Explainer: People's Power Union wants clean, affordable energy

On May 27th, 2025, People’s Power Union members held a press conference outside of the Public Service Commission. Members like Neil Sardana spoke up for customers and an alternative to Georgia Power’s proposal. (Georgia Conservation Voters)

After a series of six rate increases beginning in 2023, the average Georgia Power customer has seen their electric bill increase by $43 per month. Often, such price hikes are disproportionately shouldered by Georgia’s Black communities. While many Georgians struggle to pay their increased bills, Georgia Power’s parent company, Southern Company, reported a $400 million profit increase in 2024.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is a governing body of five elected officials designed to “ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced telecommunications, electric, and natural gas services.” The PSC oversaw and approved the drastic price hikes over recent years. The 2025 PSC election is Georgia residents’ first opportunity since 2020 to elect new commissioners.

Georgia Conservation Voters’ latest initiative, the People’s Power Union (PPU), is dedicated to building collective power and spreading awareness about the importance of this election.

Atlanta Community Press Collective spoke with CiCi Arriaga, a community organizer with Georgia Conservation Voters, about how the People’s Power Union is holding the Public Service Commission accountable.

The answers below have been edited for clarity and length.

CiCi Arriaga, a Georgia Conservation Voters community organizer, at the May 20 Organizing Committee meeting (Georgia Conservation Voters)

What is the People’s Power Union?

It’s a union that falls under Georgia Conservation Voters’ Education Fund, which is designed to organize Georgians to advance climate and environmental justice through education, advocacy and other forms of civic engagement. The People’s Power Union is our larger effort to hold the Public Service Commission accountable.

What is the relationship between the PPU, the Public Service Commission, and Georgia Power?

The Public Service Commission regulates utilities, so their decisions impact our power bills and the future of clean energy in general. Georgia Power relies heavily on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, so the Public Service Commission approves Georgia Power’s plan to continue using resources like those. As Georgians, we should care about climate change, environmental justice and clean, safe, affordable energy and advocate for lower bills. That’s a lot of the work that we do.

The term “monopoly” has been thrown around in relation to Georgia Power. What are the downstream consequences of that for consumers?

Georgia Power is an approved monopoly that provides energy for the state, meaning that within its territory, consumers can’t choose other providers. It’s the provider for most of metro Atlanta, the I-85 corridor, Athens, Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Savannah, and Valdosta. If you’re in a mid-large city, you most likely have Georgia Power.

The Public Service Commission is supposed to regulate Georgia Power and act on our behalf, but a lot of the time, our demands are not met. We know that Georgia Power is a shareholder company, so their main goal is to make profits.

The energy burden issue is very high in our state, and many people are really struggling to pay their bills. It shouldn’t be an issue; people shouldn’t be deciding whether to put food on the table, pay for medications or pay their $300 or $400 Georgia Power light bill.

We’re coming up in the summer when the heat is going to be excruciating, so people need to be able to have electricity in their homes. They shouldn’t have to suffer from the heat that we get every year. That’s a privilege that we should have, but we’re reminded again of those injustices when we’re hit with that high power bill. And they just continue to get higher.

How can folks join the People’s Power Union?

Anyone can join—you don’t have to be a Georgia Power customer. It’s free, all you have to do is go to the People’s Power Union website. Read through the pledge to learn a little more about the union, sign it, and input your information so that you can receive emails regarding our meetings and the latest news.

By signing the pledge, you automatically become a member. I also try to reach out to new members individually so that I can hear their stories, figure out how they want to be a part of this and give more in-depth information about the union.

What are the obligations and benefits for members?

We’re asking our community to recruit other members, participate in the polls and surveys we send out and attend at least one Public Service Commission hearing. We’re also encouraging folks to speak out on affordable clean energy by sharing their story with us. Part of being in the union is helping come up with a vision for clean, safer energy to present to the Public Service Commission that represents Georgians.

What has been the community response to the PPU?

The rate increases are the biggest topic. We’ve heard a lot of complaints that people don’t know what to do about it, so we’re trying to educate people about who’s making these decisions. We have a biweekly virtual organizing committee meeting where we come together to talk about what’s going on, inform people and discuss different tactics to combat this.

What are the PPU’s plans for after the Public Service Commission election?

Even after elections, this is a community. It’s not about bringing people in, asking them to work and do stuff for us. We’re trying to build our community so that we can support other communities’ and organizations’ efforts. It’s a space to continue coming together; we’re for the people and by the people, everyone is welcome.