Next week, when Georgia Power begins defending its bid for a $1 billion rate hike as well as a new streamlined way to raise rates in the future, the company will face unusually unified opposition from major retailers.

That opposition is coming from retailers who haven’t agreed with each other in years on utility issues, including Macy's, Walmart and Target. The united front wouldn't be unusual in most states when utility rate hikes are on the table.

But it is unusual here.

"You don't normally see so many of them united together on a single issue like this," state Public Service Commissioner Chuck Eaton said.

The new-found unity isn't only about the Georgia Power request.

Read more: Atlanta Journal Constitution