Georgia Power seeks rate increase

ATLANTA - Georgia Power wants to raise electric bills starting next year.

The $416 million rate increase would mean, if granted, that the typical residential bill would go up about $5.50 a month for 1,000 kilowatt-hours.

It was just a few months ago that the state Public Service Commission granted a rate request that also resulted in about a $5 a month increase.

Georgia Power said the latest request, like the one in the summer, is for money to pay Georgia Power's costs for the coal, natural gas and nuclear fuel used to make power.