Electric Bills, Fairness, and Your Vote: Making PSC Decisions Count
by Daniel Campos, Community Organizer, Poder Latinx Georgia
I never imagined that something as basic as keeping the lights on would become one of my family’s greatest struggles. Like many Georgia households, we’re stuck in a relentless fight to make ends meet. Each paycheck disappears into essentials: rent, groceries, health care—and then there’s the mounting burden of utility bills driven higher by decisions made by a small group of regulators. That burden weighs heaviest during the sweltering summers and freezing winters, when fans and heaters run nonstop.
Since 2023, Georgia Power customers have seen monthly electric bills climb by an average of $43—that’s more than $500 extra per year per household. These sharp increases stem from rate hikes approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), the body responsible for overseeing electric, gas, and telecom utilities in the state.
At home, we feel this every month. Our summer electricity bill jumped by $200, even though we kept the thermostat fixed. To keep up, we’ve had to shrink savings, cut back on outings, and even scale down our son’s birthday celebration. Opportunities disappear under the weight of these bills.
And it’s not just us. My parents, in-laws, friends, and neighbors all feel the same sense of helplessness—watching our paychecks vanish just to meet the most basic needs: staying cool, keeping food from spoiling, and powering the internet for work and school. Even when I talk with people while registering voters on college campuses, or during casual conversations at my gym, I often hear the same question: “What difference does voting for the Public Service Commission really make?”
The answer is simple: a huge difference. The PSC decides every utility rate case, approving or denying cost pass-throughs from companies like Georgia Power. For years, PSC elections were delayed, leaving unelected commissioners free to make critical decisions without accountability to voters. That wait is over. On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Georgians will finally have their say.
But turnout in the PSC primary was shockingly low. That’s dangerous, because in a race that directly determines whether our bills go up or down, silence comes at a high cost. Utility bills may feel out of our control, but voting isn’t.
Electing commissioners who put consumers first means real accountability, not blank checks for over-budget projects or hidden fees. It means protecting families, not corporate profits. It also means advancing environmental justice and economic equity. Commissioners who support clean energy investments create new jobs in historically underserved communities, reduce pollution in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by power plants, and make energy more affordable for everyone.
Voting during the PSC election is a vote for fair access, sustainable communities, and opportunities that lift families, not just utility shareholders. If you are eligible, vote. To register to vote, visit www.poderlatinx.org/vote.
If you aren’t eligible, your contribution can be spreading the word: utility regulators wield enormous power. They decide whether families eat, whether small businesses stay open, whether seniors can keep their homes at safe temperatures. Your vote for the Public Service Commission shapes more than policy: it determines whether our communities have affordable energy, cleaner air, and real opportunities to thrive.
Daniel is a passionate community organizer, driven by a deep-seated motivation to create positive change within his community. As a natural leader, he inspires others to take action and join him in his efforts to address social issues. Daniel is a fierce fighter for justice, relentlessly challenging systemic barriers and tirelessly pushing for a fairer, more equitable society.ver it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.