Democrats win control of Georgia's utility board, which sets Georgia Power's rates

Georgia voters on Tuesday gave Democrats control of the state Public Service Commission. That is the five-member elected board that decides whether Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light can raise their rates ¹⁵. Democrats won both seats on the ballot, so they will hold three of the five seats ¹⁴.

Incumbent Democrat Peter Hubbard beat Republican Fitz Johnson, a former commissioner, about 56% to 43%. Democrat Shelia Edwards, a community advocate and communications consultant, beat Republican Josh Tolbert, an engineer, by about 55% to 42%. Those figures are unofficial and are based on about 90% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press ³. Commissioners serve six-year terms ³.

The Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus reported that this is the first Democratic majority on the commission since 1995 ³. Other outlets put it at 20 years or more ¹⁴⁵. Either way, the board was entirely Republican from 2006 until the start of this year ¹.

A two-year turnaround driven by power bills

The shift started a year ago. In a special election on Nov. 4, 2025, Hubbard and fellow Democrat Alicia Johnson each won nearly 63% of the vote and flipped two Republican seats ⁶. At the time, Georgia Power had raised bills six times in recent years. It pointed to higher natural gas costs and to construction projects, including two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta ⁶.

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Those six increases add up to an estimated $500 a year for the average household, Rough Draft Atlanta reported ⁴. Last year a typical residential customer was paying more than $175 a month, including taxes ⁶. Residential rates in Georgia rose more than 18% over three years, according to the Heatmap-MIT Electricity Price Hub ².

Republicans touted a three-year freeze in base rates they enacted in July ⁶. During the 2025 campaign, Republican Tim Echols gave Democrats credit for the bill message. "The Democrats, really, I think, did a good job focusing everything on that power bill," Echols said on an election-night webcast ⁶.

Voters have chose a different direction in this election

As the two-member minority this year, Hubbard and Alicia Johnson cast some dissenting votes ¹. Starting next year, they and Edwards will be able to outvote the Republicans ⁴.

What the new majority says it will do

Hubbard has said the board should focus on "prioritizing lowering power bills instead of constantly increasing corporate profits" ². After his win, he said he wants to "lower power bills, advance reliable clean energy and have a system where utility monopolies are held accountable" ³.

What I'm looking to do with the majority on the commission is to work to lower folks' power bills using clean energy

Edwards ran on a simple pitch. She said the commission needed a "community advocate" and "not another engineer," and told voters, "The rubber stamp stops with that third vote." ³ She has also said Democrats can build a "consumer-focused commission versus a utility-focused commission" ⁴.

Data centers, the giant computer warehouses that power artificial intelligence and online services, were a central issue in the race. The commission has approved a large build-out of power infrastructure to serve them, though it does not decide where they locate ⁴. Edwards criticized the facilities, saying they use the state's water and electricity and amount to a public nuisance in the communities they enter ². Hubbard put Georgia's data center tax breaks at an estimated $3.5 billion this year ².

The Republican side

Tolbert ran on his background in the industry. "I spent my career designing and developing power plants and working across the energy industry," he said in a statement ³. Conceding the race, he said, "I also want to applaud my fellow Republican candidates for their willingness to step forward and serve our state" ⁴.

Fitz Johnson was appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021 and lost the seat to Hubbard in 2025 ⁴. The commission approved six rate increases while he served, from June 2021 to January 2026 ³.

Wall Street noticed the result. Shares of Southern Company, Georgia Power's parent, fell slightly more than 0.5% in after-hours trading ².

Big decisions ahead

The new majority will face major votes. Commissioners expect Georgia Power to file another update to its long-term energy plan next year to meet data center demand. Its next full long-term plan, which covers power plants and transmission lines, is due in 2028. A rate case setting what customers pay is expected to follow. It would be the first since 2022 ¹.

Georgians didn't flip this Commission by accident

That matters because utility regulators rarely get much attention, but they shape the bills that Georgia Power customers pay every month. Over two elections, Georgia voters have turned a board that was all Republican from 2006 until the start of this year into one with a Democratic majority, and power bills were the issue that did it ¹².

The Record

1. Nov 4, 2025Democrats Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson each win nearly 63% of the vote in a special election, flipping two Republican seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission ⁶.
2. Nov 3, 2026Hubbard beats Republican Fitz Johnson about 56% to 43%, and Democrat Shelia Edwards beats Republican Josh Tolbert about 55% to 42%, unofficial AP figures show ³.
3. Nov 4, 2026With three of five seats, Democrats are set to hold a majority on the commission starting next year ⁴.

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<h2>Democrats win control of Georgia&#39;s utility board, which sets Georgia Power&#39;s rates</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrats-win-control-of-georgia-s-utility-board-which-sets-georgia-power-s-rates">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.</em></p> <p>Georgia voters on Tuesday gave Democrats control of the state Public Service Commission. That is the five-member elected board that decides whether Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light can raise their rates . Democrats won both seats on the ballot, so they will hold three of the five seats .</p> <p>Incumbent Democrat Peter Hubbard beat Republican Fitz Johnson, a former commissioner, about 56% to 43%. Democrat Shelia Edwards, a community advocate and communications consultant, beat Republican Josh Tolbert, an engineer, by about 55% to 42%. Those figures are unofficial and are based on about 90% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press . Commissioners serve six-year terms .</p> <p>The Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus reported that this is the first Democratic majority on the commission since 1995 . Other outlets put it at 20 years or more . Either way, the board was entirely Republican from 2006 until the start of this year .</p> <h2>A two-year turnaround driven by power bills</h2> <p>The shift started a year ago. In a special election on Nov. 4, 2025, Hubbard and fellow Democrat Alicia Johnson each won nearly 63% of the vote and flipped two Republican seats . At the time, Georgia Power had raised bills six times in recent years. It pointed to higher natural gas costs and to construction projects, including two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta .</p> <p>Those six increases add up to an estimated $500 a year for the average household, Rough Draft Atlanta reported . Last year a typical residential customer was paying more than $175 a month, including taxes . Residential rates in Georgia rose more than 18% over three years, according to the Heatmap-MIT Electricity Price Hub .</p> <p>Republicans touted a three-year freeze in base rates they enacted in July . During the 2025 campaign, Republican Tim Echols gave Democrats credit for the bill message. &quot;The Democrats, really, I think, did a good job focusing everything on that power bill,&quot; Echols said on an election-night webcast .</p> <blockquote><p>Voters have chose a different direction in this election</p><p>&mdash; Fitz Johnson, then-Public Service Commissioner, Republican-Georgia, after losing in 2025</p></blockquote> <p>As the two-member minority this year, Hubbard and Alicia Johnson cast some dissenting votes . Starting next year, they and Edwards will be able to outvote the Republicans .</p> <h2>What the new majority says it will do</h2> <p>Hubbard has said the board should focus on &quot;prioritizing lowering power bills instead of constantly increasing corporate profits&quot; . After his win, he said he wants to &quot;lower power bills, advance reliable clean energy and have a system where utility monopolies are held accountable&quot; .</p> <blockquote><p>What I&#39;m looking to do with the majority on the commission is to work to lower folks&#39; power bills using clean energy</p><p>&mdash; Peter Hubbard, Georgia Public Service Commissioner, District 3, Democrat-Georgia</p></blockquote> <p>Edwards ran on a simple pitch. She said the commission needed a &quot;community advocate&quot; and &quot;not another engineer,&quot; and told voters, &quot;The rubber stamp stops with that third vote.&quot; She has also said Democrats can build a &quot;consumer-focused commission versus a utility-focused commission&quot; .</p> <p>Data centers, the giant computer warehouses that power artificial intelligence and online services, were a central issue in the race. The commission has approved a large build-out of power infrastructure to serve them, though it does not decide where they locate . Edwards criticized the facilities, saying they use the state&#39;s water and electricity and amount to a public nuisance in the communities they enter . Hubbard put Georgia&#39;s data center tax breaks at an estimated $3.5 billion this year .</p> <h2>The Republican side</h2> <p>Tolbert ran on his background in the industry. &quot;I spent my career designing and developing power plants and working across the energy industry,&quot; he said in a statement . Conceding the race, he said, &quot;I also want to applaud my fellow Republican candidates for their willingness to step forward and serve our state&quot; .</p> <p>Fitz Johnson was appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021 and lost the seat to Hubbard in 2025 . The commission approved six rate increases while he served, from June 2021 to January 2026 .</p> <p>Wall Street noticed the result. Shares of Southern Company, Georgia Power&#39;s parent, fell slightly more than 0.5% in after-hours trading .</p> <h2>Big decisions ahead</h2> <p>The new majority will face major votes. Commissioners expect Georgia Power to file another update to its long-term energy plan next year to meet data center demand. Its next full long-term plan, which covers power plants and transmission lines, is due in 2028. A rate case setting what customers pay is expected to follow. It would be the first since 2022 .</p> <blockquote><p>Georgians didn&#39;t flip this Commission by accident</p><p>&mdash; Brionté McCorkle, executive director, Georgia Conservation Voters</p></blockquote> <p>That matters because utility regulators rarely get much attention, but they shape the bills that Georgia Power customers pay every month. Over two elections, Georgia voters have turned a board that was all Republican from 2006 until the start of this year into one with a Democratic majority, and power bills were the issue that did it .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrats-win-control-of-georgia-s-utility-board-which-sets-georgia-power-s-rates">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/democrats-win-control-of-georgia-s-utility-board-which-sets-georgia-power-s-rates.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Current (WABE/Grist), “Democrats flip control of Georgia utility commission for first time in decades” (2026-11-03). thecurrentga.org/2026/11/03/democrats-flip-control-of-georgi
2. Heatmap News, “Democrats Win Control of Georgia's Energy Regulator” (2026-11-04). heatmap.news/energy/georgia-psc-election-2026
3. Ledger-Enquirer (via Yahoo News), “Democrats take control of Georgia Public Service Commission for first time in 31 years” (2026-11-04). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/democrat-peter-hubbard-wins
4. Rough Draft Atlanta, “Democrats win control of Georgia Public Service Commission” (2026-11-04). roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/11/04/democrats-control-georgia-p
5. Capital B News Atlanta, “Georgia 2026 Election Results: Winners in Key Races” (2026-11-03). atlanta.capitalbnews.org/georgia-2026-election-results-winne
6. GPB, “Democrats win big over GOP in 2 Georgia utility regulator races, Atlanta mayor” (2025-11-05). gpb.org/news/2025/11/05/democrats-win-big-over-gop-in-2-geor

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