HB 617: Public utilities; reestablish a consumer utility counsel to represent consumers in matters before the Public Service Commission or other agencies

Georgia currently has a reserved, unused chapter of law where a consumer utility advocate office once existed. This bill would fill in that chapter to create the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel, housed administratively in the Department of Law, led by a director appointed by a five-member committee made up of House and Senate leaders from both parties plus one appointee of the Governor. The director, who must be a practicing attorney experienced in utility law, would represent individual and small business consumers in cases before the Public Service Commission, other state and federal agencies, and courts involving utility rates and services. The director could hire staff, take depositions, and request help from Public Service Commission staff. The office must be notified of utility filings and given at least ten days' notice before hearings. Compensation matches the salary set for district attorneys. The bill repeals conflicting laws.

• Creates the Office of the Consumers' Utility Counsel within Title 46 of Georgia law, assigned administratively to the Department of Law.
• Establishes a director position, appointed and removable by a five-member bipartisan legislative and gubernatorial committee, to lead the office.
• Authorizes the director to represent consumers before the Public Service Commission, other state and federal agencies, and courts in utility rate and service cases.
• Requires that the director be served notice of utility filings and given at least ten days' written notice before commission hearings.
• Gives the director power to take depositions, obtain discovery, and hire attorneys, experts, and other staff using appropriated funds.
• Requires Public Service Commission engineers, accountants, and other technical staff to assist the director upon request.

Individual Georgia utility customers, small businesses and sole proprietors with ten or fewer employees and modest income, the Public Service Commission and its staff, the Department of Law, and legislative and executive leaders who appoint the director.

If enacted, ordinary Georgians and small businesses would gain a dedicated legal advocate to argue against utility rate increases or service changes before regulators and courts, potentially affecting electricity, gas, water, or telephone rates and how those cases are decided.

• Section 46-10-1 states legislative findings that Georgians should get adequate utility service at the lowest reasonable cost while utilities remain financially viable.
• Section 46-10-2 defines 'consumer' to include individuals and small entities 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 appointment by a five-member committee, ties director pay to district attorney salary levels, and requires an annual written report by December 31.
• Section 46-10-4 authorizes the director to appear in commission, federal agency, and judicial proceedings on behalf of consumers.
• Section 46-10-5 requires the director to receive notice and at least ten days' warning before commission hearings, and authorizes depositions and discovery.
• Section 46-10-6 lets the director hire staff and experts, but only using funds already appropriated for that purpose.
• Section 46-10-7 requires Public Service Commission technical staff to assist the director and gives the office access to commission records.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-27House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-02-26House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-02-24House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Ruwa Romman (D, HD-097)Patrocinador principal
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)

• utility rates
• consumer protection
• Public Service Commission
• state government offices