Where the Candidates Stand: Fitz Johnson on Climate & Energy

Fitz Johnson, a Republican, is running for the District 3 seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which sets Georgia Power's rates and policies. He held the seat from 2021 to 2025 and is now seeking to return. Georgia voters statewide can vote in this race, since the seat covers the whole state despite the district number. Election Day is November 3, with voter registration due October 5 and early voting running October 13 to October 30.

Johnson's record matters to homeowners because the commission decides what shows up on your Georgia Power bill. He voted for all six recent Georgia Power rate increases and for shifting $7.6 billion in cost overruns from the Vogtle nuclear plant onto customers. He also supported extending the life of several coal plants and approved billions in new gas and other power plants, largely to serve data centers. On the efficiency and assistance side, he backed increasing funds for nonprofit programs that help low-income customers with bill assistance and home energy upgrades. He supported a $1.8 billion Georgia Power rate hike that included money for electric vehicle charging programs, pushing for a larger share of that funding than commission staff recommended.

Johnson describes his approach as "all of the above" for energy sources, including nuclear, gas, coal, and renewables, and says he opposes what he calls costly climate mandates. He also supported a 2025 rule giving the commission more oversight over Georgia Power's contracts with large electricity users like data centers.