Georgia households have something most utility customers in data center country do not: a date on the calendar. The Georgia Public Service Commission says that “in July 2025, the PSC Commissioners instituted a Georgia Power rate freeze through the end of 2028.” What happens to Georgia Power rates after that is the question this guide is about.
The freeze sits next to a very large utility expansion, much of it meant to serve new data centers. Regulators say they have walled households off from those costs. Their own staff once warned of a monthly increase. Both things are on the record, and both are worth knowing before the next rate case.
Where it stands: As of October 2026, the commission’s website states that its data center rules “ensure NO residents or small businesses will see increases on their power bills due to data centers.” WRDW reported in March that “a rate case is expected in 2028,” and that commission chairman Jason Shaw said rates may rise then, “but said it will not be because of data center development.”
What regulators approved in December 2025
The five-member commission voted on a plan to let Georgia Power add a very large amount of new generation. T&D World reported that the PSC “voted unanimously (5–0) to approve a stipulated agreement allowing Georgia Power to produce 9,885 megawatts of new energy.”
Who is that power for? According to PSC staff figures reported by WRDW, the queue of prospective big customers, “about 80 percent of which are data centers,” grew “from 16,000 megawatts in 2023 to approximately 69,000 megawatts of prospective projects in December 2025.” On the fuel mix, WRDW reported that “58 percent of the approved capacity will come from natural gas, with the remaining 42 percent from battery and solar sources.”
The $20 warning and the backstop that answered it
Before the vote, the commission’s own analysts raised a flag. WRDW reported that “PSC staff cautioned commissioners that the cost of the energy expansion could fall to Georgia Power customers, potentially adding $20 a month to utility bills.”
The response was a backstop. Per T&D World, “Georgia Power has agreed to financially backstop new generation projects in 2029, 2030, and 2031, extending beyond the current rate freeze that remains in effect through the end of 2028.” WRDW said the company is “guaranteeing revenue” in those years, “which the company said means the projected $20 monthly increase will not materialize.”
Georgia Power also pitched an upside. T&D World reported the provision “is projected to create $8.50 per month of downward pressure on the average household bill for customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.” That is a projection about pressure on bills, not a promised credit, and it applies to that usage level.
| Period | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Through end of 2028 | Georgia Power rate freeze | Georgia PSC |
| 2028 | Rate case expected | WRDW |
| 2029 to 2031 | Georgia Power revenue backstop on new generation | T&D World, WRDW |
Georgia Power rates and data centers: the two sides
The case that households are protected. The commission’s December decision, per WRDW, “protects existing ratepayers from increased rates even if the data center projections do not come to fruition.” Large users face strict terms: “Data centers serving 100 megawatts or more are required to sign 15-year minimum contracts, pay transmission costs upfront, meet security requirements, and fund cost-analysis studies before construction begins.” And “Georgia Power has repeatedly said data centers will pay for the energy used by large load users, not everyday customers.”
The case for worry. At the time of the vote, “critics argued that the plan would affect future utility rates.” Then, WRDW reported, “two newly seated Democratic commissioners appealed to reconsider the approved expansion.” The station added: “That effort was blocked.” Even the chairman named the core risk: “The biggest fear we’ve had from day one, is what if these loads don’t materialize.”
The International Energy Agency describes the same kind of risk in general terms. It warns that the gap between quick-to-build data centers and slow-to-build power plants, plus uncertainty about how much load shows up, “creates risks of misalignment between electricity system investment and data centre demand that could raise electricity prices in some places if unmitigated.” T&D World described Georgia’s backstop provision as “intended to prevent stranded assets,” and the years after 2028 are when it gets tested.
What Georgia Power customers can watch
You do not need to read regulatory filings for fun. A few signals tell you most of what matters.
- The rate case filing. When Georgia Power files its next rate case, the request will show how much it wants and for what. The PSC newsroom and local news are the places to watch for it.
- Large load reports. WRDW reported that “Georgia Power is required to file large load reports every quarter.” If the data center pipeline shrinks, the backstop questions get sharper.
- What the freeze covers. Shaw described it this way: “We were able to freeze base rates based on the revenue of these large-load customers. That takes us out three years to 2028.” Ask the utility which lines on your bill are base-rate charges and which are separate adjustments.
What Georgia households can do now
Check your bill against the commission’s tools. The PSC website’s consumer section has a Georgia Power bill calculator and residential rate surveys, a quick way to see whether your bill matches what your usage should cost.
Make your voice heard. The commission says “public Comments are heard during the first hour of each hearing day and the last 15 minutes of Committee Meetings,” and that “sign-up sheets are provided and speakers are called first come, first served.” If you cannot attend, “relevant comments and feedback on any issue also can be provided through our electronic portal.” Our step-by-step guide to commenting on a utility rate case covers what to say.
Line up help early if money is tight. A freeze does not lower a bill you already cannot pay. Our guide to shutoff protections and LIHEAP covers payment plans and energy assistance, and our list of discounts worth asking your utility about works for Georgia Power customers too.
Keep the national picture in view. Georgia’s setup differs from the PJM grid in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, where capacity auctions have cleared at the cap; our explainer on data centers and electric bills covers that region. Georgia’s arrangement is its own, and the commission says hearings “can be viewed live via the Commission’s YouTube channel” for anyone who wants to follow it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Georgia Power rates frozen?
Georgia Power base rates are frozen through the end of 2028, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission, which approved the freeze in July 2025. Ask the utility which charges on your bill fall under base rates, since the chairman described the freeze in terms of base rates.
Will Georgia Power bills go up because of data centers?
The commission and Georgia Power say no: the PSC says its rules protect residents and small businesses from data center-driven increases, and the company says data centers will pay for their own energy. PSC staff had warned of a possible monthly increase before a revenue backstop was added, and critics still argue the plan will affect future rates.
What happens to Georgia Power rates after 2028?
A rate case is expected in 2028, according to WRDW. That is the proceeding in which Georgia Power would ask regulators to reset rates for the years after the freeze, and the public can comment.
How do I comment to the Georgia Public Service Commission?
You can speak during the public comment period at a commission hearing, using the sign-up sheet on the day, or send comments through the commission electronic portal. Hearings can also be watched online.
Where can I estimate my Georgia Power bill?
The Georgia Public Service Commission website has a Georgia Power bill calculator and residential rate surveys in its consumer section.
Sources
- Georgia PSC Approves Stipulated Agreement for New Power Generation Capacity — T&D World, December 2025
- Georgia PSC chairman defends data center power expansion amid criticism — WRDW / Atlanta News First, March 18, 2026
- State regulators OK Georgia Power plan to serve data centers — WRDW / Atlanta News First, December 19, 2025
- Georgia Public Service Commission — Information on Data Centers; Public Hearings and Public Comments — Georgia Public Service Commission, accessed October 21, 2026
- Executive summary – Key Questions on Energy and AI — International Energy Agency, April 16, 2026
This article is general consumer information, not financial advice. Rates, bills and programs vary by utility and state and change over time; check your own utility and state regulator for current figures.
