Low-income and senior Georgians who aren’t able to pay their heating bills were given a $10 million boost from state utility regulators this week when the Public Service Commission approved the use of emergency funds to ensure that families and individuals don’t go cold this winter.

Starting in December, these emergency assistance funds will be used to assist with heating bills as well as reconnect heat for those who have had their heat turned off within the last 45 days. The $10 million is coming from the universal service fund that Atlanta Gas Light usually utilizes to extend natural gas pipelines to where new homes and businesses are being built. Money for the fund comes from AGL’s industrial customers and its wholesale services unit, Sequent Energy Management. Learn more about the program and how you can apply for this help.

Even though temperatures are still fairly warm, fall’s much cooler weather is just around the corner! Before you know it we will be turning on our heat to keep warm during the colder fall and winter months. Historically, September has been a good time to lock in a “fixed” natural gas rate (i.e., a rate which remains the same over the term of the contract). If you would prefer not to lock in to a fixed rate contract, you may also choose a gas marketer’s “variable” rate plan which, as its name suggests, varies from month to month, depending on market conditions. The rate may increase, decrease or stay the same from one month to the next. Read more

Created in January 2009, the Consumer Energy Program (CEP) is a passionate advocate on behalf of Georgia’s residential and small business customers in energy-related matters at the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Capitol.

We stand up for lower utility rates and cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.

We are led by former Public Service Commissioner and Georgia Watch executive director Angela Speir Phelps and former PSC attorney and Georgia Watch senior counsel Clare McGuire.

Over the last two years, the Consumer Energy Program has:

• Pushed for $7 million of aid to assist Georgians with winter heating bills
• Opposed Georgia Power’s massive $2.1 billion rate increase in 2010 on behalf of its 2.4 million customer
• Challenged Atlanta Gas Light’s $54 million rate request in 2010 on behalf of its 1.5 million customers
• Built a broad coalition of business groups and advocacy organizations across the state to oppose utility rate increases in 2010
• Sponsored expert witness testimony and formally intervened in PSC proceedings to represent ratepayer interests
• Advocated for greater transparency and accountability at electric membership corporations on behalf of the state’s 4.5 million EMC customers
• Fought against legislation to require ratepayers to pre-pay at least $1.6 billion of financing charges and taxes for nuclear plant construction by Georgia Power, resulting in $1 billion of early profits for the company

The Consumer Energy Program will continue to advocate for lower utility bills and a more diversified state energy portfolio to mitigate future rate increases.