GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Most Georgia Power customers will soon pay more for electricity.
On Tuesday, state leaders approved an agreement to raise your rates.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliott attended that meeting in Gwinnett County.
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Elliott learned the rate hike will cost the average customer close to $4 more each month than they were already paying.
Georgia Power hoped the increase would be closer to $14 per month.
They said the increase will help them make improvements to their electrical grid.
Georgia Power’s Brandon Marzo told commissioners that the six month long negotiation was tough.
“I will admit to you this has been one of the more passionate rate cases I’ve ever been involved in,” Marzo said.
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Commissioners voted to approve the compromise.
Georgia Power wanted a $2.9 billion rate hike over three years.
The new agreement gives them $1.8 billion.
Georgia Power said the increase is needed for environmental reasons.
It will help them provide clean and reliable energy, while allowing them to retire old coal-fired plants.
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Antoine Green is a Georgia Power customer.
He would prefer to avoid the increase, but is grateful that the compromise brought the price down.
“You know it’s going to happen,” Green said. “Nothing stays the same forever, so you know, when it happens, you just got to be prepared for it.”
The compromise does not expand Georgia Power’s solar pilot program.
Georgia Power said solar customers will see a temporary increase in credit.
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