PSC approves slight drop in Ga. Power rates

ATLANTA - Electricity bills are coming down by less than $1 for a typical Georgia Power residential customer.

The state's Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved a reduction in fuel costs by a 4-1 vote. That reduction is slight since customers saw their bills increase more than $14 a month starting this year.

Under state law, Georgia Power is reimbursed for the cost of the fuel it burns to create electricity. When the utility's fuel costs go up, customers pay more. When fuel costs come down, customers pay less.

New supplies of natural gas, along with reduced industrial demand because of a poor economy, drove natural gas costs lower then when the company set its existing fuel charges more than a year ago. The new rate takes effect June 1.