The Georgia Public Service Commission will face an unprecedented number of major proceedings and rate cases in 2019, beginning with the filing of Georgia Power Company’s Integrated Resource Plan on January 31. Both investor owned utilities, the Georgia Power Company and the Atlanta Gas Light Company, are expected to ask for increases in their base rates. The Commission will also continue to hold hearings on the Plant Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report and conduct hearings on the Atlanta Gas Light Company Capacity Supply Plan and Liberty Utilities’ Gas Supply Plan.

“Our staff will be pushed and our staff will be challenged,” said Commission Chairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald. ““Our staff will be occupied with analyzing and reviewing these rate cases, supervising our outside consultants and preparing testimony for the hearings. Our small staff of utility analysts and engineers as well as support staff will be incredibly busy.”

The Commission will designate two staff sections to consider these contested cases.

The Public Interest Advocacy Staff. The Public Interest Advocacy Staff is responsible for performing an independent evaluation of the filed case from the standpoint of promoting the public interest and advocating for that position. The Public Interest Advocacy Staff is considered a party to the case and may negotiate settlements with other parties, in the public interest.

Advisory Staff. The Commissioner Advisory Staff is not a party to this case, but will act as a technical advisor to the Commissioners. They will make recommendations to the Commission based exclusively on their own independent evaluation of the facts contained in the record.

The anticipated cases are as follows:

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The Georgia Power Company is expected to file its forecast for the Company’s projected energy resources needed to serve its customers for the next 20 years. Once the Commission determines the fee as allowed by statute the Commission has 120 days to render a decision. (O.C.G.A. §46-3A-2(c))

Georgia Power rate case. The Company is expected to file its request for a change in its base rates on July 1, 2019. State law requires the Commission to issue a decision within six months. (O.C.G.A. §46-2-26)   Georgia Power base rates have been frozen since 2014.

Georgia Power Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) Report. The Company is expected to file its 20^th VCM Report on February 28, 2019 and file its 21^st VCM report on August 31, 2019.

Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) rate case. AGLC is expected to file a base rate case on June 1, 2019. AGLC has not filed a rate case since 2010.

AGL Capacity Supply Plan and Liberties Utilities Gas Supply Plan. These are plans that detail how the utilities will ensure natural gas customers in Georgia have adequate supplies of natural gas to meet their needs. These cases will be heard in the fall of 2019.

 The following is the Commission Case Calendar for 2019 with hearing and decision meeting dates:

APRIL

GPC Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

Monday, April 8, 2019

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

MAY

20^th Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) Report

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

GPC IRP

Monday, May 13, 2019

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Thursday, May 16, 2019

JUNE

GPC IRP

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

GPC 20^th VCM

Thursday, June 27, 2019

JULY

No hearings

AUGUST

GPC 20^th VCM

Thursday, August 1, 2019

SEPTEMBER

Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) Rate Case

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Liberty Utilities Gas Supply Plan/AGL Capacity Supply Plan

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

AGL Capacity Supply Plan

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Special Administrative Session:  AGA Capacity Supply Plan & Liberty Utilities Gas Supply Plan

Thursday, September 26, 2019

GPC 2019 Rate Case

Monday, September 30, 2019

OCTOBER

GPC 2019 Rate Case

Tuesday, October, 2019

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

AGL Rate Case

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Thursday, October 24, 2019

NOVEMBER

GPC 2019 Rate Case

Monday, November 4, 2019

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

GPC 21^st VCM

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

AGL Rate Case

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Friday, November 22, 2019

GPC 2019 Rate Case

Monday, November 25, 2019

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

DECEMBER

GPC 21^st VCM

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Thursday, December 12, 2019