SB94: SB94 Public Utilities and Public Transportation; a consumer utility counsel to represent consumers in matters before the Public Service Commission or other agencies concerning public utilities; reestablish

Georgia does not currently have a standalone office dedicated to representing regular consumers in Public Service Commission proceedings that set utility rates. This bill would recreate one, called the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel, housed inside the Department of Law for administrative purposes. The office would be led by a director appointed by the Governor, who must be a practicing attorney and cannot maintain a private law practice while serving. The director could represent consumers, meaning individuals and small businesses with ten or fewer employees and under $100,000 in annual net income, in cases before the Public Service Commission, other state agencies, federal agencies, and courts. The commission would have to notify the director at least ten days before hearing certain matters, and the director could take depositions, hire staff and experts, and access commission records. The office's staff would be paid from funds already appropriated to the commission.

• Creates the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel within the Department of Law to represent utility consumers in rate cases and other Public Service Commission proceedings.
• Establishes a director position appointed and removable by the Governor, who must be a licensed attorney and cannot practice law privately while serving.
• Caps the director's pay at the same maximum salary set for district attorneys and provides for reimbursement of work expenses.
• Requires the commission to give the director at least ten days' written notice before hearing matters the director is entitled to join.
• Lets the director take depositions, gather evidence, hire consultants and technical staff, and access commission records to the same extent commission staff can.
• Requires the director to submit a yearly report on the office's activities and spending to the Governor and key legislative leaders.

Georgia utility customers, especially individuals and small businesses with ten or fewer employees and modest income, the Public Service Commission and its staff, the Department of Law, the Governor's office, and legislative committees overseeing utilities.

If enacted, everyday Georgians and small businesses would have a dedicated advocate arguing for lower or fairer utility rates in commission proceedings, funded through money already appropriated to the commission rather than new taxes, potentially affecting how electricity, gas, and phone rates are set.

• Section 1 adds a new Chapter 10 to Title 46 of the Georgia code, laying out legislative findings that consumers should get adequate utility service at the lowest reasonable cost (O.C.G.A. § 46-10-1).
• Section 46-10-2 defines 'consumer' as individuals using utilities for personal or household purposes, or small businesses with ten or fewer employees and net income of $100,000 or less annually.
• Section 46-10-3 creates the office and director position, sets pay at no more than a district attorney's salary, and requires an annual report by December 31.
• Section 46-10-4 authorizes the director to appear as a party in commission proceedings, federal agency proceedings, and related court cases on behalf of consumers.
• Section 46-10-5 requires ten days' written notice to the director before certain commission proceedings and allows the director to take depositions and obtain discovery.
• Section 46-10-6 allows the director to hire consultants, experts, and staff, but only using funds already appropriated for that purpose.
• Section 46-10-7 requires the commission's engineers, accountants, and technical staff to assist the director and gives the director access to commission records.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
3. 2026-01-12Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
4. 2025-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
5. 2025-02-13Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
6. 2025-02-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-02-05Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-04Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• David Lucas (D, SD-026)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)

• utility rates
• consumer protection
• Public Service Commission
• electricity and gas bills