August 30, 2010

Millions of Americans are falling for it, including the relatives of fallen service men and women. Military personnel are told their families will receive a $400,000 life insurance payout if they perish. But instead of a lump sum, grieving relatives are receiving what appears to be a checkbook, along with a letter telling them they can take their time withdrawing the money. It’s part of a widespread practice netting life insurance companies hundreds of millions in profit. Read more

August 23, 2010

According to a Public Service Commission (PSC) staff recommendation, Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) should be cutting rates, not asking for a $54 million rate increase.

In filings last week, the PSC litigation staff wrote that AGL couldn’t justify its current charges and accused the gas distribution company of inflating its expenses to justify additional rate hikes. The staff is recommending that AGL reduce its earnings by $15 million and explain these “phantom expenses.” Read more

August 20, 2010

A legal dispute between Georgia Power and its Plant Vogtle contractor is going to cost Georgia Power customers another $100 million.

Earlier this week, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an amendment to the construction contract between Georgia Power and Westinghouse–Shaw, the group building the two new units at Plant Vogtle. Though many details of the contract dispute are still unknown, the PSC decision allows Georgia Power to shift the cost of the dispute – estimated at $108 million – directly to customers. It comes without the slightest effort by Georgia Power to explain why its shareholders shouldnʼt be the ones to shoulder those costs.
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August 20, 2010

Amid the worst recession since the Great Depression and state unemployment still topping 10 percent, Georgia Power last month filed a rate increase request before the Public Service Commission (PSC) of more than $1 billion. This falls on the heels of two other Georgia Power rate increases approved over the last year. The new billion-dollar proposal would be phased in over the next three years. By February 2013, average Georgia Power bills would shoot up $18 per month, or $216 per year.

In the filing, Georgia Power is seeking approval to collect significantly more profit from its 2.35 million customers. The regulated utility’s current rate of profit is 11.25 percent. Georgia Power wants to raise its profit margin to nearly 12 percent, which translates to roughly $84 million more of profit per year. Read more

In March, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled unanimously that limits on jury awards in medical malpractice cases are unconstitutional.

“The very existence of the caps, in any amount, is violative of the right to trial by jury,” wrote Chief Justice Carol Hunstein. “[The cap] clearly nullifies the jury’s findings of fact regarding damages and thereby undermines the jury’s basic function.” Read more

Are you behind on your mortgage payments or struggling to make payments? If yes, and you have a Fannie Mae-backed mortgage, you now have another resource in metro Atlanta.

Fanny Mae recently opened the Atlanta Mortgage Help Center, which according to a news release, will offer “free access to high quality counseling and in-person resolution of their particular mortgage circumstances.” Read more

August 9, 2010

When you think about health care, the US Internal Revenue Service might not spring to mind. But the IRS took an important step last month that could make health care more affordable for millions of Americans, including many right here in Georgia. The agency began a process, established by the Affordable Care Act, to improve protections for consumers who get care at nonprofit hospitals throughout the country, including the more than 120 here in Georgia. Whether they follow through depends on us and Georgia’s congressional leaders. Read More

August 3, 2010

Georgia Watch applauds todayʼs decision by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to schedule public hearings across the state so that ratepayers will be able to voice their opinions regarding the Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light rate cases pending before the PSC. We encourage consumers to attend the hearings and comment as they see fit, especially given the significant impact of these proposed rate increases. Read More

August 1, 2010

Georgia Watch is proud to announce the addition of Ashley Wilson as our new Consumer Outreach Director and staff attorney.

Wilson will be the first point of contact for consumers, in charge of connecting people to policy and empowering individuals to assert their rights as citizens. She will develop targeted presentations and conduct outreach efforts to help consumers throughout the state and build support for our issues. Read more