2020 Georgia Code
Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 46-1-5. Duties of Department of Human Services With Regard to Assistance to Low or Fixed Income Consumers of Gas and Electric Service

By March 2, 1982, the Department of Human Resources (now known as the Department of Human Services) shall develop a program to identify those low or fixed income consumers of gas and electric utility service who, in the department's opinion, should benefit from public assistance in paying their bills for gas and electric service. The department shall also establish an efficient and economical method for distributing to such consumers all public assistance funds which will be made available, whether by appropriations of state or federal funds, grants, or otherwise. All gas and electric utilities shall cooperate fully with the department in developing and implementing its program. Nothing in this Code section shall limit the commission's authority to order regulatory alternatives which assist low or fixed income ratepayers.

(Ga. L. 1981, p. 121, § 8; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-20/HB 228.)

The 2009 amendment, effective July 1, 2009, inserted "(now known as the Department of Human Services)" in the first sentence of this Code section.

- Public assistance generally, Ch. 4, T. 49.

• 46-2-1. Election of Commissioners; terms of office.
• 46-2-2. Qualifications of Commissioners; restriction on any interest in companies under jurisdiction of commission; disqualification of Commissioner.
• 46-2-3. Oath of office of Commissioners.
• 46-2-4. Filling of vacancies on commission.
• 46-2-5. Chairperson of commission; selection.
• 46-2-6. Salary of Commissioners.
• 46-2-7. Employment of officers, experts, and other employees by commission; compensation of employees.
• 46-2-7.1. Director of utilities.
• 46-2-7.2. Public information officer.
• 46-2-8. Payment of salaries and expenses by commission; appropriations for salaries and expenses; designation of Public Service Commission Fund.
• 46-2-9. Domicile of commission; jurisdiction of actions involving commission or business entities regulated by commission; furnishing commission with office and supplies.
• 46-2-10. Payment of special fee by corporations and utilities subject to jurisdiction of commission; notice of amount due; procedure on default.

• 46-2-20. Jurisdiction of commission generally; powers and duties of commission generally.
• 46-2-21. Extension of commission's powers and duties to street railroads, telegraph companies, telephone companies, and gas and electric light and power companies.
• 46-2-22. Jurisdiction of commission over express companies and telegraph companies [Repealed].
• 46-2-23. Rate-making power of commission generally; special provisions concerning telecommunications companies.
• 46-2-23.1. "Alternative form of regulation" defined; filing; notice; approval; release of interstate pipeline capacity.
• 46-2-24. Consideration by commission of quality of service in determining just and reasonable rates and charges.
• 46-2-25. Procedure for changing any rate, charge, classification, or service; recovery of financing costs.
• 46-2-25.1. County-wide local calling; modification of existing rate schedules; plans for implementing service; methods of funding; rate-making power of commission not affected.
• 46-2-25.2. Sixteen-mile toll-free telephone calling; modification of rate schedules; recovery of expenses or lost revenues by telephone companies; rate-making power of Public Service Commission not affected.
• 46-2-25.3. Toll-free calls within 22 miles of exchange; hearings; "net gain" defined.
• 46-2-26. Restriction as to utilization of fuel-adjustment tariffs; procedure for rate change by utility based solely on change in fuel costs; extent of commission's power over rate changes; disclosure requirements for utilities seeking rate change.
• 46-2-26.1. Accounting methods to be used by electric utilities in rate-making proceedings.
• 46-2-26.2. Tax accounting by utilities in rate-making proceedings.
• 46-2-26.3. Recovery of costs of conversion from oil-burning to coal-burning generating facility; filing of request; public hearing; determination of rate; adjustments.
• 46-2-26.4. Accounting procedures in gas utility rate proceedings.
• 46-2-26.5. Gas supply plans and adjustment factors; filings and hearing procedures; recovery of purchase gas cost.
• 46-2-27. Notation on bill of charges for fuel adjustment, meter reading and consumption, and where rates charged may be obtained.
• 46-2-28. Procedure for issuance of stocks, bonds, notes, or other debt by companies under commission's jurisdiction; exemptions.
• 46-2-29. Requirement of confidentiality of information obtained by commission member or employee in a proceeding under Code Section 46-2-28.
• 46-2-30. Power of commission to make rules and regulations generally.
• 46-2-31. Annual report by commission to Governor.
• 46-2-32. Payment of fines into state treasury; cumulative nature of remedies provided by this title.
• 46-2-33. Costs incurred by commission charged to utility; invoicing; recovery.

• 46-2-40. Creation of Utility Finance Section; composition of section.
• 46-2-41. Appointment of director of Utility Finance Section; compensation; supervisory role of director of utilities; qualifications and responsibilities of director of section generally.
• 46-2-42. Employment of assistant director of Utility Finance Section; employment of accountants, statisticians, experts, and clerical personnel; application of rules and regulations.
• 46-2-43. Director, assistant director, or any other employee of Utility Finance Section prohibited from having any interest in or being employed by electric utilities.
• 46-2-44. Duties of Utility Finance Section generally.
• 46-2-45. Relationship of Utility Finance Section to commission.

• 46-2-50. Conducting of hearings and investigations generally.
• 46-2-51. Prescription by commission of rules of procedure and rules of evidence; promulgation of rules and regulations as to rehearing, reconsideration, and oral argument of orders.
• 46-2-52. Keeping of records of proceedings on formal investigations; transcribing of testimony.
• 46-2-53. Reports, rate schedules, orders, rules, or regulations of commission as admissible evidence in court proceedings [Repealed].
• 46-2-54. Power to issue subpoenas; payments to witnesses; failure or refusal to obey subpoenas.
• 46-2-55. Compelling witnesses to testify before commission as to the giving or granting of rebates or as to discriminations in rates and charges by common carriers.
• 46-2-56. Compelling witnesses to testify against common carriers or any other person in court.
• 46-2-57. Obtaining of discovery by employees and agents of commission; petitions by commission for necessary orders, injunctions, and subpoenas; extension of suspension period by Superior Court of Fulton County; time of hearing of applications and petitions from commission.
• 46-2-58. Conducting of hearings by hearing officers.
• 46-2-59. Permissible parties in proceedings before commission; intervention in proceedings generally; limited appearances; procedure for granting leave to intervene.

• 46-2-70. Definitions.
• 46-2-71. Power of commission to allocate utility service and to alter, amend, suspend, or terminate existing rates, schedules, contracts, rules, or regulations; findings required before commission exercises powers of allocation.
• 46-2-72. Immunity from liability of persons acting in accordance with ruling or order of commission entered pursuant to Code Section 46-2-71.

• 46-2-90. Liability of companies subject to jurisdiction of commission generally; venue for actions generally; award of attorney's fee.
• 46-2-91. Penalties recoverable before commission; superior court filing of certain commission orders; venue; effect of judgment.
• 46-2-92. Penalties recoverable by state through civil action.
• 46-2-93. Criminal penalty; venue for actions; calling of agents and employees of company as witnesses; use of testimony against agents and employees.
• 46-2-94. Operation as household goods carrier for hire without having valid certificate prohibited [Repealed].
• 46-2-95. Civil actions; standard for obtaining an injunction.

- Generally, see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. IV, Sec. I, Para. I; Art. IV, Sec. VII, Para. I, II.

ARTICLE 1 ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERS

Administrative Rules and Regulations.

- Organization of administration of Commission, Official Compilation of Rules and Regulations of State of Georgia, Rules of Georgia Public Service Commission, Chapter 515-1-1.