issued a formal Notice of should be made based on Proposed Rulemaking comments on this pro- the evidence in the re- 8 (NOPR) so that the Com- posal. An ex parte commission may receive munication is a commu- (Continued on page 2) PAGE 2 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 2007 Legislature in Full Swing T he 2007 Georgia General Assembly is in full swing with the budget as usual topping the list of key issues. The Commission has presented both its Fiscal Year 2008 and its Amended 2007 Budget requests to both the House and Senate budget committees. However, lawmakers have slowed down their push on the budgets while they sort out the funding shortfall for the Peach Care Health Insurance program. In the meantime, the Commission has had two bills relating to its transportation functions introduced in the House. House Bill 316, sponsored by Representative David Ralston of Blue Ridge, would bring nonconsensual towers operating only inside the city limits under Commission jurisdiction. House Bill 317, also sponsored by Representative Ralston, would bring household goods movers operating solely inside city limits under Commission jurisdiction. The Commission hopes to get a handle on illegal movers who are overcharging consumers and operating with no insurance. Both of these measures passed the House on February 28 by a combined total of 320-0. The bills have been assigned to the Senate If you have a story for the next GPSC News, please send to Bill Edge, bille@psc.state.ga.us. Next issue deadline is April 16, 2007. State and Local Government Operations Committee. Senator John Wiles chairs this committee. Another bill, though not an official Commission bill, would allow the Commission to have the telephone service of illegal movers disconnected. House Bill 460 is sponsored by Representative Carl Rogers of Gainesville. House Bill 522, sponsored by Representative Jeff Lewis, would allow a marketer to opt out of the allocation of AGL capacity assets upon a showing that the marketer has sufficient capacity to serve its customers. The bill is now in House Rules. Commission Fines Towing Company T he Commission February 23 fined Silent Night Towing Recovery and Transport, Inc. (Silent Night) of Conley, Georgia $10,000 in civil penalties and ordered them to pay restitution to consumers in the amount of $8,475. The Commission approved a consent agreement signed by Silent Night and Commission staff. The Commissions investigation found that Silent Night had violated state law and Commission rules, including providing false business addresses, improper signage, failing to file proof of proper insurance with the Commission and exceeding the maximum rate tariff approved by the Commission. Silent Night has 90 days to pay the civil penalty to the Commission. The Commission held a hearing on these complaints on June 28, 2006. Silent Night does not currently possess the required Commission permit necessary to tow trespassing vehicles without the owners consent, nor does the company have other state government permits for conducting consensual towing. (Continued from page 1) cord," Speir said, "not based on back-room deals or ,,off the record conversation." In her motion Commissioner Speir said, "Last year, I made a motion that the Commission adopt an ex parte rule. The motion deadlocked 2 to 2, with 1 abstention. Given the important cases coming up this year, it is time to try again. Over the course of this coming year, the Commission will be deciding cases that will be critical to meeting the future energy needs of the people of Georgia, including a rate case and an Integrated Resource Plan for Georgia Power and a capacity supply plan for Atlanta Gas Light Company. These decisions will be worth literally billions of dollars to Georgia ratepayers. If conversations take place outside of the hearing process which excludes any of the parties, then the public hearing process is undermined and the publics confidence in the fairness of the Commissions decisions is also undermined. The proposed rule would assure the public and the parties that the Commissions process (Continued on page 5) VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 3 Commissioner Wise Begins Third Term C ommissioner Stan Wise took the oath of office December 18 to begin his third sixyear term on the Commission. Governor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Wise as his wife Denise held the Bible. Wise won re-election in November to his third term on the Commission with 55 percent of the vote. He was re-elected to second term in 2000 and elected to his first term in 1994 after serving a four- year term on the Cobb County Commission. He served as Commission Chairman last year and previously in 1997 and 1999. Commissioner Wise is a past president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Governor Sonny Perdue administers the oath of office to Commissioner Wise as Denise Wise holds the Bible. Commis- sioners (NARUC). He managed an insur- ance busi- ness in Cobb County for over twenty years. He and his wife have two grown chil- dren. He is a graduate of the Charleston Southern University. Commissioner Eaton Takes Office for First Term G overnor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Commissioner Chuck Eaton, the Commissions newest member on December 28, 2006. Eaton took the oath as his wife Erika looked on. Eaton won his office in a run-off election on December 6 with 52 percent of the vote. Before serving on the Commission, he worked in real estate sales. Prior to moving to Atlanta, he was an Account Executive for a packaging manufacturer in LaGrange, Georgia. Commissioner Eaton also has an Accounting degree from the University of Alabama. (right) Commissioner Eaton Takes Oath as his wife looks on. Commission Approves Assistance for Low Income Senior Citizens in Paying Natural Gas Bills T he Commission December 19 approved more than $5 million in one-time grants to senior citizens receiving the low-income senior citizens discount in the Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) delivery area. The Commission approved a $150 credit that will be applied to the seniors bills is- sued in the January and February billing cycles. More than 36,000 natural gas consumers are eligible for this grant which are paid out of the Universal Service Fund (USF), a fund established by the Natural Gas and Competition Act of 1997 to provide for natural gas pipeline extensions and later amended to include low-income assistance. Since 2000 the Commission has provided more than $72 million in refunds, grants and lowincome assistance to natural gas customers in Georgia in the AGLC service territory. PAGE 4 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 Wise Requests Georgia Power to Explore Placing of Telecommunication Facilities on Electric Transmission Structures C ommissioner Stan Wise, requested December 5 that Georgia Power Company investigate the possibility of allowing telecommunications communities to place communications facilities, such as cellular telephone antennas, on the Companys electric transmission facilities. "I have become aware that some utilities are working with communications companies and cell phone carriers to allow them to place their antennas on their existing transmission structures. Surely, with the growing is- sues sur- rounding sighting and building new cell towers, a program like this would have some societal bene- fits as well as provide revenue that could be used to benefit ratepayers," said Wise. Commissioner Wise is request- ing that the Company report back to the Commission on this request within 45 days. Commissioner Wise is serving his third term on the Commission. He served as Commission Chairman in 2006,1999 and 1997. He is also a past President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Commission Fines City of Monroe T he Commission January 16, 2007 unanimously approved a fine of $100,000 against the City of Monroe (Monroe) for violations of state law and Commission rules in failing to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity before extending its natural gas distribution system outside Walton County. Docket Number 22787-U) The Com- mission also accepted a staff recommendation, with modifications, and approved Monroes application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, Docket Number 22850-U, provided Monroe pays the fine within 75 days of the final date of the order in this docket. The Commission added two amendments to the staff recommendations in this Docket. The Commission accepted a two -part amendment by Commissioner Doug Everett. The Everett amendment: 1. Accepts the service territory maps as submitted by Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) and; 2. Requires Monroe and AGLC to transfer any natural gas distribution lines the other has constructed in the others territory within 60 days of the order in this docket. In addition, certain The Commissions decision fol- Monroe customers will be trans- lows extensive investigations ferred to AGLC within 90 days of and hearings in this docket fol- the order. Monroe must notify lowing a complaint filed against any affected customers within Monroe by Atlanta Gas Light ten days. Company. The Commission also accepted In other action the Commission an amendment by Commis- approved: A certificate of au- sioner Robert Baker to require thority for Utility Resource Solu- Monroe to file any request to tions, L.P. (URS) to engage in increase rates or change terms retail sales of natural gas to and conditions with the Com- residential and commercial cus- mission. tomers within the Atlanta Gas Light (AGLC) delivery area; and a fine of $60,000 against Mediacom for violations of the Georgia Utility Facilities Protection Act. VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 5 PSC Stops Buzz Telecom from Doing Business in Georgia; Launches Formal Investigation T he Commission December 19 suspended Buzz Telecoms certificate, effec- tively terminating the Com- panys operation in Georgia. The Commission also launched a formal investiga- tion into charges that Buzz has slammed customers and engaged in other deceptive business practices. Slamming is the illegal switching of a consumers long distance car- rier without permission. The Commission has received more than 140 complaints 2006 from consumers, many of whom are senior citizens, regarding Buzz Telecoms business practices. The Commission will continue its investigation into complaints against the Company and its affiliates, Business Options, Inc., Ultimate Medium Communications Corporation and UMCC Holdings, Inc. The Federal Communications Commission has also cited Buzz for slamming. Consumers who believe their service has been slammed or have received bills from Buzz Telecom, UMCC or Business Options are advised to do the following: Do not pay the bill Contact the PSC to file a slamming or deceptive practices complaint Check with their local telephone service provider to verify that their long distance service is being provided by their preferred carrier. If not, ask the local carrier to switch their long distance service to their preferred carrier and place a primary interexchange carrier (PIC) freeze on their phone number to assure that their service cannot be switched without their explicit consent. PSC Approves "311" Abbreviated Dialing for NonEmergency Government Services in DeKalb County T he Commission December 19 approved the assignment of the abbreviated dialing code "311" for non-emergency government services in DeKalb County, Georgia. After years of study and several pilot programs, DeKalb is ready to move forward with 311-dialing to make it easier for DeKalb citizens to communicate with their government. It will give callers an easily identifiable number to call for non-emergency police, County services and basic County information. DeKalbs initial petition was filed in August 2004, but the case was held pending an investigation to determine how DeKalb would pro- vide 311 service without prohibiting adjacent jurisdictions, that share a Central Office, from providing 311 service to their citizens. In September 2006, DeKalb filed an updated petition with a proposed "Call Routing Solution from Shared Central Offices." Under this solution calls from DeKalb residents will be routed Non-emergency calls to 911 pre- to DeKalbs Citizen Help Center; vent a quick response to emer- Non-DeKalb callers will hear a gency callers. Implementing 311- recording advising them of the dialing will reduce the chance of status of 311-calling in their 911 callers being put on hold, re- community. ceiving a busy signal or getting a Commissioner David Burgess, a recorded message. Non- DeKalb resident, believes that emergency calls make up over 311-dialing will not only im- 40% of all 911 calls. prove non-emergency customer service, but will also improve 911 emergency response times. (Continued from page 2) will be open and transparent, that all parties are treated fairly, and that the decisions will be based solely on the evidence in the record rather than on private conversations." Commissioner Speir was the first woman elected to the Commission in 2002. PAGE 6 GPSC NEWS Baker Takes Helm as Chair VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 C ommissioner Robert B. Baker, Jr. began January 15 a one-year term as Commission Chairman for 2007. Commissioner Baker previously chaired the Commission in 1994, 1998 and 2003. Commissioner Chuck Eaton will serve as vicechairman. Baker has served on the fivemember regulatory panel since 1993. He was elected to his first six-year term in November 1992 as the first Republican elected to statewide office since Reconstruction. He won re-election in 1998 and 2004. Commissioner Bakers complete biography is on the Commission web site, www.psc.state.ga.us. Chairman Baker also announced the following committee assignments: Commissioner Stan Wise will chair the Telecommunications Committee, Commissioner Angela Speir will chair the Energy Committee and Commissioner Chuck Eaton will chair the Transportation Committee. PSC Approves Transfer of Commerce Energy Customers to Georgia Natural Gas T he Commission November 7 approved the transfer of Commerce Energy, Inc. (Commerce) natural gas customers to Georgia Natural Gas (GNG). According to a public filing with the Commission, Commerce currently serves approximately 6,500 retail natural gas customers in Georgia. On October 11, 2006 Commerce and GNG entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement under which Commerce agreed to transfer nearly all of its customers to GNG. The Commission approved the transfer subject to the following conditions: As required by Commission Rule 515-7-3-.04, GNG and Commerce will jointly send all affected customers a customer notification letter. The notice will be sent 30 days in advance of the transfer to GNG and will advise customers of the date that they will be transferred to GNG, the fact that they will be transferred to GNG, that they have a right to select a marketer of their choice without charge prior to the switch date, and the rates, terms and conditions of service which GNG will be offering them. Pursuant to Commission Rule 515-7-3-.04(13) (b), the customers right to one free annual switch will not be effected by the transfer to GNG. In the event a customer selects another marketer rather than be switched to GNG, GNG will pay to Atlanta Gas Light Company ("AGLC") any applicable switch fee so that the customer maintains its free annual switch. In the event that a customer is switched to GNG and then selects another marketer within the same calendar year and a switching charge is incurred as a result, GNG will pay AGLC any applicable switching fees so that the customer maintains its annual free switch. GNG will continue to honor Commerces fixed rate agreements for the length of each agreement. For residential customers on a variable price plan, GNG will honor the Commerce current DDDC charge. Variable rate customers will also be free to switch to any other GNG plan for which they qualify. VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 GPSC NEWS PAGE 7 Employee News New Employees married and the mother of five girls ranging from ages 3 to 19. Former Consumer Chief Views for Florida PSC Y olanda Clay joined the Commission December 18 in the Consumer Affairs Section. She came to Georgia in 1993 from Texas. She has previously worked in the banking industry. She is W illiam Peeler (top) joined the Commissioner February 27 in Consumer Affairs as an Information and Referral Specialist. P hil Nowicki, former director of consumer Affairs, is in the running for seat on the Florida Public Service Commission. Phil currently works for the Governors Office of Consumer Affairs. William has 17+ years of customer service skills, including two years of service in two other state agencies: DHRs Division of Public Health and the Employee Retirement System of Georgia. Congratulations C ongratulations to Commissioner Chuck Eaton and his wife Erika on the birth of their daughter, Lydia Noel Eaton on December 19, 2006. She is the couples first child. Commissioner Wise Celebrates Birthday F or the third year, Commissioner Stan Wise treated staff to a delicious lunch on his birthday January 19. Sympathy Mobilized W B e extend our condolences to Bruce ill Edge, the Commissions Public Information Officer and Coogler on the passing of his Legislative Liaison, will be leaving mother on October 28, 2006. March 16 for active duty in the The funeral was held October military. Bill is a member of the 30 at Pritchett Memorial Bap- Navy Reserve. He will spend at tist Church in Meansville, least six months at Balad Air Base, Georgia. Iraq. Bill has been with the Commission since November 2000. New Co-ops W elcome aboard to two co -op students with the PSC --- Kelly Keevan and Serrano Montagno. Kelly Keevan is returning for her third work term and will be working in the Natural Gas unit. Serrano Montagno is beginning his first work term and is as- signed to the Electric unit. Welcome aboard to all three of our co-ops (Kelly, Serrano, and Kyle Zimmerman Telecom unit. PAGE 8 GPSC NEWS Commission News Georgia State Holidays For 2007 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1 Commission Calendar New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Robert E. Lee Birthday Christmas President's Day January 1 January 15 April 23 May 28 July 4 September 3 October 8 November 11 November 22 November 23 December 25 December 24 February 1-Committees 6-Administrative Session 15-Committees 20-Administrative Session March 1-Committees 6-Administrative Session 15-Committees 20-Administrative Session 29-Committees Commission Calendar June 3-6, 2007 Little Rock, Arkansas April 3-Administrative Session 12-Committees 17-Administrative Session 26-Committees May 1-Administrative Session 10-Committees 15-Administrative Session 31-Committees NARUC Summer Meeting 2007 July 15-18, 2007 New York City, New York Annual Convention 2007 November 11-14, 2006 Anaheim, CA SEARUC Annual Meeting 2007 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 Robert B. Baker, Jr., Chairman Chuck Eaton H. Doug Everett Angela Elizabeth Speir Stan Wise EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deborah Flannagan EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Reece McAlister GPSC ONLINE: www.psc.state.ga.us