Georgia regulators hear public anger over data center deals in Savannah
Georgia's Public Service Commission held a rare meeting outside Atlanta in Savannah, where residents criticized the commission for prioritizing Georgia Power and data centers over the public. The commission recently approved Georgia Power's contract with OpenAI for a data center in Effingham County, the largest single-customer contract since 2024. Commenters demanded more transparency and accused the commission of serving corporate interests rather than ratepayers.
The Savannah session marked a departure from the commission's long-standing practice of convening exclusively in Atlanta. Commissioner Alicia Johnson, whose district includes Chatham and Effingham counties, advocated for the relocation so coastal residents could address regulators directly rather than leaving comment periods dominated by metro-area voices and professional advocates.
During the meeting, commissioners emphasized that their authority extends only to electricity transactions when data centers select Georgia Power as their provider, steering residents toward local officials for other concerns. The OpenAI facility planned for Effingham County represents the utility's largest single-customer agreement since contract reporting began in 2024, fueling public skepticism about how such deals affect household rates and grid reliability.
This meeting reflects growing tension between economic development priorities and residential ratepayer interests as artificial intelligence infrastructure expands across the Southeast. Communities hosting data centers may face rising electricity costs while corporate contracts receive preferential treatment, potentially widening the gap between industrial and residential rates. The commission's willingness to hold regional hearings could signal a shift toward greater accountability, though whether such sessions meaningfully influence regulatory decisions remains uncertain. Ratepayers across Georgia may watch closely as these dynamics shape their monthly bills.