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With competition in all sectors of utility use in Georgia, identifying a source from among electric companies in Atlanta can be daunting. Understanding the utility landscape is essential input as residential customers evaluate electric companies in Atlanta and identify the local provider that best meets their needs.
Electric companies in Atlanta consist of an investor-owned electricity utility, which is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), and electric membership corporations (EMCs). Georgia also has 52 municipally-owned electric utilities, which may be an option, depending upon the service location.
Georgia introduced competition among power providers in 1973 with the adoption of the Georgia Territorial Electric Services Act. However, competition applies primarily to residential and small business use. Manufacturers with commercial loads greater than 900 kW are limited to a single choice. When multiple options are available for industrial clients, they are allowed to transfer among options only if all parties agree to the switch.
Though various options exist, all electricity is generated through the same process. At a central power plant, coal, gas or oil is used to turn water into steam. The steam turns turbines and magnets to generate electricity, which is then transferred through power lines to commercial clients or substations that reduce the wattage delivered for household use.
The Georgia investor-owned electric company, Georgia Power Company (GPC), serves 2.35 million customers in 155 of 159 counties in Georgia. It serves residential, commercial and industrial customers. The utility is a for-profit enterprise, but rates remain competitive due to the presence of other providers in the marketplace.
One choice that exists among electric companies in Atlanta is receiving power service through an electric membership corporation, or EMC. EMCs are cooperatives created to pool resources to purchase electricity more efficiently. 42 EMCs serve the state, and are overseen by the Georgia EMC, a non-profit organization that is led by member-elected directors and serves to promote and educate the public about electric cooperatives.
Electric membership corporations buy wholesale power and distribute to customers through substations and power lines, as with any electric utility. The advantages gained are similar to those created when negotiating health care as part of a group, rather than individual, plan. Cooperatives organize to negotiate the distribution of power to a large group of people, creating a higher demand for service that enables the group to receive a lower rate than an individual. Cooperatives are run democratically by participating members.
Municipally-owned utilities were created out of a need to service rural areas. Known also as public power, municipal electric service are generally operated as not-for-profit entities that focus on reducing costs through efficient management. Most municipal electric providers belong to a consortium of public power systems that acts on behalf of the municipal utilities in terms of marketing, education and political action. One source estimated that residential customers using municipal power save an average of 14% over those being served by investor-owned utilities.
New customers have a variety of options when choosing among electric companies in Atlanta. Reviewing all companies for availability, rates, and customer service before selecting a provider is the best path to utility savings. The internet can be an excellent resource for rate and availability information, but recommendations from friends and neighbors can be the best way to identify the utility with the best reputation for responsiveness and customer service.
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