Election Day for Georgia's Public Service Commission: Who's on ballot for primary

Two of the five seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission will be up for election this November. But before that, a crowded field of candidates are competing in Tuesday's primary election for a chance to appear on the November ballot.
The commission of energy regulators reviews proposals from electric companies such as Georgia Power. These proposals outline how much the company plans to charge customers for electricity and where the company will get its energy — whether from solar, natural gas, coal, batteries, hydropower, or other sources.
Every three years, the commission also holds hearings on Georgia Power's Integrated Resource Plan, gathering public comments and expert testimony, along with handling other responsibilities.
This year, five challengers have lined up to run against two Republican incumbents: Tim Echols of District 2 and Fitz Johnson of District 3.
The long-awaited race for the Georgia PSC begins with a crowded list of candidates.
In District 3, three Democrats, Keisha Waites, Peter Hubbard and Robert Jones, are competing in the primary for a chance to contend with Johnson in November.
Daniel Blackman, a former EPA Region 4 administrator and previous PSC candidate, was also running in this district but was disqualified after a judge ruled he did not provide enough evidence that he lived in District 3 for at least 12 months, as required by commission rules.
Johnson was nominated for the seat by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021. He laid out his priorities when it comes to being a commissioner in an interview with McClatchy earlier this year.
'Our mission here is safety, reliability, reasonable cost … with those three things in mind, then we can start to look at how clean energy is,' Johnson said.
Waites is a former three-term state representative who served District 60 in Clayton and Fulton counties from 2012 to 2017. She led efforts on anti-bullying and HIV testing, and authored a bill to provide tuition assistance to children of fallen law enforcement officers. She also served on the Atlanta City Council beginning in 2021 and resigned in March 2024 to run for Fulton County Clerk.
Waites' campaign focuses on renewable energy and goals to reduce Georgia Power's dependence on coal and natural gas.
Hubbard is well-experienced in the energy sector, working as a consultant for over a decade, specializing in electricity and gas modeling, integrated resource planning, and advising utilities and executives on energy strategies. Currently, he develops solar and energy storage projects across the country.
Hubbard's campaign centers on lowering electric bills, expanding reliable clean energy, and holding the Public Service Commission accountable to consumers rather than utility companies. He argues that the PSC has prioritized investor profits over the interests of Georgia families for too long and pledges to fight for ratepayers and more affordable, cleaner energy options.
He also has been critical of the PSC's lack of transparency, the influence of utility company campaign contributions and what he sees as the commission's reactive approach to utility proposals. Hubbard wants the PSC to be proactive, seek out better solutions for Georgia's energy future, and ensure ratepayers have a stronger voice in decisions that affect their bills and the state's energy mix, according to his website.
Hubbard previously ran for Georgia House District 90 in 2022, losing to Saira Draper, who has endorsed him in this race.
Robert Jones wanted to run for the Public Service Commission in 2022 and again in 2024 against Tricia Pridemore, but both elections were canceled due to lawsuits.
Jones has a background in utility and communication regulation, having worked as a senior regulatory analyst for electricity companies in Oakland and Seattle, and for AT&T (now Lumen Technologies). Jones, a Georgia Power customer and eight-year DeKalb County resident, says the commission has not been 'innovating or adapting to energy policies that society needs' over the last four to five years.
Jones' campaign focuses on expanding rooftop and community solar energy, addressing community impacts of datacenters, limiting price increases and reducing green house gas emissions, among other things, according to his website.
In District 2, Republican Lee Muns has filed to run against Echols.
Alicia Johnson is unopposed in the Democratic primary and will be the nominee in November.
Echols, who hasn't faced an election since 2016 — a five-year term that became nine years due to a Voting Rights Act case — will face Alicia Johnson in November if he defeats fellow Republican Lee Muns in the primary.
Muns, a project manager from Columbia County and lifelong Augusta-area resident, has a background in power plant construction and is a strong supporter of nuclear energy.
Muns said he will fight for Georgia families, protect ratepayers and push for smart, sustainable energy solutions and prioritize consumers, economic growth and job creation. Muns is committed to ensuring Georgians receive safe, reliable, and fairly priced services, according to his website.
He prioritizes accountability and transparency from the Commission. He supports moving from statewide to district-based elections to give all regions a stronger voice. Muns pledges to freeze utility rate increases until there is full transparency from utility companies and advocates for commissioners to have access to complete data on the lifespans and costs of all current and proposed power plants. He is also committed to reducing utility disconnections, investigating Plant Vogtle cost overruns, and making comprehensive data on Georgia's energy system publicly available..
Echols told McClatchy that under his leadership, Georgia is moving aggressively toward a cleaner energy grid. He said he helped create a net metering program in 2019, allowing customers with rooftop solar panels to earn credits for extra energy they produce. This solar incentive program was removed in 2022 by the PSC. Echols said his biggest concerns for the future are potential increases in electricity bills in 2025 and 2026.
Residents looking to vote on Election Day who aren't sure of where to go can find their registration information and their polling place on the secretary of state's website.

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