What A Day – “Georgia To Vote On Energy Costs”

Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Josie Duffy Rice (for Jane Coaston)
Guest: John Taylor, Executive Director, Blackmail Initiative

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on a critical but often overlooked statewide election in Georgia: the race for seats on the Public Service Commission (PSC), the body responsible for regulating the state’s utility rates—including electricity, gas, and telecommunications. With energy costs surging, tax breaks benefiting data centers, and broader concerns about voter access and engagement, host Josie Duffy Rice is joined by John Taylor to unpack why this election has unique importance, not just for Georgia, but as a reflection of national democratic dynamics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Importance of the Public Service Commission Election

• What is the PSC?
  The commission regulates utilities, directly impacting the cost families pay for electricity and gas. Despite being a “boring-sounding” office, their decisions affect every Georgian’s cost of living.
  • “The commissioners are in charge of regulating public utilities in the state, including electricity, gas, and telecommunications, which basically means that they regulate how much Georgia families and residents have to pay...” (00:44)
• Recent Decisions:
  Over the past three years, the PSC (currently all Republican members) has raised electricity prices six times, with average bills up $43 per household per month.
• Tax Breaks for Data Centers:
  Large, power-hungry data centers have received an 80% tax cut—all while straining the electricity grid and local water resources.

The Candidates and the Stakes

• Who’s Running?
  Two seats—District 2 (East GA, from outside Atlanta to Savannah) and District 3 (Metro Atlanta area)—pit Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard against Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson.
• Why It Matters:
  These races are the only statewide races on the ballot this year, during an off-cycle election with little else to drive voters to the polls.

Organizing and Mobilizing Voters

• John Taylor’s Strategy:
  Door knocking, phone calls, texts, and a social media push—Taylor describes the effort as a “David versus Goliath moment” due to resource disparities and entrenched incumbents.
  • “We’re doing a lot of door knocking...and we’re doing everything we can on social media to pump the importance of this moment. I think this is...a David versus Goliath moment.” (04:05)
• The Need for Education:
  Many Georgians are unaware of the PSC’s role or even that there is a statewide race in an “off” year.

What’s at Stake for Georgians

• Direct Impacts:
  Cost of living, utility bills, water usage, and health/environmental impacts are on the line.
  • “Unfortunately, our lives are at stake...Our livelihood and our ability to survive and pay bills is at stake. Six times they've raised the rates on residents. That’s preposterous.” (05:17)
• Policy Concerns:
  Data centers get outsized benefits, while average residents shoulder the burden—fuels a broader conversation about who the PSC really serves.

Barriers to Voting and Civic Engagement in Georgia

• Voter Purges:
  Hundreds of thousands purged from the rolls.
• Restrictive Laws:
  Laws like SB202 make it harder to register and mobilize voters, especially during elections with lower public awareness.
• Resource Challenges:
  Taylor emphasizes the need for "TMP—time, money, and people" to effectively educate, activate, and mobilize voters.
  • “We define resources: time, money, and people. So we need TMP. We need enough time to educate our community...money...and mobilize the people.” (07:54)
• Local Variation:
  With 159 counties operating their own election systems, each with their own rules and vulnerabilities, organizing is complex and under-resourced between major cycles.

The Bigger Picture & National Parallels

• Not Just Georgia:
  Taylor connects Georgia’s fight to broader national trends—referencing battles in New York, Texas, and Alabama—where grassroots candidates are challenging entrenched interests and fighting for “true democracy.”
  • “We're seeing this everywhere...They're advocating for true democracy. They're advocating for constituents, not for big business...If we're not clear about...the power, the energy, the very lifeblood of a community should be...regulated for what the community wants.” (12:00)

Final Thoughts on Needed Change

• Beyond the PSC:
  While the PSC is crucial, legislation is needed to cap utility hikes and stop the cost of living from outpacing incomes.
  • “We grew up in an era where the cost of living...was 2.5%. Most of the folks in Georgia are not getting a 2.5% raise. But when you vote six times to raise the cost of utilities, you're blowing that out of the water.” (10:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the stakes:
  “If we don't get folks in these Public Service Commission seats to care about the people in Georgia, our lives are on the line.”
  — John Taylor (05:17)

• On resources needed for civic engagement:
  “We need TMP: time, money, and people...Time to educate...money...and mobilize the people.”
  — John Taylor (07:54)

• On national implications:
  “What we're seeing is a rise of authoritarianism...of the oligarchs...We don't believe that utility costs...should be set at the pace of corporate profiteers.”
  — John Taylor (12:00)

Important Timestamps

• [00:44] – Significance of regulating public utilities and election background
• [02:45] – John Taylor joins, outlines the PSC’s recent actions and their impact
• [04:05] – Organizing efforts and why this race matters
• [05:17] – Direct consequences if the status quo continues
• [06:30] – Barriers to voting and the impact of restrictive laws
• [07:54] – Breaking down the resources required for effective civic engagement
• [10:03] – What else is needed besides a better PSC to protect Georgians
• [12:00] – How Georgia’s political battles echo national trends

Summary Takeaways

This episode dives deep into the underappreciated yet highly consequential role of Georgia’s Public Service Commission and the current election’s high stakes. Guest John Taylor paints a vivid picture of how utility decisions affect everyday Georgians, how powerful interests maintain control, and why organizing, education, and policy change are urgently needed. His reflections ring far beyond Georgia, highlighting a national struggle over democracy, equity, and who government truly serves.

For listeners:
If you care about the cost of living, energy policy, and the power of local elections, Georgia’s PSC race is a case study not to ignore. As Taylor puts it, “Our lives are at stake”—and the struggle in Georgia is America’s story in miniature.