Georgia Power Faces Scrutiny Over Energy Resource Plan

ATLANTA, Georgia – Starting May 27, Georgia Power executives will defend their energy resource plan against criticism through a series of hearings before the state Public Service Commission (PSC). This second round of hearings on Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) follows initial testimonies in March, highlighting concerns over the utility’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The new IRP outlines a dependency on coal-burning plants at Plant Bowen and Plant Scherer, which together generate approximately 4,000 megawatts of electricity. In a state where the demand for energy is rapidly rising due to data centers, the utility asserts the need to maintain these facilities for stability.

Consumer advocacy groups are urging Georgia Power to enhance its plan by incorporating more renewable energy sources. “By arbitrarily capping solar development in its Integrated Resource Plan, Georgia Power has sidelined one of the most cost-effective resources,” said Patrick King II, a policy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Despite these critiques, Georgia Power representatives believe maintaining the existing coal and gas plants is essential for meeting future needs. Jeff Grubb, Georgia Power’s director of resource planning, stated, “We need these units. They’re an economical way to serve the load growth that we have.”

During the hearings, energy lawyer Bobby Baker challenged Georgia Power’s claimed demand forecasts, noting that its estimates have surged 27-fold since last year. He questioned the reliability of the projections, fearing customers will bear the costs if Georgia Power overestimates its capacity needs.

However, Fernando Valle, the utility’s director of forecasting, defended their estimates by emphasizing that they rely on the best available information at the time. “Predicting the future is inherently uncertain,” he acknowledged.

The PSC is scheduled to vote on the proposed IRP on July 15, with ongoing hearings that could extend into the following days.