Since 2002, Georgia Watch has served as the state’s leading consumer advocacy organization. We focus mainly on issues that impact your wallet and quality of life such as health care, energy and utility issues, identity theft, foreclosure, predatory lending and access to civil justice. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Georgia Watch works to protect Georgia families by developing pro-consumer policies and advocating for the Georgians at the state capitol and the Public Service Commission. We also conduct consumer protection workshops across the state, providing much needed education and assistance.
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June 16, 2011
Georgia Watch, the Campaign for Better Care and Piedmont Healthcare are proud to host “Town Hall Conversation: Safely and Effectively Navigating Healthcare Today” on Tuesday, June 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The event will kick off the national Campaign for Better Care’s Healthy Hospital Initiative, which aims to improve patient safety at hospitals and bring about greater clarity when navigating the healthcare market. Read more
June 7, 2011
Many Georgia hospitals aren’t doing enough to ensure accessibility for non-English speakers, according to a report (pdf) released this week by Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project. Most hospitals throughout the state are required to follow basic language accessibility regulations set forth by Title V1 of the Civil Rights Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Indigent Care Trust Fund. Read more
June 1, 2011
It will soon be cheaper and easier for Georgians to enroll in the federal high-risk insurance plans that provide crucial coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. In an effort to spark enrollment in this key provision of the Affordable Care Act, Health and Human Services officials announced Monday that premiums in Georgia will drop by 15.5 percent. Additionally, consumers will no longer need to provide a rejection letter from private insurers, as previously required. Read more
May 31, 2011
Georgia is experiencing an extreme heat wave that can be dangerous – especially to the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, sick, and very young. When temperatures rise, Georgia Power customers should be aware that Georgia Power cannot disconnect service when the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, as predicted for tomorrow.
The extreme weather rule has been in effect since January 2009 and is part of the Public Service Commission’s seasonal restrictions, which also includes a ban on disconnections during winter months when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. Read more
May 24,2011
Due largely to lower natural gas prices than expected, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted 4-1 today to decrease Georgia Power’s Fuel Cost Recovery (FCR) rate by $0.64 per month for the typical 1000 kWh residential customer.
Georgia Watch formally intervened in the case on behalf of residential and small business customers and supported the decrease. Read more
May 18, 2011
Georgia Watch has been selected by the most distinguished consumer utility advocates in the country to join the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), the oldest and most trusted independent authority on national and statewide regulatory proceedings.
For more than 35 years, NASUCA’s coalition of advocates has worked on behalf of ratepayers by analyzing data and developing positions on legislative and regulatory proposals that affect utility pricing, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Read more
May 10, 2011
Last year, Robin Gordon of Marietta received some very unexpected and troubling news from her mortgage company; a tax lien had been placed on her midtown Atlanta rental property without her knowledge. Robin expected to have her mortgage paid in full in the near future, and was alarmed to learn of the encumbrance on her property title, her risk of losing the property and the implications a lien would have on her credit history. Even more confusing was that she had received no notice about an outstanding tax debt from either her bank or the Fulton County Tax Commissioner. To her knowledge, all of the taxes had been paid in full through an escrow account at SunTrust Mortgage Company. Read more
May 4, 2011
Georgia Power’s residential customers may not realize it, but they have a choice when it comes to which rate they pay for their electric service.
By default, residential customers are put on Georgia Power’s “Standard Service” rate plan. The plan has a monthly base charge and a rate that changes based on your monthly usage and the time of the year. According to Georgia Power, this plan works best for customers who are comfortable with fluctuations in their monthly electric bill and less likely to alter their electricity habits in the summer months. Read more
May 3, 2011
Higher Georgia Power base rates took effect in January 2011, causing an average customer’s bill to increase by almost $11 per month. Georgia Power customers also started paying the Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery charge in January 2011 – almost $4.00 per month for the average customer.
Since many customers have already seen their bills increase by almost $15 per month or more, take control of your electricity usage in the upcoming summer months by adopting these good habits: Read more
April 29, 2011
In an effort to improve patient safety and reduce health care-acquired infections (HAIs), Georgia Watch is joining the national Campaign for Better Care through their Healthy Hospital Initiative. This initiative will act in support of the federal Partnership for Patients, a new public-private partnership through the Department of Health and Human Services aimed at improving the quality, safety and affordability of health care for all Americans. Read more
April 28, 2011
While email and internet scams generally fall into recognizable forms, they are constantly evolving as scammers attempt to trick you. The best way to protect yourself is to keep up with news of the latest scams so you’re never taken off guard.
See below for some of the most common types of internet fraud and helpful tips to avoid them. Keep in mind, the exact method of each scam will vary greatly. Read more
April 20, 2011
As the next step of ongoing negotiations between Georgia Power and state regulators, the Public Service Commission has scheduled special hearings on a proposal to control construction costs for the two new reactors at Plant Vogtle. State regulators at the PSC want to incentivize Georgia Power to finish the new units on time and under budget. They have urged commissioners to adopt a risk sharing mechanism (RSM) that slightly reduces Georgia Power’s profit margin if construction costs rise above $6.4 billion, or $300 million over budget. Read more
April 19, 2011
The Atlanta Journal Constitution published a troubling investigative article this weekend about the rising costs of hospital bills and the huge markups that have become routine at both nonprofit and for-profit hospitals. The piece includes a quote from Georgia Watch Hospital Accountability Director Holly Lang, who last year released a critical report detailing markups and charity care at metro Atlanta hospitals.
To read the AJC article, click here. For more information about Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project, click here.
"I’m proud to be a Georgia Watch board member because it is the only bonafide group in Georgia looking out for you and me as consumers."
- Clark Howard
