The other crucial runoff election: Georgia Public Service Commission

TAKUYA AMAGAI: Right now, Democrats and Republicans are focusing on the two U.S. Senate Runoff elections in Georgia, which will determine which party will control the U.S. Senate. But there is another crucial runoff election that is not getting the same attention. On January 5th, 2021, Georgia will also have a runoff election for the Public Service Commission seat. 

Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member commission, who is elected statewide to serve 6-year terms. The commissioners are responsible for determining how much Georgians should pay for their utilities, such as electricity, telephone, and gas. At this moment, all 5 of the commissioners are Republicans.

After November 3rd, the incumbent Lauren “Bubba” McDonald (R) has fallen short of the 50% +1 votes he needed to avoid a runoff. He is now running in a runoff election against Daniel Blackman (D). McDonald is campaigning on keeping energy costs low and an increase in solar and nuclear energy facilities in Georgia. Blackman is campaigning not only on renewable energy and energy costs but also on expanding high-speed internet access, energy grid security, and job programs with Georgian utility companies.

So why should you care about Public Service Commissions? First, Public Service Commissions are instrumental in expanding renewable energy usage among utility companies. In 2019, 60% of the energy generation in the U.S. came from fossil fuels. Utility companies are reluctant to more quickly to renewable sources because they believe it will lead to higher energy costs and less reliability compared to fossil fuel sources. Public Service Commissions could use their authority to push for utility companies to adopt more aggressive plans to increase renewable energy. 

Second, Public Service Commissions’ influence with utilities drastically affects people’s quality of life. For example, in July, the Georgia Public Service Commission lifted its temporary moratorium on power disconnections that were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy affected 65000+ Georgian consumers, who had their power shut off between July and September of this year. The fact that the Georgia Public Service Commission had the authority to shut off the power in the middle of the pandemic illustrates the importance Public Service Commission has in people’s lives.

Even if Blackman wins on January 5th, 2021, the partisan balance of power in the Georgia Public Service Commission will not shift. However, that does not mean that Democrats should stop caring about the Public Service Commission, especially in Georgia. Everyone relies on utilities, especially now when we have been staying and working at home during the pandemic. The Public Service Commission may shift their policies to promote more renewable energy usage and increase assistance to struggling consumers if they believe Georgians disapprove of the Commission’s policies. While U.S. Senate elections are crucial, this is a race that should not be ignored.

Takuya Amagai is an MPP Student in Class 2022. He is originally from Tokyo, Japan, and is a cat person.