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Hospital Accountability Project: Northeast Georgia Medical Center

March 10, 2010 - Georgia Watch released a detailed financial analysis of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, a regional safety net hospital that serve low-income, uninsured, underinsured and other vulnerable populations in Gainesville and its surrounding region. This section of the state, serviced primarily by Northeast Georgia Medical Center, has an uninsured rate that is higher than the state average; many area health consumers face significant barriers in affording care. more

Georgians could save $450 a year on utilities, report says.

A new report, released by Georgia Watch and Consumer Federation of America, finds that Georgia families will continue to spend an extra $450 per year on their energy bills if strong energy efficiency policies are not incorporated into the climate and energy legislation before Congress. The report shows that robust state and federal energy efficiency policies could dramatically reduce energy consumption and save Georgians money on their energy bills every year. more

Georgia ranks 3rd for mortgage delinquencies; subprime borrowers lead pack

The Mortgage Bankers Association released their 2009 4Q mortgage loan delinquency rates last week. The report finds that of Georgia’s 1,654,728 mortgage holders, 17.1 percent are delinquent or in foreclosure. Additionally, 41.38 percent of the state’s mortgage holders with subprime loans were delinquent or in foreclosure at the end of 2009, as compared to 11.68 percent of those with prime loans. more

Consumers lack voice at PSC as big utility cases loom, advocates say

By David Markiewicz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 21, 2010
The state Public Service Commission is scheduled to hold public hearings Monday and Tuesday in Georgia Power’s fuel cost recovery case.
If the utility gets what it’s asking — $3.9 billion to cover its cost of coal, natural gas and nuclear fuel for the next 14 months, plus $683 million in under-recovered past costs — the typical residential customer will pay nearly $7 more each month on his electric bill.more

Georgia Watch welcomes Clare McGuire as senior counsel and director of the Consumer Energy Program bringing with her years of experience as a staff attorney for the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.

As the Director of the Consumer Energy Program (CEP), McGuire will intervene on behalf of consumers in rate cases and cases involving the state’s energy portfolio heard before the Public Service Commission. Georgia Watch’s presence at these hearings will allow for more transparency at the commission, a panel of five statewide elected officials that decides billion dollar rate cases. more

By Beth Malone

We’re in a housing crisis - one that hasn’t even hit its peek. The middle class is starting to feel the direct effects of foreclosure as the balloon that is their adjustable rate loan, bursts. That means more foreclosures to come in 2010. more

By Angela Speir Phelps

Most Georgians realize the impact energy bills have on their family’s budget, especially at this time of year when our natural gas bills rise. But what many may not realize is that last year, the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs completely defunded the Consumer’s Utility Counsel (CUC), a branch of the executive office that spoke up for average Georgians during the billion dollar utility cases being decided by the Public Service Commission (PSC). more

By Jeannine Malone

One in eight home loans is past due and on the verge of foreclosure in Georgia. Empty houses are falling into disrepair, homeowners are facing lower property values and families are turning up homeless, scrambling for shelter. more

By Matt Bouillon and Danny Orrock

Georgia Watch is keeping a keen eye on Atlanta Oculoplastic Surgery, P.C. v. Betty & Bruce Nestlehutt at the State Supreme Court that is challenging the cap on non-economic damages in the 2005 tort reform law. Non-economic damages are appropriate in cases where the jury wishes to compensate the injured party for harm that goes beyond lost wages or work opportunities. Pain and suffering, loss of normal marital relations (consortium), and physical injury or disfigurement are all non-monetary losses that fit in this category. Not surprisingly, amounts of non-economic damages can vary widely among cases and jurisdictions. more

By Beth Malone and Danny Orrock

flood

The flooded streets and damaged homes resulting from the storms that pummeled the state in September should serve as a wake-up call to us all. Some of you may be asking: Why didn’t I know my property was vulnerable to flooding? Why had I never thought to purchase flood insurance? Many of us now know whether or not to purchase flood insurance, however countless more remain in the dark. more

Atlanta Business Chronicle, December 4, 2009
By Dave Williams

At first blush, it might seem that Angela Speir Phelps made a radical career change this year when she moved from utility regulator to consumer advocate. Full article.

Georgia currently ranks 7th in the nation for foreclosures. The following is a list of a few other startling facts that have resulted from the housing crisis. more

1. Number of loans already lost to foreclosure: 1.5 million

2. Projected foreclosures on all types of loans during the next 5 years: 13 million
more

General intent:

SB 57 addresses financial incentives that brokers and others use to guide borrowers into unsuitable loans. The bill helps prevent factors that contributed to meltdown in the subprime market. more