Georgia’s newly flipped utility commission targets power bills, shutoffs, and data centers

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Democrats will hold majority control of the Georgia Public Service Commission for the first time in 30 years following Tuesday’s election, shifting power on the five-member constitutional board that regulates Georgia Power and sets residential electric rates.According to state election returns, the political shift follows a multimillion-dollar campaign focused on rising electricity costs and the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers across the state.Commissioner-elect Shelia Edwards and re-elected Commissioner Peter Hubbard won double-digit victories, according to election officials, cementing a 3-2 Democratic majority on the regulatory panel.Advocates and incoming commissioners said high utility bills have become a breaking point for Georgia families.“And everyone said the same thing: The utility bill is too damn high,” Edwards said. “And they needed somebody to do something about it.”Edwards said she campaigned on reining in repeated rat