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Keeping your utility bills low
Since being elected to the PSC, Bobby Baker has helped lower rates by hundreds of millions of dollars for Georgia’s gas, electric and telephone consumers.
Every time a regulated utility wants to raise rates, they must appear before the Public Service Commission to explain why, and what the impact will be on the customers they serve. The PSC works hard to find a balance between keeping utility companies solvent and ensuring that your rates are reasonable – both are important factors in every decision.
In March 2000 Commissioner Baker voted to refund nearly $34 million to natural gas customers who had been overcharged during the 1999 winter heating season. Later that year, the Commission’s decision to prevent a $40 million rate increase for Alltel customers was affirmed on appeal. In the last Atlanta Gas Light Company rate case, Bobby supported rate reductions of $10 million annually, and in the last Georgia Power rate case, Georgia consumers benefited from rate reductions and rebates of over $350 million over three years.
Expanding local calling areas
Bobby Baker has helped create the world’s largest toll-free dialing area in metro Atlanta and converted over 900 toll routes to toll-free routes in rural and South Georgia.
Improved technology has made it easier to provide toll-free calling service to more Georgians than ever before, and the Public Service Commission has worked hard to ensure that consumers benefit.
Bobby has also supported both the consolidation of BellSouth rate centers and several number conservation measures – delaying the need for additional area codes in Georgia for years to come.
Both business and residential consumers benefited from the agreement approved by the PSC between BellSouth and AT&T which lowered long distance charges by $19 million a year since 2001.
Preserving a sound business environment
Bobby Baker continues to support the reduction of regulations on utility companies and enhancing service to Georgia businesses. He believes that a stable, competitive market will benefit both the utility companies and consumers.
Since 1992, Georgia has seen tremendous changes in both the telephone and natural gas industries. Deregulation has changed the way these companies do business and dramatically increased the number of companies in the marketplace.
The Public Service Commission has worked hard to level the playing field between former monopolies and their new competitors, establishing rules that allow all utility companies an equal opportunity to prosper. Increased competition has benefited consumers as well – allowing both residential and business customers more service options at competitive prices.
Fighting for consumer rights
Commissioner Bobby Baker has been a strong and consistent advocate for consumer rights and safeguards. In 2000, after 14 months of continued effort, he was able to lead a majority of the Commission to require natural gas marketers to report their current gas prices so that Georgia consumers would have a convenient and reliable source of pricing information.
Bobby Baker also supported the creation of the Provider of Last Resort (POLR) and the current Regulated Provider which provide natural gas service to low-income consumers. He has voted to require that natural gas consumers receive a written copy of the terms and conditions of service and has insisted on high service quality standards for all utility providers.
Since the creation of the Georgia No Call List program in 1999, Bobby Baker has supported the expansion of the consumer privacy program and voted for inclusion of cell phone customers.
Involving more Georgians in the regulatory process
Bobby Baker has worked to expand public access to the PSC through the creation of a website [www.psc.state.ga.us] and by holding public hearings around the state on utility matters.
For example, Georgia consumers in over 1,100 telephone service areas throughout rural and south Georgia were allowed to vote on whether to expand their local calling area - as a result of that balloting the PSC voted to authorize the conversion of over 900 former long distance routes to toll-free dialing areas.
Gas deregulation
After the passage of Senate Bill 217, the Natural Gas Deregulation and Competition Act of 1997, the Public Service Commission was assigned the responsibility of implementing the ground-breaking legislation, which had not yet been implemented in any other state.
While the deregulation process has been difficult at times, Bobby Baker has consistently supported consumer rights and safeguards. From requiring the monthly reporting of natural gas prices to the Commission to punishing gas marketers found guilty of illegal or deceptive marketing practices, Bobby Baker has been a ready advocate on the PSC for ensuring that residential and small commercial consumers are treated fairly.
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