GPSC
GPSC News
Volume 7 Issue 3
Commission Settles SCANA Summer 2008
*First 50,000 customers
receive $25 credit
*Credits issued in November
*SCANA will notify customers using two bill inserts *SCANA will not object to issuance of new rules
The Commission June 17 approved a consent agreement
Energy Case
In this issue
that resolved a Com-
State Revenues Drop
2
mission docket that charged natural gas
marketer SCANA En-
Staff Visits Georgia Power Plant Bowen
2 ergy with violating state law and Com-
PSC Receives Federal 3 Grant
Commission Approves 4 Consent Agreement
Commission Approves 4 Fuel Rate
Everett Receives Award 5 from ACCG; completes year as SEARUC President
5 ACCG honors Commissioner Wise
5 Commissioner Eaton Meets the Press
mission rules. The Commission voted 3-2 to accept the settlement proposed by Commissioner Stan Wise. SCANA representatives have accepted the agreement. The Rule Nisi hearings scheduled for June 17and June 18, 2008 were cancelled with the acceptance of the agreement by both the Commission and SCANA.
The terms of the settle- tomers sign up, the cred-
ment include:
its will be prorated.
Affected SCANA cus- Any remaining funds
tomers up to the first not credited to custom-
50,000 will receive a ers would be disbursed
$25 credit if they as the Commission de-
switched to another termines.
SCANA plan between All credits will be is-
March 1, 2007 and Octo- sued in November 2008.
ber 31, 2008. The total SCANA will use bill
amount of credits will be inserts for two billing capped at $1.25 million.
If more than 50,000 cus-
(Continued on page 3)
Commission Opens Hearings on Atmos Energy Rate Case
SEARUC 2008 Employee Recognition and Awards Day Employee News
State Holidays
Commission Calendar
6 6
The Commission held the first round of hearings June 30 and July
1 on the Atmos Energy re-
7 quest to increase rates $6.1 million annually. This
proposed rate would in-
crease customers' average 8 monthly bills by $4.71.
Nine Company witnesses
testified why the Company
8 is seeking this increase,
(Continued on page 5)
Atmos Vice President Pat Childers testifies
PAGE 2
GPSC NEWS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
State Revenues Flat, Budget Cuts Coming
G overnor Sonny Perdue has ductions for the directed all state agencies C o m m i s s i o n .
to reduce their budgets by The Commis-
3.5% in the Amended FY 2009 sion must sub-
budget which begins July 1, mit its pro-
2008. For the Commission, this posed FY 2009
means budget reduction of A m e n d e d
$298,956 to $398,608.
Budget and
State revenues for the fiscal 2010 Fiscal
year just ended, FY 2008, de- Year budgets to
clined by 1.1%, meaning the the Office of
state will have to dip into the Planning and
reserve fund to balance the Budget by September 2, 2008.
budget.
This begins the annual appropria-
For FY 2010, state agencies tions process which continues with
must recommend
agency budget meetings in late
a 4% cut in their
base budgets. This cut would be more than $400,000 in re-
If you have a story for the next GPSC News, please send to Bill Edge, bille@psc.state.ga.us. Next issue deadline is October 15, 2008.
November or early December, the Governor's budget recommendations to the General Assembly and then finally the General Assembly passage of the Appropriations Bills for the Amended and Regular Fiscal Year Budgets.
2008 Primary Results
PSC District 1- Republican
Everett
64.8% 239,422
Collum
32.2% 129,865
PSC District 4 Republican
Davidson
47.7% 171,317
McDonald
52.3 % 188,192
PSC District 4 Democrat
Indech
14.7% 57,886
Powell
85.3% 336,079
Staff Visits Plant Bowen
N ine Commission staff members visited the Georgia Power Company H.L. Bowen Electric Generating near Cartersville, Georgia on May 22 to get a firsthand look at the Scrubbers which are being installed to reduce the emission of pollutants from the plants coal burning operations. Georgia Power is spending about $2 billion over the next five years to
install scrubbers and other pollution control devices at its coal fired generating plants. The four scrubbers are all expected to be operational by 2010. Plant Bowen consists of four supercritical units and a combustion turbine with a generating capacity of 3,200 megawatts per hour.
Plant Bowen has been operational since 1975. Georgia Power employs more than 9,000 workers at Plant Bowen with a net income of $842 million.
(right) Outside of scrubber under construction
(above) Inside of scrubber
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
GPSC NEWS
PAGE 3
PSC Accepts First in the Nation $100,000 Federal Grant for Utility Damage Prevention and Safety Enforcement; Governor Signs Proclamation for Dig Safely Month
The Commission May 28 accepted the first federal grant check for $100,000 from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to expand the Commission's efforts in preventing damage to Georgia's underground utilities. This is the first federal grant of its type to any state for damage prevention, education and enforcement efforts since the passage of the federal PIPES Act of 2006. PHMSA Administrator Carl Johnson presented the
check to Commissioner Doug Everett who was joined by fel-
low Commissioners
Chuck Eaton and
Stan Wise. They
were joined by repre-
sentatives of the
Commission
staff,
PHMSA, UPC, Georgia
Utility Contractors
Association, Georgia
Power, Atlanta Gas
Light, AT&T and other
representatives of
organizations
in-
volved in the prevention of
damage to Georgia's under-
ground utility infrastructure. The grant recognizes the Commission's damage prevention program as a model for other states to follow in reducing damages to underground utilities by educating excavators and utilities in avoiding accidents that can cause expensive and often dangerous damage to buried utilities. Commissioner Everett said, "We appreciate receiving these funds from PHMSA to assist us in our damage prevention efforts by
educating all individuals about calling before they dig. Working collectively toward a common goal to prevent damages and personal injuries from occurring is a continuous program that requires team work. Since the passage of the Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act in 2000, the state has built a damage prevention program second to none in the nation. I also want to express my appreciation for the hard work of our Facilities Protection Director Danny
McGriff in obtaining these
grants. Danny's tenacity and
perseverance during the appli-
cation and submission process
culminated in our receiving
these grant monies."
Georgia Gover-
nor
Sonny
Perdue also pre-
sented
the
group a procla-
mation naming
May 2008 as Dig
Safely Month in
Georgia.
SCANA Settlement
(Continued from page 1)
may switch.
tomers when they create new
cycles to communicate to their SCANA will reformat custom- pricing plans and when they re-
legacy customers the opportu- ers' bills to include the name of tire existing plans. nity for the credit and that they the customers' natural gas plans
are offering other variable rate on the bill.
plans to which the customers *SCANA will not object to the
Commission's issuance of a No-
tice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NOPR) to require that marketers
provide notice to existing cus-
PAGE 4
GPSC NEWS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
PSC Approves Consent Agreements Calling for Payments of $30,000 Stemming from Cobb County
Natural Gas Pipeline Leak
The Commission June 5 ordered Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) and Utility locator company STS, Inc. to pay a total of $30,000 to resolve issues stemming from the April 8, 2008 natural gas leak in Marietta, Georgia. The Commission approved the two consent agreements, one between the Commission and STS, Inc. and one between the Commission and Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) as a final resolution of all issues stemming from the incident at
Sandy Plains Road and West Oak Parkway in Marietta. Under terms of the agreement, STS, Inc. paid a fine of $10,000 to the Commission. STS, Inc. is the contractor hired by AGLC to locate the underground facilities in the incident. AGLC has paid $20,000 to the Utilities Protection Center Educational Fund in lieu of paying a fine directly to the Commission. The Commission's investigation revealed that STS and AGLC failed to properly locate the natural gas pipeline facilities at
the intersection of Sandy Plains Road and West Oak Parkway in Marietta. The excavator struck a six-inch high pressure natural gas steel pipeline located in the middle of Sandy Plains Road. The ensuing leak caused the evacuation of nearby schools and businesses and shut down traffic in the affected area for
Commission Approves Georgia Power Fuel Rate
T he Commission May 20 approved new rates for Geor-
duces the Company's request
gia Power Company which will
by $7.1 million.
allow the utility to pay for fore-
The average
casted fuel as well as recover monthly bill for a residential
fuel costs that have been under consumer using 1,000 kilowatt
collected since approval of fuel hours will increase by $2.93.
rates in the past year.
The Commission delayed a deci-
The Commission voted 3-2 to sion on implementing seasonally
accept a staff recommendation adjusted fuel cost rates until the
to approve a proposed Stipula- Seasonal Working Group issues
tion with the Company that re- its recommendations.
The Company's filing in Docket Number 26794 sought an increase in fuel costs of $222 million over the Company's previously budgeted amount. Georgia law allows electric utilities to recover their fuel costs, prudently incurred, on a dollar for dollar basis. The utilities are not allowed to make a profit on their fuel costs
Commission Chairman Eaton Meets the Press
Commission Chairman New Direction. The topic for the Chuck Eaton appeared on program was the "nuclear renthe WXIA-TV Atlanta public af- aissance" which is sparking new fairs program "Weekend in interest in the construction of Depth" on May 4. Channel 11 new nuclear power plants across veteran news reporter and an- the country. Georgia Power chor Denis O'Hayer hosts the Vice-President Oscar Harper was weekly program. Also appearing also on the program but his inon the broadcast was Bobbie terviews were not done in the Paul of Women of Atlanta for a studio.
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
GPSC NEWS
PAGE 5
Commissioner Doug Everett Receives Award from Association County Commissioners of Georgia; Completes Year as Head of Utility Commissioners' Group
C ommissioner
Doug
Everett recently received
Commissioner Everett recently completed his one
a 2008 Commitment to Public
year term as President of the
Service Award from the Asso-
Southeastern Association of
ciation County Commissioners
Regulatory Utility Commissioners
of Georgia. ACCG Executive
(SEARUC) for 2007-2008. SEA-
Director Jerry Griffin and
RUC is a non-profit corporation
ACCG General Counsel Jim
for the advancement and educa-
Grubiak presented the Award
tion of commission regulation
to Commissioner Everett. The
and the promotion of cooperation
Award recognizes Commis- mentality of Georgia's county among the commissions of the
sioner Everett's efforts in deal- governments.
11 southeastern U.S. member
ing with issues of local con- Commissioner Everett is the first states. Commissioner Everett
cern at the Commission.
Republican elected to the Com- turned over the leadership of
The Association County mission from southwest Georgia. SEARUC to Commissioner David
Commissioners of Georgia He served as Commission Chair- Wright of the South Carolina
(ACCG) is a nonprofit instru- man in 2004.
Public Service Commission.
"The incoming President of SEARUC and our member Commissions will face numerous challenges in the coming year," said Everett. "We must consider additional power generation sources such as nuclear power, push for more energy efficiency, drill for more oil and natural gas and deal with fast
paced changes in telecommunications."
County Commissioners Honor Commissioner Wise
The Association County Com- chise fees levied by cities from missioners of Georgia pre- Georgia Power Company's rate sented Commissioner Stan base last year. Wise the group's 2008 annual The association presents this Wayne Shackelford Excellence in award to honor an individual Public Service Award during the now serving Georgians in a group's annual meeting in Savan- state or national office who has nah. Wise was recognized by achieved a distinguished level ACCG for championing the re- of public service and has a moval of half the municipal fran- background in county govern-
ment. Lamar Paris, 2007-08 ACCG Third Vice President and Union County commissioner, presented the award to Com-
missioner Wise. Wise has served on the Commission
since 1995 and served as Commission Chair in
1997, 1999 and 2006.
Atmos Hearings
(Continued from page 1)
round is scheduled for
mainly due to September 3 and 4,
shrinking customer 208 in Gainesville at
numbers and in- the Georgia Mountains
creasing costs.
Center. The Commis-
The second round sion will issue its deci-
of hearings are set sion in this docket at a
for August 12 Special Administrative
through 14 in At- Session on September
lanta while the final 17, 2008.
PAGE 6
GPSC NEWS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
SEARUC 2008
G overnor Sonny Perdue's sioners have tough jobs because where he helped pass the 1995 address highlighted the "they need to make decisions at Telecommunications Deregulation
light speed" in order to meet to- Act and the 1997 Georgia Natural
day's challenges.
Gas Deregulation Act. He noted
Perdue noted he was heavily in- the southeast states have a lot in
volved with utility issues when he common, in part, because natural
was in the Georgia legislature gas, electricity and telecommuni-
cations "don't stop at the state
lines." He contended the regula-
tions in the various states should
reflect a "commonality in pur-
pose."
The meeting featured a general
Southeastern Association of
session on Climate Change, and
Regulatory Utility Commission-
breakout sessions on natural gas,
ers annual meeting in Savan-
nuclear energy and telecommuni-
nah, Georgia June 1-4. The
cations issues.
Governor spoke to more than
The 2009 SEARUC annual meeting
200 commissioners, staff and industry representatives gath- Commissioners Baker, Eaton, ered at the Westin Harbor Ho- Everett and Wise enjoy lunch tel. Perdue said state commis- with Governor Perdue
is scheduled for June 21 to 24, 2009 in Charleston, South Carolina.
2008 Awards and Recognition Day
The Commission recognized staff members for
their service to the state, wel-
comed new staff members and
awarded
Extraordinary
Achievement and Incentive
Awards to those employees
nominated by their peers for
outstanding service during the
Commission's Annual Awards
and Recognition Day July 15.
Those employees receiving
Faithful Service Awards were: Five years:John Kaduk, Michael Nantz, Angela Speir; Ten Years: Winifred Gaines, Lisa Taylor; 15 years: Robert B. Baker, Jr., Sheree Kernizan, Nancy Tyer; 20 Years: Rachel Perry, Philip Smith; 30 Years: Keith Blackshear, Bob Vaughan. Staff members receiving the Incentive Awards were: Monique
Edwards, Keith Blackshear,
Margie
Conley,
Billy
Donaldson, O'Tania Jenkins,
Gary Mason, Ann McCullough,
Shaun Rosemond, Pat Wel-
come, Earnest Whatley.
The New Employees recognized
were:
Heather Borst-Persson, Dar-
ren Dickenson, Nancy Gibson,
Daphne Jones, Kelli Leaf,
David Lewis, Michel Kerni-
zan, Alicia McBride, Al-
lison Morris, Tau-
heedah Muhammed,
Reginald Nelson, Wil-
liam Oquendo, Betty Jo
Ridgeway,
Russell
Steen, Tara Surratt,
Christopher
Swann,
Robert Trokey, Celeste
Wharton, Valerie Wade.
Commission staff enjoys lunch following the PSC Awards and Recognition Day
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
GPSC NEWS
PAGE 7
Employee News
New Employees
W elcome to the following new employees who
have joined the Commission: Heather Borst-Persson
Tauheedah Muhammed
David Lewis
Alicia McBride
Allison Morris
Reginald Nelson
Betty Jo Ridgeway
Celeste Wharton
Valerie Wade
Welcome Back!
D ennis Sewell returned to the Commission June 16 following 6 1/2 years on active duty with the U.S. Army. Dennis spent his
time with the U.S. Central Command visiting places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. He returned home in July 2006 but after two weeks had to
return to active duty. Dennis is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Sympathy
W e extend our sympathy to Carolyn Harrison
funeral was held May 20. We also wish to extend our sym-
on the passing of her father, pathy to Tauheedah Muham-
William Shuler, on June 21. med on the passing of her grand-
The funeral was held in North mother Marie Rambardan June
Charleston, South Carolina. 22.
We extend our Our condolences go to Michael
condolences to Russell on the passing of his
Joyce John- mother, Alene Russell, on June
son on the
30. The funeral was held July 5.
death of her
mother, Mattie
Mae Brantley
on May 17. The
Welcome Back!
William Morgan returned to work July 1 after his successful quadruple bypass surgery in April. William has been with the Commission's Transportation Unit since July 2005.
Renee Shadix Celebrates Birthday
Renee Shadix celebrated her birthday here June 20 with her fellow co-workers.
The gathering to help Renee celebrate!
PAGE 8
GPSC NEWS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3
Commission News
Georgia State Holidays For 2008
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 21 April 28 May 26 July 4 September 1 October 13 November 11 November 27 November 28 December 25 December 26
July 1-Administrative Session 10- Committees 15-Administrative Session 31- Committees August 5-Administrative Session 12-14 -Atmos Hearings 14- Committees 19-Administrative Session 28- Committees September 2-Administrative Session
Commission Calendar
3-4 Atmos hearings 11- Committees 16-Administrative Session 17-Special Administrative
Session October 2- Committees 7-Administrative Session 16- Committees 21-Administrative Session 30- Committees
NARUC Summer Meeting 2008 July 20-23, 2008 Portland, OR Annual Convention 2008 November 16-19, 2008 New Orleans, LA Winter Meeting 2009 February 15-18, 2009 Washington, D.C.
SEARUC Annual Meeting 2009 June 21-24, 2009 Charleston, South Carolina
GPSC ONLINE:.psc.state.ga.us
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 Chuck Eaton, Chairman
Robert B. Baker, Jr. H. Doug Everett
Angela Elizabeth Speir Stan Wise
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deborah Flannagan
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Reece McAlister