Georgia Power has submitted nearly 2 gigawatts of new customer contracts to the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), marking a significant step in the state’s energy sector. These contracts are the first under recently approved PSC rules, which aim to give Georgia Power more flexibility in serving large-load customers and protect residential and small business customers from additional costs.
The company’s latest testimony with the PSC outlines that most of these new contracts are driven by anticipated growth in data centers and other high-demand users. This trend highlights a need for additional generation resources to meet future demand. The filing is part of the ongoing All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) certification process and includes updates on expected customer demand, economic trends, and load forecasts.
Georgia Power is currently negotiating with several other large-load customers, representing potential demand of several more gigawatts. Under the updated rules approved earlier this year by the PSC, these prospective customers must meet stricter requirements, such as making financial commitments and showing infrastructure readiness, before being included in Georgia Power’s long-term planning. These measures ensure that only credible projects are considered in risk-adjusted forecasts. The expanding pipeline of high-demand clients supports Georgia Power’s three-year base rate freeze (excluding storm costs), which helps distribute fixed costs across a wider customer base while protecting smaller consumers.
The company’s forecast shows strong future demand, projecting an increase of 8,448 megawatts between winter 2025/2026 and winter 2030/2031. This outlook backs Georgia Power’s request to certify about 9,900 megawatts of new capacity through its All-Source RFP process, aiming to keep up with economic development and maintain reliable service for all customers.
Aaron Mitchell, senior vice president for Strategic Growth at Georgia Power said: “As Georgia continues to grow, our planning and forecasting teams are working every day to review the latest economic trends and customer data in coordination with our regulators at the Georgia PSC. These new contracts reflect not only the state’s economic momentum, but also our commitment to protecting residential customers while responsibly planning for future energy needs.”
In January, the PSC approved new regulations allowing customized contracts for large-load users that include upfront payments and long-term guarantees while ensuring residential and small business customers do not absorb extra costs.
