Who Bears the Cost? Energy, Heat, and Inequality in Georgia

By: Citlalli Solis, Poderosas Fellow

I grew up in Georgia, where recent summers have felt noticeably hotter and even December, a month that used to bring cold weather around Christmas, was unusually warm last year.

In the metro Atlanta area, neighbors have taken to social media platforms like Facebook groups and Nextdoor to share frustration and worry about rising power bills and other utility costs. It is not just casual weather complaints anymore, conversations have shifted into real concern about affordability and how to keep homes cool without sacrificing other necessities. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows rising average temperatures and more frequent extreme heat days across the Southeast, which directly increases power and cooling costs.

At the same time, the Georgia Public Service Commission has approved multiple rate increases for Georgia Power in recent years. Although Georgia Power recently announced a freeze on base rate increases through 2029, the company has also sought billions in federal loan support to expand infrastructure as Georgia attracts energy-intensive industries like AI data centers. Lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 34 to try to prevent everyday residents from absorbing the costs tied to large corporate energy demand, but debates over who ultimately pays are still ongoing.

Environmental justice is not just about pollution or infrastructure. It is about who carries the burden. Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology show that Black households in Georgia spend a higher percentage of their income on energy costs than white households. At the same time, many immigrant families across metro Atlanta face similar vulnerability due to lower household incomes, rental housing, and limited access to assistance programs. In many of these households, women are the ones managing utility bills while caring for children and elders, stretching budgets to keep homes safe during extreme heat.

Centering women in these impacted or vulnerable communities, including Black and immigrant households, is necessary because their experiences reveal exactly where policy decisions land. If Georgia is planning for a more tech-advanced and energy-intensive future, we must also plan for fairness and ensure women and families are protected, not priced out of keeping their homes safe and cool.

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