A new bipartisan bill could breathe life into Georgia’s dormant consumer utility office, a vital agency for protecting homeowners and small businesses from skyrocketing utility rates.
In the 2025 legislative session, Georgia lawmakers are taking a second swing at re-establishing an independent consumer utility office after its abrupt demise in 2008 due to state budget cuts during the Great Recession. The move is designed to ensure Georgians have an advocate when it comes to their utility bills and services.
Senate Bill 94, introduced by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, a Republican from Rome, aims to reinstate the Office of Consumers’ Utility Counsel, a body that would represent Georgians during utility rate cases and other proceedings before the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). This new office, should it pass, would operate under the Georgia Attorney General’s office, restoring a critical layer of oversight and advocacy for residents and small businesses.
An Office Lost to Budget Cuts
Back in 2008, the Consumers’ Utility Counsel was abolished as part of sweeping budget cuts by then-Governor Sonny Perdue during the state’s economic downturn. The council was charged with offering legal representation and expert advice to Georgia residents facing steep utility rate increases. With its dissolution, consumers lost their dedicated voice in utility matters.
This office’s absence has been keenly felt over the years, especially as utility costs have continued to climb. Many Georgians have raised concerns that the PSC, the body responsible for regulating public utilities, is insufficiently equipped to advocate for consumers, often prioritizing the interests of large utility companies over those of everyday ratepayers.
The proposed bill has drawn bipartisan support, signaling a collective desire to restore this critical consumer protection. Lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, agree that an independent utility office could help balance the scales between consumers and powerful utility corporations.
The Role of the Proposed Office
Under Senate Bill 94, the new consumer office would have several key responsibilities. First, it would have the authority to intervene in utility rate cases, representing residential and small business consumers at hearings before the PSC and in court. It would also have the ability to launch utility-related proceedings, not just in Georgia, but at the federal level as well.
The proposed consumer utility office would have the power to initiate its own investigations, request evidence, and take depositions. All these powers would be designed to ensure that consumer interests are fully represented, especially during periods when utility rates are subject to change.
The office would be led by a director who would oversee a team of staff and external consultants, each with expertise in utility matters. The budget required to fund the office is projected to be less than $1 million, a relatively small price tag when compared to the significant costs that could be avoided by consumers if this office leads to reduced utility rate hikes.
In a statement, Sen. Hufstetler expressed that the cost of the office would be minimal in comparison to the benefits it could provide, particularly in defending Georgia consumers from unreasonable rate increases that could otherwise strain household and small business budgets.
Expected Budget and Key Personnel
The proposed budget would cover the salaries of the director, supporting staff, and utility consultants. It would also provide for expert witnesses to appear in cases where complex technical knowledge is needed to evaluate utility issues. While the proposed sum is modest, lawmakers argue it would pay dividends by helping prevent rate increases that disproportionately impact Georgia’s most vulnerable residents.
- Estimated cost: < $1 million
- Key positions:
- Director
- Supporting staff
- Utility consultants
- Expert witnesses
Bipartisan Support in the Senate
Although the bill’s cost has raised concerns among some lawmakers, it has still found support across the aisle. Last week, the bill passed the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, largely due to the deciding vote from Chairman Bill Cowsert, a Republican from Athens. Cowsert’s backing is significant, as it signals that Republicans, in particular, are open to restoring this consumer advocacy office.
Some Republicans, such as Sen. Carden Summers of Cordele, have expressed caution. They are wary of the financial burden this office could place on the state and question whether it would sufficiently ease the burden on Georgia utility customers. In a column to his constituents, Summers noted that the new office would not have the same election process as the PSC, meaning it wouldn’t have the same kind of political authority over the commission.
Despite these concerns, the bill’s bipartisan backing, including support from two dozen senators, speaks to the growing consensus that Georgia needs a consumer watchdog to represent its residents in utility matters.
Moving Through the Senate
Senate Bill 94 is currently under review by the Senate Rules Committee, which will decide if the legislation moves forward for a vote by the full Senate. If the bill passes, it will then head to the Georgia House for further deliberation. With the backing it has already garnered, there is cautious optimism that the bill will find success this legislative session.
The re-establishment of the Office of Consumers’ Utility Counsel would mark a significant shift in how Georgia deals with utility regulation, potentially offering more transparency and protection for consumers who have long felt they were sidelined in rate discussions.
