SB 94: 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 currently has no dedicated office representing everyday consumers in Public Service Commission proceedings over electricity, gas, and other utility rates. This bill would add a new chapter to Georgia's utilities law creating the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel, housed administratively inside the Department of Law, led by a director appointed and removable by the Governor. The director would be a practicing attorney who could appear in Public Service Commission cases, similar federal agency proceedings, and related court cases on behalf of Georgia consumers, defined as individual household users and small businesses with ten or fewer employees and no more than $100,000 in annual after-tax income. The director could hire staff and experts, take depositions, and would get access to commission records. The office must report annually to top state officials, and its funding comes from money appropriated to the commission.

• Creates the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel within the Department of Law, led by a director appointed and removed by the Governor.
• Authorizes the director to represent Georgia consumers as a party in Public Service Commission cases and related federal agency and court proceedings involving utility rates or service.
• Defines 'consumer' to include individual household utility users and small businesses with ten or fewer employees and after-tax income of $100,000 or less per year.
• Requires the Public Service Commission to notify the director of filings and give at least ten days' written notice before hearing matters the director may join.
• Lets the director take depositions, subpoena records, and use commission staff experts, accountants, and engineers to investigate utility cases.
• Requires the director to submit an annual written report to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant House and Senate committee chairs by December 31.

Residential utility customers and small businesses that use regulated services like electricity, gas, and telecommunications; the Public Service Commission and its staff, who must share records and give notice; the Department of Law, which would house the new office; and the Governor, who appoints the director.

Consumers would gain a dedicated legal advocate arguing their side in utility rate cases, potentially affecting how much Georgians pay for electricity, gas, and other regulated services. The Public Service Commission would face new notice and information-sharing obligations tied to this advocate's involvement in its proceedings.

• Section 46-10-1 states legislative findings that Georgians should get adequate utility service at the lowest reasonable cost and that the commission needs full information in rate cases.
• Section 46-10-2 defines 'consumer' as individual household users or small businesses with ten or fewer employees and after-tax income of $100,000 or less.
• Section 46-10-3 creates the office within the Department of Law for administrative purposes, sets director qualifications and pay capped at the district attorney salary level under O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4(21), and requires an annual report by December 31.
• Section 46-10-4 authorizes the director to appear before the commission, federal agencies, and courts on behalf of consumers in rate and service proceedings.
• Section 46-10-5 requires the commission to serve the director with filings and give ten days' notice before hearings, and lets the director take depositions and discovery as if before a superior court.
• Section 46-10-6 lets the director hire staff, consultants, and experts, paid from funds appropriated to the commission for this purpose.
• Section 46-10-7 gives the director and staff access to commission records and the ability to request appraisals and audits from commission experts.
• Section 46-10-8 clarifies the chapter does not stop other parties from appearing on their own behalf in commission or court proceedings.

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
• Public Service Commission
• consumer protection
• electricity and gas bills
• state government agencies