You don’t vote for your power company. But you do vote for the people who regulate it.

That’s what’s at stake in Georgia’s June 17th special primary election for the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The PSC may not be a household name, but its decisions reach into every home and business in the state.

Given its impact on daily life, it’s worth taking a closer look at what the PSC does and why the election to select its potential new leaders matters.

What Is The PSC And Why Are We Voting?

The PSC was originally established in 1879 as the Railroad Commission of Georgia to bring oversight to the powerful railroads that shaped commerce across the state. Over time, its responsibilities expanded to include other public utilities. By 1922, the agency was renamed to reflect its broader authority.

Today, the PSC regulates Georgia’s investor-owned utilities, including Georgia Power, Atlanta Gas Light, and some telecommunications providers. Its decisions directly influence the cost and reliability of energy and utility services used by millions.

The PSC’s five elected commissioners serve staggered six-year terms. Their responsibilities include:

• Approving or rejecting rate increases proposed by utility companies, directly impacting what Georgia residents pay for electricity and gas.
• Evaluating major infrastructure proposals, including new power plants, natural gas pipelines, and long-term utility investment plans.
• Determining how much power comes from coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and other renewable sources.
• Ensuring reliable service at fair prices by balancing the interests of consumers with the financial needs of utility companies.

While the commission does not oversee municipal utilities or electric membership cooperatives, its authority over Georgia Power—the largest utility in the state—gives it wide-reaching influence over Georgia’s energy future.

This includes oversight of major projects like Plant Vogtle, currently the only nuclear plant expansion underway in the United States. The project has faced billions in cost overruns and years of delays. More broadly, the PSC plays a key role in shaping how Georgia approaches grid modernization, climate resilience, and the shift to cleaner energy.

The June 2025 election is happening because two PSC seats—Districts 2 and 3—were originally scheduled for a vote in 2022. That year’s election was delayed after a federal court ruled that the PSC’s at-large election system diluted Black voting power. Although the decision was later overturned, the delay left both seats in limbo. To reset the election cycle and preserve staggered terms, the Georgia legislature passed a law moving both races to 2025. That’s why voters this year will weigh in on two critical seats at once.

Who Are The Candidates For The PSC?

The June 17th special primary will determine party nominees for two PSC seats representing Districts 2 and 3. Although candidates must live in their respective districts, all Georgia voters are eligible to vote in both races because committee member elections are held statewide.

Here are District 2’s candidates (Eastern and Southeastern Georgia):

• Tim Echols (R, Incumbent): Serving since 2011, Echols is seeking his third term. He strongly supports nuclear energy and has played a central role in expanding Georgia’s solar footprint. He favors continued investment in large-scale energy projects to ensure long-term grid reliability. His website is www.timechols.com.
• Lee Muns (R): A former Columbia County school board member, Muns is running on a platform of transparency and fiscal responsibility. He is critical of unchecked rate hikes and supports stronger oversight of utility spending. His website is www.leemunsgapsc.com.
• Alicia Johnson (D): A health care consultant from Savannah, Johnson is unopposed in the Democratic primary. She advocates for affordable, clean energy, tighter controls on utility rate increases, and greater protections for low-income and rural customers. Her website is www.alicia4georgia.com.

And here are District 3’s candidates (Metro Atlanta: Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton Counties):

• Fitz Johnson (R, Incumbent): Appointed in 2021, Johnson supports continued infrastructure investment to meet Georgia’s growing energy market. He emphasizes balancing ratepayer concerns with the need for long-term energy reliability. His website is www.friendsforfitz.com.
• Keisha Sean Waites (D): A former Atlanta City Council member and state representative, Waites has focused her campaign on equity, environmental justice, and lowering the cost burden of energy on working families. No website is currently available.
• Peter Hubbard (D): Founder of the Center for Energy Solutions, Hubbard has served as an expert witness in PSC proceedings. He supports rapid expansion of renewable energy, tougher scrutiny of utility rate increases, and stronger ethics and transparency requirements. His website is www.peterhubbardforgeorgiapsc.com.
• Robert Jones (D): With a background in utility regulation in California, Jones champions energy affordability, distributed solar access, and protecting consumers from overbuilding and overspending by regulated utilities. His website is www.robertjones4psc.com.
• Daniel Blackman (D): A former EPA regional administrator, Blackman has been disqualified due to residency eligibility issues. His name will still appear on the ballot.

This Election’s Issues

The candidates in Georgia’s Public Service Commission primary are offering sharply different visions for how the state should manage its energy future. Here are the major issues on the table.

Electricity Costs

One of the most pressing issues is the rising cost of electricity. Since early 2023, Georgia Power customers have seen six rate hikes, increasing the average monthly bill by about $43. These hikes stem from multiple factors: the long-delayed completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 added $14.37, a 12% increase in June 2023 covered elevated fuel costs, and another 3.5% bump took effect in January 2025. 

Peter Hubbard (D) has sharply criticized these hikes, pointing to Vogtle’s massive cost overruns as a failure of regulatory oversight. Daniel Blackman (D) has made similar arguments, calling for stronger resistance to utility requests. Alicia Johnson (D) supports greater transparency in how energy projects are funded and how costs are passed to customers. 

By contrast, Tim Echols (R) defends Vogtle as a long-term investment in clean, reliable nuclear power. Fitz Johnson (R) acknowledges the burden on ratepayers but emphasizes the need to modernize infrastructure to support a growing population and ensure grid resilience.

Renewable Energy

Another major issue is renewable energy. While Georgia Power has developed large-scale solar farms, critics say the state trails peers like North Carolina and Florida in per capita solar capacity and has not done enough to promote rooftop or community solar. They also point to a lack of utility-scale battery storage, which could help stabilize the grid during peak demand. 

Peter Hubbard (D) backs stronger rooftop solar incentives and has criticized the PSC’s continued support for fossil fuel-heavy plans. Alicia Johnson (D) calls for expanded solar access in underserved and rental communities, tying clean energy to equity and affordability. 

Tim Echols (R), often referred to as Georgia’s “Solar Architect,” supports a diversified energy mix but warns that over-reliance on intermittent sources like solar and wind could pose reliability risks if not balanced with firm generation. Fitz Johnson (R) supports renewables as part of a broader strategy but stresses that grid stability must remain the top priority.

Infrastructure

Candidates also differ on how to balance long-term innovation with short-term reliability. Georgia’s energy infrastructure must meet rising demand while weathering extreme events like heat waves and hurricanes. 

Echols (R) and Fitz Johnson (R) argue that large-scale infrastructure upgrades—including nuclear investment and EV charging networks—are necessary to keep the grid stable. 

Hubbard (D) and Blackman (D) counter that Georgia has prioritized expensive mega-projects at the expense of smaller, flexible solutions like demand response programs and community-based microgrids. Alicia Johnson (D) advocates for smarter, scalable investments that grow with community needs and avoid locking ratepayers into rigid, long-term costs.

Ethics And Transparency

Finally, ethics and transparency have emerged as flashpoints in the race. The PSC has long faced criticism for accepting campaign contributions from industries it regulates, and past commissioners have faced ethics violations. 

Peter Hubbard (D), Alicia Johnson (D), and Robert Jones (D) have made ethics reform a central theme, supporting contribution limits and mandatory recusals in cases of conflict. Keisha Sean Waites (D) frames transparency as a civil rights issue, arguing that working families deserve clear insight into how energy decisions are made. 

On the other side, Tim Echols (R) believes existing policies are sufficient and warns that aggressive reforms could undermine the commission’s independence. Fitz Johnson (R) has acknowledged the importance of transparency but has not committed to specific reforms.

How These Issues Impact Peachtree City

At first glance, the PSC might seem distant from daily life in Peachtree City for some. In the southern part of the city, many residents get their electricity from Coweta-Fayette EMC, a member owned cooperative that sets its own rates, serves over 70,000 accounts, and is known for its reliable, community based service. That structure is different from investor-owned utilities like Georgia Power, which serves the northern part of Peachtree City and is regulated directly by the PSC and accountable to shareholders.

But Coweta-Fayette EMC does not operate in a vacuum. The co-op does not generate its own electricity. Instead, it buys power wholesale from larger suppliers like Oglethorpe Power and depends on the statewide transmission network to deliver that energy to neighborhoods across southern Peachtree City, including Braelinn and Glenloch. Decisions made by the Public Service Commission about power generation, transmission infrastructure, and grid costs all ripple outward, affecting the prices co ops pay and, in turn, what local members see on their bills.

When And How To Vote

The special primary election for Georgia PSC Districts 2 and 3 will take place on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025. Early voting is now underway in Fayette County and continues through Friday, June 14th. 

For more details, visit the Fayette County Elections Office and consult the full Advance Voting Schedule.

Winners from each party will advance to the general election in November.

Head To The Polls!

In Peachtree City, we tend to think of power as something local. Our EMC is just down the road. If the lights go out, we can call someone who lives in our own community.

But the decisions shaping our energy future are made far beyond our ZIP code. They come from a broader network of utilities, regulators, and policymakers who set the rules for the entire grid.

That’s why quiet but consequential elections like this call for your participation.

Don’t sit this one out. Help shape the system that powers your life.

Vote.