Dive Summary:

• This year, Georgia state legislators considered a bill that would have ended Georgia Power’s monopoly on the sale of power to and from utilities.
• Just after the bill failed, Georgia Solar Utilities, a start-up solar electricity company, filed its own proposal with the Public Service Commission that aims to compete for retail customers with Georgia Power.
• Breaking Georgia Power’s monopoly requires changing the state’s law and would involve a lengthy legislative battle involving cooperatives and four dozen cities that sell electricity.

From the article:

Georgia Power’s monopoly is under attack. This year, state legislators considered a bill that would have ended that monopoly in limited situations by allowing companies to lease rooftop space for their solar panels and then sell the electricity to the property owner. Current law only allows power to be sold to utilities, and only utilities can sell to retail customers. The bill stalled, but you can look for it to be introduced again for next year’s legislative session.

After the General Assembly adjourned, a start-up solar-electricity company filed its own monopoly-busting proposal with the Public Service Commission that could have a broader impact. Its aim is to compete for retail customers with Georgia Power. ...