How Does the Commission Decide a Rate Case?
The Utility Files Its Petition
The utility requesting a rate increase first serves a public notice of
intent. It then files a rate case petition with all supporting data, including a request for the proposed
rates to take effect in 30 days. The Commission studies the utility's petition and sets a hearing date.
PSC Studies the Petition
By law, the proposed new rates go into effect 30 days from the filing date, unless the commissioners vote
to suspend them. Normally, the commissioners order a five-month suspension of the proposed rate so the staff can study all data
submitted by the utility. At this time, the Commission may designate its adversary/advisory staff. During a rate case, the
Commission's designated adversary staff is considered separate from the five elected commissioners. The adversary staff puts
on its own case, usually opposing the utility's request. The adversary staff's attorney cross-examines utility witnesses.
A separate staff advisory team is designated to answer commissioners' questions and to support them. The
adversary staff prosecutes the case. Also, the Consumers' Utility Counsel (CUC) represents residential and small commercial
consumers in the rate case procedure. The utility publishes a notice of hearing in newspapers of general circulation in its
service area. This is done 30 to 60 days after the filing. The PSC issues a scheduling order and may hold a pre-hearing conference
with all interested parties. The Commission staff can request any additional information it needs on the rate request, and the
utility provides it.
Interested Parties Intervene
For 30 days following the first published notice of the proceedings, requests to intervene are considered by the
Commission. The Commission grants the requests either at the pre-hearing conference or on the first day of the hearing. The intervenors
can request information from the utility, which it must provide. The Commission staff and other intervenors begin their investigations.
Adversary staff activities may include hiring consultants, taking depositions from witnesses, limited auditing of selected utility records
and gathering other data.
Formal Rate Hearings Conducted
The utility presents its case at a public hearing conducted by the commissioners within 90 to 120 days after
the initial filing. These hearings generally last from three to five days.
Public witnesses usually present their testimony the first day. All witnesses are subject to cross-examination
by the adversary staff and other intervenors.
The adversary staff completes its review and develops the Commission position on various elements in the case.
Both the adversary staff and intervenors pre-file testimony and exhibits.
The adversary staff does not take an official position until it is ready to pre-file its own testimony. The
adversary staff makes an independent recommendation on rates 10 days before the hearing date.
A second set of public hearings, 120 to 165 days after the initial filing, is held for the staff and other
Intervenors to present their case and to be cross-examined by the utility.
The utility files rebuttal testimony 10 days before a third set of public hearings. At those hearings, the
utility presents its rebuttal to the staff's and other intervenors' findings.
This set of public hearings is held 160 to 165 days after the initial filing. During this set of hearings, the
Commission Staff and other intervenors cross-examine the utility.
Commission Issues Rate Order
The Commissioners take the case under advisement following the third set of public hearings. All parties involved
-- the utility, Commissioners, Commission Staff, and intervenors -- review the transcript and records of the hearings and file
recommendations, a proposed order, briefs, etc.
At a subsequent administrative session, held the first and third Tuesday of each month, or at a special called
meeting, the commissioners decide what, if any, rate increases to grant and when the utility can put the new rates into effect. The
commissioners must make this decision within six months of the original filing date or the utility is legally entitled to 100 per
cent of its request, under bond and subject to refund.
After a decision on the rate case, the Commission issues a final order. The new rates go into effect 165 to 180
days after the initial filing of the rate change request. The utility may ask the Commission to reconsider its decision within 10
days after the order. The utility may appeal the Commission's decision to the Fulton County Superior Court within 30 days after the
final order. Also, the intervenors may request a rehearing and/or appeal the Commission's decision to the courts.
Commission Responsibility
In making its decisions, the Georgia Public Service Commission has a duty to balance the service needs of Georgia's
residents with the financial needs of the utility. The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that rates must permit the utility to earn a
return comparable to that of enterprises involving similar risk, to preserve the financial integrity of the company and to allow the
company to attract investors.
The Georgia Public Service Commission requires regulated utilities to provide adequate service at fair and reasonable
rates and to treat all customers equitably.