GPSC news, Vol. 9, no. 3 (Summer 2009)

GPSC
GPSC News

Volume 8 Issue 3
*Energy pending before Congress *Commissioners talk to Georgia Delegation *Bill Now in Senate *Passed House in June

Commissioners Meet

Summer 2009

Georgia Lawmakers on Energy

Bill

In this issue

Budget Cuts in June

2

Legislative Hearing

2

Commission Penalizes

3

Stream Energy

Commission Receives Grant 3

Commission Sponsors Large 4 Project Meeting
Commission Receives Patriot 4 Award
Commission Continues Work 5 Despite Budget Cuts
Nantz Named Consumer 5 Affairs Director

Representatives Lynn Westmoreland, Paul Representatives Sanford Bishop,

Broun and Nathan Deal listen to

David Scott and Hank Johnson

Commissioners

with Commissioners

C ommission Chairman to Washington, D.C. July as "cap and trade,"

Doug

Everett 22 to voice their concerns which Commissioners

along with Commis- to Georgia's Congres- say will dramatically in-

sioners

Lauren sional Delegation about crease Georgian's utility

"Bubba" McDonald, Jr. the pending energy and bills in the coming

and Stan Wise traveled climate legislation, known

(Continued on page 4)

Staff Visits Plant Vogtle

5

Everett Grandson Aims for 6 London Olympics

Employee News

7

State Holidays

8

Commission Calendar

8

Next Issue November 2009

Commission Reconsiders Chairman

Vote

A majority of the Commission voted

General As- follows a June 8, 2009

sembly.

opinion by Georgia At-

June 16 to reconsider its

The 3-2 deci- torney General Thurbert

May 5, 2009 decision to

sion means Baker that the Commis-

elect Commissioner

Commis-

sion could not elect a

Stan Wise as Commis-

sioner Doug chairman for more than

sion Chairman effective

Everett will a one-year term as set

July 1, 2009 for a two- remain Commission Chair forth in the 1992 stat-

year term. The Commis- for the remainder of ute, O.C.G.A. 46-2-5.

sion then voted to table 2009. Lauren "Bubba" Earlier this year, the

the original motion pend- McDonald, Jr. will serve Commission also pro-

ing the outcome of legis- as Vice-Chairman during posed House Bill 568

lation in the Georgia the same period. The vote

(Continued on page 2)

PAGE 2

GPSC NEWS

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

Legislative News

Governor Sonny Perdue ordered a five percent cut

2008. The Governor had al-

on July 17 in all state agency

ready ordered

allotments and that

additional budget

all state employees

cuts to all state

would take three

agencies of 25%

furlough days by

of their June al-

the end of the cal-

lotments as state

endar year 2009.

revenues contin-

The announcement

ued to fall. The

followed a top level

state's reserve or

meeting with the Governor, "rainy day" fund balance now

Lieutenant Governor Casey stands at just $35 million.

Cagle and Speaker of the In late June, Perdue asked all

House Glenn Richardson.

agencies to voluntarily cut their

As Fiscal Year 2009 rolled to a July allotments by three percent.

close on June 30, the Governor

released the discouraging revenue collections on July 10. State revenues for FY 2009 fell 10.5 per cent compared to FY

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, 2009.

At the same, there was speculation among many in state
government that the Governor would call a Special Session of the General Assembly to deal with more budget cuts. For May, the Governor reported revenues dropped 14.4% com-
pared to May 2008 with the total revenue decrease for fiscal year 2009 at 10%. At this time, there is no call for a special legislative session but that option apparently
remains on the table as state leaders watch the revenue figures.

Legislative Hearing

C ommission staff testified before the House Budget

that more consumer protection is needed, the Auditor

and Fiscal Affairs Oversight

missed the point that addi-

Committee on June 26 in re-

tional staff and funding are

sponse to the 2008 State Audi-

the problem.

tor's report on Household Goods

Committee asked if other

Movers regulation. Executive

agencies could assist the

Director Deborah Flannagan,

Commission in enforcing laws

Transportation Manager the Commission appear to re- and rules on household goods

Robert West, Attorney Kelli spond to the Auditor's report movers and if legislation ap-

Leaf and Legislative Liaison which was published in July 2008. proved in 2007 had removed

Bill Edge attended the hearing. Flannagan told the lawmakers cities' authority to enforce state

The lawmakers had requested that while the Commission agreed laws.

Commission Reconsiders Chairman Vote

(Continued from page 1)

sue as we perform the 1992 General Assembly."

which would have allowed the

our duties. We will Commissioner Wise has served

Commission to select a chairman

continue to have on the Commission since 1995.

by majority vote for up to a three

discussions with at- Commissioner Everett has

year term. The measure is await-

torneys and the served on the Commission since

ing action by the State Senate.

General Assembly 2003. Commissioner Biogra-

Commission Wise, in making

prior to the next phies can be found on the Com-

the motion for reconsideration session as to the best solution in mission web site at http://

said, "I do not want this Commis- this conflict between the consti- www.psc.state.ga.us/pscinfo/

sion to be distracted with this is- tution and the law enacted by bios.asp.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

GPSC NEWS

PAGE 3

PSC Assesses Penalties of $154,760 against

Natural Gas Marketer, Stream Georgia Gas

Stream Georgia Gas (Stream consent. While Stream Georgia staff 90 days after the CommisGeorgia) will pay affected does not admit to any wrongdo- sion's order is signed.

customers

approximately ing, they will pay the penalties The Commission issued an In-

$104,760 and will donate directly to the 288 customers terim Certificate of Authority to

$50,000 directly to assist natural within 60 days of the filing of the Stream Georgia on April 1, 2008,

gas customers as a result of a Commission's order in this to provide firm natural gas com-

settlement approved May 19 by Docket.

modity sales service in all of the

the Commission. The settlement Stream also agrees to donate Atlanta Gas Light Company

will resolve 288 allegations of $35,000 of the $50,000 to Heat- ("AGLC") Georgia primary deliv-

switching a natural gas cus- ing Energy Assistance Team ery pool groups. As such, Stream

tomer's service without their (H.E.A.T.) and $15,000 to The Georgia is subject to all applica-

consent, a practice commonly Salvation Army.

ble state laws and Commission

known as "slamming."

Other provisions of the settle- rules relating to natural gas ser-

The settlement follows a Com- ment include:

vice in Georgia.

mission investigation into com- 1. Stream Georgia agrees to

plaints from natural gas con- abide by all state laws and Com-

sumers that their natural gas mission rules.

service had been switched to 2. Stream Georgia will provide a

Stream Georgia without their progress report to Commission

PSC Receives Grant to Partner with Department of Energy and NARUC for Solar Energy Analysis

T he Department of Energy This new partnership activity together to identify and analyze (DOE) and the National As- aims to provide states in the be- technological, economic and

sociation of Regulatory Utility ginning stages of solar energy regulatory barriers facing solar

Commissioners (NARUC) has se- deployment with a solar resource energy adoption and examine

lected the Commission as one of assessment.

policy options to overcome

only seven state public utility The project is a piece of a larger these challenges.

commission partners to partici- DOE and NARUC partnership that "I am proud that the Georgia

pate in a solar energy resource will bring State utility commis- Public Service Commission and

potential study. The project will sion staff and researchers from its staff have been selected for

last up to one year.

the DOE National Laboratories this innovative partnership. This

project will enable our state to tucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio,

receive a detailed and quality Missouri, and Colorado. All par-

analysis on solar energy issues ticipants were selected through a

for Georgia," said Commission competitive application process.

Chairman Doug Everett, Through a solicitation by NARUC,

"Efficient solar energy can be a state commissions submitted re-

part of any renewable energy search proposals covering a wide

package."

range of topics. Areas selected

DOE will provide $150,000 to for analysis include an examina-

the fund the project. Besides tion of feed-in tariff policies and

Georgia, the other states se- implementation, solar energy grid

lected to participate are Ken- integration issues, and the re-

source assessment analysis. This suite of projects will receive $350,000 of funding from the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program. Future areas of funding may include
solar hot water technical standards, quantifying the benefits of solar energy, and examining the role of solar energy in utilities' integrated resource planning processes.

PAGE 4

GPSC NEWS

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

Commission Sponsors First Large Project Meeting on Major Road Construction

Commissioners Doug Everett and Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr. along with Pipeline Safety Director Danny McGriff and GUFPA Case Manager Gary Mason brought together stakeholders June 18 at
Commissioner McDonald addresses the meeting

the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce to discuss utility locates for a major road construction project in Sandy Springs. The meeting was the first large project meeting held under amendments
to the Dig Law passed in 2005.
Gary Mason briefs the audience on the project

Commissioner Doug Everett stressed that communication is
key in ensuring that large projects go smoothly, while Commissioner McDonald said it is about teamwork. Representatives from all major utilities were present along with the
Utilities Protection Center and the contractor C.W. Matthews Contracting.

Commission Receives Patriot Award
T he Georgia Committee for ESGR is a Department of De- solving conflicts through meEmployer Support of the fense agency whose mission is diation. Civilian employers play

Guard and Reserve (ESGR) July to gain and maintain employer a critical role in the defense of

28 awarded the Commission the support for Guard and Reserve the nation by complying with

Patriot Award for the Commis- service by recognizing out- existing employment laws pro-

sion's support of National Guard standing support, increasing tecting the rights of employees

and Reserve Commission em- awareness of the law, and re- who serve in National Guard

ployees. Chairman Doug

and Reserve. The sacrifices of

Everett accepted on behalf of

employers allow these men and

the Commission during the

women the ability to perform

award ceremony at the Army

duties in an exemplary man-

Reserve Center in Decatur.

ner.

Commissioners Go to Washington

(Continued from page 1)

delegation members. Commis- met with the Commissioners

years. "Unless this legislation is sion Vice-Chairman McDonald were: Representatives Phil Gin-

modified and revised, Georgians said, "We were pleased with the grey, Lynn Westmoreland, Na-

could see their electric utility reception afforded us by mem- than Deal, Paul Broun, Sanford

bills go up by as much as $66 a bers of Georgia's Congressional Bishop, Hank Johnson, and David

month by 2020," said Everett. Delegation and will continue Scott. Senators Johnny Isakson

"Ultimately, we want to find a working with them through the and Saxby Chambliss were rep-

way to sculpt a bill that has less legislative process."

resented by staff members due

impact on Georgians," Commis- The members of the Georgia to ongoing legislative committee

sioner Stan Wise told the Congressional Delegation who hearings.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

GPSC NEWS

PAGE 5

PSC Continues Work despite Budget Cuts

The Commission remains committed to its core mis-

and other proceedings.

sion of balancing the interests of

Among the

consumers and the utilities it

cost cutting

regulates even during these dif-

measures the

ficult economic times. Due to

Commission

the recession and decline in

has imple-

state revenues the Commission

mented:

has taken a 14.6 per cent de-

crease in the agency's annual

operating budget since August cies, we have complied with the 1. Reached an agreement with

2008.

mandated budget cuts but they Georgia Power Company for the

"As a small agency with a wide have had an impact on our abil- Company to pay $600,000 annu-

ranging mission, any cuts in our ity to carry out our constitu- ally for an independent monitor

budget have a dramatic effect tional and statutory responsibili- to provide oversight for Plant

on our regulatory duties," said ties." McDonald noted however Vogtle Nuclear Power Unit 3 and

Commission

Vice-Chairman that the Commission has sought 4 construction costs.

Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, to implement innovative funding 2. Sought legislation to fund out-

Jr. "Like all other state agen- methods to provide the outside side experts for rate cases with-

experts needed for rate cases

(Continued on page 6)

Nantz Named Consumer Affairs Director
The Commission on July 7 marketers were complying with Coast Guard. Congratulations named Mike Nantz as the Commission Rules. Prior to mov- again to Mike on his new posiDirector of Consumer Affairs, ing to Georgia, he held various tion. replacing longtime Director positions with the Kentucky PSC Cynthia Cornelius who is re- and also worked for Kentucky signing to pursue a law career. Utilities Company. Mike is a Mike joined the Commission in graduate of Francis Marion UniJanuary 2003 as the Assistant versity in Florence, South Caroto the Director for Enforcement lina. He and his wife Deborah in Consumer Affairs. In this live in Roswell. His stepson, role, his responsibilities in- Aaron, is completing his Basic cluded assuring utilities and Training in the United States

Staff Visits Plant Vogtle

Commission staff along with our budget and research

and

Johnson all got a close up look

Budget at the reactor control room,

analysts visited Georgia

Analyst turbine generation room and

Power's Nuclear Generating

Brian

plant security measures.

Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro,

Smith Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 en-

Georgia on July 10. Staff mem-

and Sen- tered operation in 1987 and

bers Bill Edge, Allison Mor-

ate

1989. Two more units are cur-

ris, Tom Bond, Phil Smith

Search rently under construction at the

and Steve Roetger, Senate

Assistant site and scheduled for comple-

Budget Analyst Kristin

Director tion in 2016 and 2017.

Youngquist, Office of Planning

Brian

PAGE 6

GPSC NEWS

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

Everett Grandson Aims for 2012 Olympics

T aylor "Wildman" Delk is streamlining his way into na-

world. USA Swimming is the governing body of swimming

tional swimming record books,

in the United States. It man-

following a nationally recognized

ages the competitions, train-

2008 season with an early 2009

ing, and selection of the USA

season that has already engraved

national teams and Olympic

his name into the ranks of the na-

teams.

tion's best swimmers.

Delk, who hopes to compete in

Delk is the 11 year old grandson

the 2012 Olympic Games in

of Commissioner Doug Everett.

London, competes in the USA

The attendance charts at the

Swimming junior division.

White County Intermediate School list him as "Robert Taylor Delk,"

team. The ing to do

Select Team has nothwith age groups, thus

Long course (LC) competitions are in a 50 meter pool. Short

but in the swimming world, the local swimming prodigy goes by "Wildman." In May Delk was invited to swim with the Select Team, a very

Delk is competing with some of the nation's top swimmers (future Olympians), some of whom are over 20 years old. Delk now competes with USA

course (SC) competitions are in a 25 yard pool. He is currently ranked second in the nation in the 100 meter backstroke (LC) and 200 meter

prestigious invitation. Delk was the only male from his Swim Atlanta region to be invited to the

Swimming, the tive swimming

largest competiprogram in the

backstroke (LC), as well as third in the nation for the 50 meter backstroke (LC). The

2009 season is still underway, backstroke (SC).

was five years old, his first

thus those standings are subject Delk also competed in Parks and year of competitive swimming.

to change and a possible im- Recreation swimming in 2008. He He continues the hunt thanks

provement to gain even more broke the 50 yard backstroke time to a diligent and rigorous

ground by Delk.

record en route to finishing num- training schedule. Wildman

2008 was a record year for the ber one in state in the event. He swims two hours a day, six

young swimmer. In USA Swim- also broke the 100 yard Individual days a week, for 312 days of

ming, he finished number one in Medley (back, breast, butterfly, the year. He only takes off

the nation in the 100 meter and free styles) Parks and Recrea- Sundays and major holidays.

backstroke event (LC) and num- tion record. The record had previ- Denice Delk, the swimmer's

ber two in the nation in the 50 ously remained untouched for 15 mother and chauffeur to every

meter backstroke (LC). He fin- years. Delk finished number one in event and practice, spends

ished number one in the state of the state in this event.

hours supporting her son's

Georgia in the 50 yard back- For the Wildman, the hunting of dream, and she knows him

stroke (SC) and the 100 yard national records began when he better than anyone else. "He

does not swim on Christmas," just might be in London. Good said Delk. "But on Christmas Eve, luck Wildman! he's swimming. He does not swim

Commission Continues Work

on New Years, but on New Year's

Eve, he's swimming." The practice totals equals an ap-

(Continued from page 5)
out seeking additional state

proximate of 624 hours a year. to

funds.

answer. This summer, Delk will

3. No new equipment purchases.

swim in USA Swimming events,

For Fiscal Year 2011, the Com-

including a state competition at

mission must submit budget pro-

Georgia Tech the week of July 16-

posals calling for 4 percent, 6

19. Three summers from now, he

percent and 8 percent cuts.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

GPSC NEWS

PAGE 7

Employee News

Capitol Celebrates 120 Years

H undreds of folks attended the 120th anniversary

completed on time

celebration of the State Capitol

and within

on July 8. Secretary of State

budget.

Karen Handel spoke to the audi-

The total

ence and the 338th Army Band

cost was

Brass Quintet provided stirring

just over

patriotic music. Attendees en-

$1 million!

joyed Capitol birthday cake and

A bargain

signed a birthday card to Miss

by today's

Freedom. The Capitol was dedi-

standards!

cated on July 4, 1889 and was

Sympathy
O ur condolences go to Executive Director Deborah
Flannagan on the passing May 4, 2009 of her sister, Monica Kerckoff of Tallahassee, Florida. Services were held on May 8 in Talla-
hassee. Monica is survived by two sons and a granddaughter.

Farewell Cynthia
C ynthia Cornelius bid fare- off. Her last official well to the Commission July day here was July 15. 1 as co-workers and friends Cynthia has been gathered for her "official" send with the Commission
since 2000 and has been Director of Consumer Affairs since 2001. She plans to attend Loyola University Law School for her law degree and practice public interest law. We wish Cynthia all the best!
Renee Heads for Retirement
R enee Shadix retired from the Commission on May 29 after 34 years with the state.

The celebration began with a Parade down Washington Street and continued with eats and speeches

inside. Farewell and Best wishes Renee!

PAGE 8

GPSC NEWS

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

Commission News
Georgia State Holidays For 2009

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's Birthday Washington's Birthday Christmas

January 1 January 19 April 27 May 25 July 3 September 7 October 12 November 11 November 26 November 27 December 24 December 25

August 2009 4-Administrative Session
13-Committees 18-Administrative Session 27-Committees September 2009 1-Administrative Session 7-Labor Day Holiday
10-Committees 15-Administrative Session October 2009 1-Committees 6-Administrative Session

Commission Calendar

12-Columbus Day Holiday 15-Committees
20-Administrative Session 29-Committees November 2009 3-Administrative Session 11-Veteran's Day Holiday 12-Committees
17-Administrative Session 24-Committees 26-Thanksgiving Holiday 27-Holiday

NARUC
Annual Convention 2009 November 15-18, 2009 Chicago, IL
Winter Meeting 2010 February 14-17, 2010 Washington, D.C.
Summer Meeting 2010 July 18-21, 2010 Sacramento, CA

SEARUC
Annual Meeting 2010 June 21-24, 2010 Point Clear, Alabama
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 H. Doug Everett, Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr.
Robert B. Baker, Jr. Chuck Eaton Stan Wise
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Deborah Flannagan
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Reece McAlister