Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Jason Shaw and Commissioner Tricia Pridemore have penned a joint letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission addressing U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s concerns about data centers and energy bills.

In a recent letter to FERC, Sen. Ossoff said his office was opening an investigation into data centers’ impact on rising power bills in Georgia and the nation. In their response, Chairman Shaw and Commissioner Pridemore outline the many steps taken by the Georgia Public Service Commission to ensure current ratepayers are not subject to increased bills from data centers. As cited in their letter, Georgia has become a national leader in this regard with a dozen or more other states following Georgia’s lead on regulatory innovations.

Chairman Shaw said Georgians are understandably cautious of data centers but, with the correct approach, they can prove to be an economic advantage.

“Georgia has struck the right balance,” Chairman Shaw said. “In Georgia, data centers pay their own way, families are protected, communities have a voice, and craft labor is getting to work, earning paychecks, building careers, and helping power Georgia’s future.”

Commissioner Pridemore, who finished her year-long term as President of the National Association or Regulatory Utility Commissioners in November, has a bird’s eye view of data center regulation from a national perspective.

“I have seen other states look at what Georgia has done and say: ‘That’s the answer. That’s what we need to do,’” Commissioner Pridemore said. “It seems with every issue of national importance, the answer can be found at the local or state level. I’ll put Georgia up against any state in the nation for innovation and successful planning.”

Attached is the letter Shaw and Pridemore sent to FERC Chairman Laura Swett.