06 LC 33
1243
House
Resolution 1280
By:
Representatives Powell of the
29th,
Lucas of the
139th,
Talton of the
145th,
Dean of the
59th,
Porter of the
143rd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Public Service Commission to maintain its current staffing structure and
continue the work of the adversary staff; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Public Service Commission is the state entity which is authorized to approve
or disapprove price increases in utility rates; and
WHEREAS,
the ability of consumers to keep up with rapidly rising utility costs, and
particularly the costs of natural gas, is dependent on the protection by the
Public Service Commission from unnecessary or excessive price increases;
and
WHEREAS,
prior to making a determination as to whether to approve or disapprove a price
increase request from a utility company, the Public Service Commission considers
recommendations from "adversary" staff, which conducts independent reviews and
typically argues against price increases on behalf of consumers;
and
WHEREAS,
it is critical that consumers have a voice in the process and are fervently
represented in the face of continuing utility price increase requests;
and
WHEREAS,
the interests of consumers are best served by maintaining this adversary staff
to provide this much needed advocacy on behalf of Georgia consumers in the
deliberations made by the Public Service Commission; and
WHEREAS,
the current staffing structure utilized by the Public Service Commission has
worked well for many years and no persuasive case has been made that the work of
the adversary staff is extraneous.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the Public
Service Commission is strongly urged to maintain its current staffing structure
and continue the work of the adversary
staff.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission.