The Heat Is On: Why This Summer’s Scorching Temperatures Should Fire Up Your Vote for the PSC

By Cristal Valdez, EcoPoder Organizer, Poder Latinx Georgia

In July, Georgia faced yet another brutal heat wave, with temperatures soaring past 100 degrees. I felt it in my own daily life. In late July, I was attempting to grow a garden on my apartment balcony. With no roof for shade, even plants that were meant for full sun burned within a week. It isn’t enough that I can’t leave the house without proper protection; now my plants need protection, too. I found myself wondering if I’d actually have to buy an umbrella for the balcony just so my vegetables could grow. The threat is personal—not only are we at risk of skin cancer, especially those of us with family histories like mine, but now it seems we are also at risk of losing reliable food sources.

The reality is, we are not out of the woods. With hurricane season well underway and climate change fueling more extreme weather, dangerous heat is here to stay.

While summers in Georgia have always been hot, climate change is intensifying heatwaves, making them more frequent and more expensive. Families are paying the price—not just with their health but with their wallets.

As temperatures rise, households rely more on air conditioning to survive. Rising energy consumption, combined with utility rates that increase year after year, creates a crushing burden on working families. Too often, people find themselves blindsided by bills that force painful choices: pay the power bill or cover rent, groceries, or medicine.

One father of four in Mableton shared that his power has been shut off multiple times because he couldn’t afford to pay. At one point, he and three of his young daughters lived without electricity for four months. No family in Georgia—or elsewhere—should ever be forced to endure that.

A Latina mother of three told us that despite both parents working full-time, their monthly power bill has spiked to $500. They feel powerless, trapped by a system they don’t understand, with no one to turn to for answers.

These aren’t isolated stories. Too many Georgia families are struggling. Yet when we ask neighbors about the Public Service Commission—the state body that sets utility rates—most have never even heard of it! In fact, about one in ten people we talk to admit they don’t know what the PSC is or how it impacts their bills.

Here’s the truth: in just the past two years, the PSC has approved six utility rate hikes. Georgia Power claims the increases are due to fuel costs, grid improvements, and investments in cleaner energy. But for families, it just means more impossible choices and added stress in already tough economic times.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can take steps—both at home and at the ballot box—to change the future. At home, energy-saving choices like adjusting thermostats, maintaining AC units, or using fans can help cut costs.

But the most powerful change happens at the polls. This year, two seats on Georgia’s Public Service Commission (Districts 2 and 3) are on the ballot. And because PSC elections are statewide, every voter in Georgia—whether you live in Savannah, Atlanta, or anywhere in between—has a voice.

Why does this matter? Because the PSC decides how much we all pay for electricity, gas, and other utilities. Low voter turnout means too few people are deciding policies that affect every single household. Your vote can ensure commissioners represent families—not corporate profits.

Together, by making energy-smart choices at home and voting for leaders who put people first, we can build a Georgia where no parent has to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding their children. Now is the time to act. Are you registered to vote? Visit www.poderlatinx.org/vote today to register, check your voter status, or find your polling place. Make your plan, talk to your family and neighbors, and show up.

The choice is ours: keep letting corporate interests raise our bills unchecked, or elect leaders who will fight for fairness, accountability, and relief. Together, we can secure a more affordable, sustainable, and just future for every family in Georgia.