A hearing before the Georgia Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee in February gave hope to exasperated residents of Greene County who are fed up with Piedmont Water Company (PWC).
The hearing was the first step to engage regulation by the state’s Public Service Commission over private utilities like Piedmont Water Company. If successful, PWC would be rate-based like other private utilities in 45 fellow states.
PWC has been a sore topic for those who complain about water quality, price gouging, unaccountability, poor customer service, and spiraling water and sewage rates. It is Greene County’s primary water and sewage delivery system, serving thousands of customers in the county, including Reynolds.
House Bill 1220, put forth by State Rep. Trey Rhodes, calls for regulation over what many in the county have experienced with rising water and sewage rates that are two-and-a-half times higher than the state average. Rhodes called the bill simple for looking at private utilities, such as PWC, to provide fair and reasonable rates.
“Water is such an important necessity of life, and we all want to be sure billing is fair,” he said. “We need to be sure pricing is proportionate and get some sanity into the system.”
PWC CEO Jerry Shaifer, who was present at the hearing, stated the company remains neutral on the bill but feels legislation isn’t always the answer.
PWC asserted that the cost of providing water and wastewater management is rising nationwide.
That – coupled with urgent infrastructure improvements needed in the county – contributes to growing needs in a rapidly growing area. PWC maintains that it funds projects through private investment capital and is privately owned with the majority shareholders being family members.
A grassroots effort organized by Greene County Commissioner Ernie Filice and Michael Hartman of Reynolds, among others, garnered more than 1,000 signatures through social media, calling for regulation of the utility. Last year saw water and sewer rates jump 25 percent in one year alone.
A major sewage spill of 270,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Oconee resulted in a $5,000 fine and left many residents reeling about further repercussions from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
According to Filice, the hearing was just the first step in what amounts to a six-step process. The committee voted unanimously to approve and release the bill to the next steps with the House Rules Committee. Due to a backlog with prioritizing state bills, the bill did not go forward as quickly as expected. It now awaits a second hearing in January to get the ball rolling again.
“I like to say we have another chance at this,” Filice said. “Our first at-bat did not produce a home run, but we are on second base, waiting for our turn at the plate.”
According to Filice, the bill does not go away. He explained that a resolution was passed, HR 1498, that established an ad hoc committee to study the issue and report its findings to the legislature.
This will be a five-person committee to include Rhodes and representatives from the PSC, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, and Natural Resources Committee. A series of town hall meetings expected during late summer and early fall are planned to gain citizen input throughout the state to include the Lake Oconee area.
A spokesperson for PWC acknowledged that they are aware of the committee formed by Rhodes and will participate in upcoming meetings and provide necessary research.