During a public hearing on Tuesday, Marjorie Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy, accused Georgia Power of prioritizing profits over the interests of consumers and the environment. She alleged that the utility company is deliberately investing in new natural gas power plants to benefit its five affiliated gas companies rather than pursuing cleaner, more sustainable energy alternatives such as solar power and battery storage. Durand’s organization, a watchdog group established earlier this year, aims to hold Georgia Power accountable for what she views as self-serving business decisions that ultimately harm ratepayers and the state’s environmental goals.
Durand condemned the company’s behavior as unethical and “immoral,” arguing that it demonstrates a clear conflict of interest. She asserted that Georgia Power’s preference for natural gas development over renewable energy represents a failure to serve the public good. Her comments reflected growing frustration among environmental advocates and consumer groups who believe that state regulators have not done enough to challenge the company’s profit-driven strategies. According to Durand, Georgia Power’s actions not only undermine clean energy progress but also burden Georgians with higher energy costs and long-term environmental consequences.
Calling for greater oversight and accountability, Durand compared Georgia Power’s conduct to “corruption” that no legitimate court should tolerate. “There is no court in the land that would allow that kind of corruption to go on, and I have no idea why the state of Georgia does,” she said, according to the Georgia Recorder. Her remarks highlight rising tensions between utility companies and grassroots organizations advocating for renewable energy investments. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Georgia Power defended its energy strategy, maintaining that its investments are necessary to ensure reliable power for customers and to meet the state’s growing energy demands responsibly.
