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Georgia Public Service Commission
| Georgia Public Service Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $145,000 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $14,050,994 |
| Total Seats: | 5 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 6 years |
| Authority: | Georgia Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, Paragraph I |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Tim Echols, Fitz Johnson, Lauren McDonald Jr., Tricia Pridemore, Jason Shaw | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | 2025 |
| Last election: | 2024 |
| Other Georgia Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Auditor•Superintendent of Schools•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Natural Resources Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Service Commission | |
The Georgia Public Service Commission is a quasi-executive, quasi-legislative state body responsible for regulating Georgia's public utilities -- that is, electric, gas, telecommunications and transportation firms. Unlike many similar bodies nationwide, the Georgia commission does not regulate water/sewer or gas providers. The commission is composed of five popularly elected members who serve staggered, six-year terms.[1]
To learn more about the 2025 special election for Georgia Public Service Commission District 2 and 3, click here.
Current officeholders
| Office | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Public Service Commission District 1 | Jason Shaw | Republican |
| Georgia Public Service Commission District 2 | Tim Echols | Republican |
| Georgia Public Service Commission District 3 | Fitz Johnson | Republican |
| Georgia Public Service Commission District 4 | Lauren McDonald Jr. | Republican |
| Georgia Public Service Commission District 5 | Tricia Pridemore | Republican |
Authority
The public service commission is established by the Georgia Constitution.
Georgia Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, Paragraph I
|
(a) There shall be a Public Service Commission for the regulation of utilities which shall consist of five members who shall be elected by the people.[2] |
Qualifications
State law requires commissioners to be:
- At least 30 years old
- Qualified to vote in state elections
- Free of any financial interest in any public service utility or related business (i.e. stock, bonds, employment contract, etc.)[3]
Georgia Code, 46-2-2
|
Any person who is at least 30 years of age, is qualified to vote as an elector, and is not directly or indirectly interested in any mercantile business or any corporation that is controlled by or that participates in the benefit of any pool, combination, trust, contract, or arrangement that has the effect of increasing or tending to increase the cost to the public of carriage, heat, light, power, or any commodity or merchandise sold to the public shall be eligible for membership on the commission, without regard to his experience in law or in the utility or transportation business. |
Elections
Commissioners are elected to six-year terms in staggered years. Each of the five commissioners resides in one of five districts, the boundaries of which are established by state law. Though each commissioner must be a resident of the district he represents for 12 months prior to election, commissioners are chosen in statewide elections and not by the citizens of their district. Commissioners take office on December 31 in the year of their election.[4]
Term limits
There are no term limits for Georgia public service commissioners.
2025
District 2
General election candidates
- Tim Echols (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Alicia Johnson (Democratic Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
- Tim Echols (Incumbent) ✔
- Lee Muns
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District 3
General election candidates
- Fitz Johnson (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Peter Hubbard (Democratic Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Democratic primary runoff candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Democratic primary candidates
- Daniel Blackman (disqualified appeared on ballot)
- Peter Hubbard ✔
- Robert Jones
- Keisha Sean Waites ✔
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
- Fitz Johnson (Incumbent) ✔
2024
Georgia was scheduled to hold an election for two of five seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission on November 5, 2024. On March 6, 2024, the office of the Georgia Secretary of State announced that the election for public service commissioners would not be held due to an ongoing lawsuit challenging the structure of elections for public service commissioner.[5]
On August 5, 2022, United States District Court judge Steven Grimberg ruled that the commission's at-large elections violated the Voting Rights Act and that the scheduled 2022 general election should not be held using that system.[6][7] Grimberg's decision was overturned by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Subsequently, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated Grimberg's decision in August 2022.[8] In November 2023, the 11th Circuit ruled again that Georgia can hold at-large elections for seats on the public service commission.[9] At the time of the 2024 filing deadline, the 11th Circuit ruling remained under appeal.[5]
District 3
General election candidates
The general election was canceled.
Democratic primary candidates
The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
Republican primary candidates
The Republican Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
District 5
General election candidates
The general election was canceled.
Democratic primary candidates
The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
Republican primary candidates
The Republican Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
2022
Georgia was scheduled to hold an election for two of five seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission on November 8, 2022. The general election was canceled after United States District Court judge Steven Grimberg ruled on August 5, 2022, that the Georgia Public Service Commission's at-large elections violate the Voting Rights Act and that the scheduled 2022 general election should not be held using that system. The state submitted an appeal to stay the decision until after the general election but withdrew the appeal on August 19, 2022, meaning the two races did not appear on the 2022 ballot.[6][7]
A primary was held on May 24, 2022, before the general election was canceled.
District 2
General election candidates
The general election was canceled.
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
- Tim Echols (Incumbent) ✔
District 3
General election candidates
The general election was canceled.
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
- Fitz Johnson (Incumbent) ✔
2020
District 1
General election candidates
- Jason Shaw (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Robert Bryant (Democratic Party)
- Elizabeth Melton (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
- Jason Shaw (Incumbent) ✔
Did not make the ballot:
District 4
General runoff candidates
- Lauren McDonald Jr. (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Daniel Blackman (Democratic Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
General election candidates
- Lauren McDonald Jr. (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Daniel Blackman (Democratic Party) ✔
- Nathan Wilson (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
- Lauren McDonald Jr. (Incumbent) ✔
Past elections
Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement to serve until the next general election.[10]
Georgia Code, 46-2-4
|
Any vacancy in the commission shall be filled by the Governor. Any person so appointed shall hold his office until the next regular general election and until his successor for the balance of the unexpired term has been elected and has qualified. |
Duties
Public service commissioners are responsible for making regulations covering Georgia's electric, gas, telecommunications, and intrastate transportation firms. State law also gives the commission power to hear complaints against public utilities and require utilities to maintain certain services or facilities; commissioners are authorized to "examine the affairs" of utilities and "keep informed of their general condition."[11]
Divisions
- Updated January 12, 2021
- Administration
- Utilities
- Telecommunications
- Internal Consultants
- Electric
- Consumer Affairs
- Facilities Protection
- Natural Gas[12]
State budget
- See also: Georgia state budget and finances
The budget for the Public Service Commission in Fiscal Year 2025 was $14,050,994.[13]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of elected executive officials in Georgia are determined by state law as mandated in the Georgia Constitution. Article V of the state constitution indicates that the Georgia State Legislature determines salaries for governor, lieutenant governor, and "other elected executives."[14]
Article V, Section 3, Paragraph III
| Text of Paragraph III:
Powers, Duties, Compensation, and Allowances of Other Executive Officers Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the General Assembly shall prescribe the powers, duties, compensation, and allowances of the above executive officers and provide assistance and expenses necessary for the operation of the department of each.[2] |
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $145,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $121,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[23]
2014
In 2014, the commissioners each received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[24]
2013
In 2013, the commissioners each received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[25]
2010
In 2010, the commissioners each received a salary of $116,452, according to the Council of State Governments.[26]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Georgia Public Service Commission has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
- Chuck Eaton, 2007-2021
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Georgia Public Service Commission. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Address:
244 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (800) 282-5813
Fax: (404) 656-2341
E-mail: gapsc@psc.ga.gov
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Georgia Public Service Commission, "Home," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "Constitution of the State of Georgia," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Code, "46-2-2," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Code, "46-2-1," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Augusta Chronicle, "Lawsuit again postpones elections to the Georgia commission that regulates power bill rates," March 7, 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Federal judge rules PSC election ‘unlawfully dilutes’ Black voting power," August 5, 2022
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "November PSC elections off after U.S. Supreme Court ruling," August 19, 2022
- ↑ WABE, "Court decision expected soon on Georgia Public Service Commission election," November 3, 2023
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Keeps At-Large Elections in Place for Georgia Public Service Commission," November 27, 2023
- ↑ Georgia Code, "46-2-4," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Code, "46-2-20," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Georgia Public Service Commission, "2018 Annual Report," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Georgia.gov, "HB 916 - FY 2025 Appropriations Bill," accessed January 16, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Constitution Art. V," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed January 12, 2021
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