(Media release from Georgia Power):
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday approved Georgia Power’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which sets forth a proactive, innovative and transformational roadmap for how Georgia Power will continue to meet the energy needs of customers, local communities and the State of Georgia for future generations.
“As Georgia continues to grow and the energy landscape continues to evolve, it’s incredibly important that we keep making the smart investments needed for our customers to have clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for decades to come. The approval of our latest Integrated Resource Plan helps us do just that,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “Working constructively with the Georgia Public Service Commission, we are committed to building the future of energy for our state, and these investments in our electric grid and energy infrastructure will help ensure that every customer, whether at home or running a business, has the energy they need to thrive.”
Georgia Power files an IRP with the Georgia PSC every three years to outline how it will provide energy to its 2.7 million customers over the next 20 years. The approved 2022 IRP delivers a comprehensive strategy to both transform Georgia’s energy sources and help to ensure that the state’s network of transmission lines and grid infrastructure continues to deliver reliable energy to Georgians – both today and in the future.
The decision comes following months of an open, constructive review process resulting in a stipulated agreement in June among the company, the Georgia PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff, Georgia Association of Manufacturers, Commercial Group and the Georgia Coalition of Local Governments, including Atlanta; Athens-Clarke County; Savannah; DeKalb County; and City of Decatur. Throughout the IRP process, Georgia Power, the Georgia PSC, and many participating parties evaluated the company’s plan for how it expects to transition its fleet to more economical, cleaner resources; invest in its transmission system to make it smarter and even more reliable and resilient; roughly double its renewable and solar capacity; focus on energy storage solutions; and offer innovative energy efficiency programs and renewable subscription programs for customers.