Georgia Power Co. is requesting a 6.1 percent or $482 million base rate increase from Georgia lawmakers, which will increase the amount paid per month by residents.
If approved it would give a residential customer an increase of 6.7 percent or $7.84 who uses the average of 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. The proposed change would take place on Jan. 1.
“We will continue to invest what is required to deliver the world-class value our customers deserve and expect and to serve Georgia’s current and future energy needs,” Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power said in a statement.
Environmental controls, smart grid technologies, generation, transmission and distribution are some of the infrastructure investments.
Compared to a 76 percent increase for general inflation, Georgia Power’s base price has increased by 23 percent since 1990.
The company’s retail rate has averaged more than 13 percent below the national average for the past 26 years.
Georgia Power is part of the Atlanta-based Southern Co.