The GA Files · 2026 Candidates

Public Service Commission — District 3

Peter Hubbard (D) vs. Fitz Johnson (R)

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D

Peter Hubbard

Democratic incumbent

A clean-energy expert who founded the nonprofit Georgia Center for Energy Solutions and earlier developed solar and other renewable projects. In 2025 he won a special election for the District 3 (Clayton/DeKalb/Fulton) PSC seat, ousting Republican Fitz Johnson — whom he now faces again.

Previously held

  • Public Service Commissioner, District 3 (2025–present)
  • Founder, Georgia Center for Energy Solutions
  • Solar & renewable-energy developer

Top contributors

Funded by clean-energy and labor donors — including the Jane Fonda Climate PAC and a Laborers union local — rather than the utilities he regulates; itemized donors are filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

  • $12,600.00Smith, Stephen A (Knoxville, TN)
  • $11,400.00McGowan, Michael (Peachtree City, GA)
  • $8,400.00GCVictory Fund Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
  • $8,400.00Climate Cabinet Action (San Francisco, CA)
  • $8,400.00The Barnes Law Group LLC (Marietta, GA)
  • $5,000.00Erzinger, Eric (Decatur, GA)
  • $5,000.00Iyer, Laura (Athens, GA)

$183,531 raised · $82,191 cash on hand — as of Aug 7, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Ballotpedia · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Data centers

Says data centers should pay their “fair share” and pay upfront for the grid they need — he published an analysis estimating their discounts shift more than $1 billion in infrastructure costs onto residential customers.

Source: The Current — Hubbard energy expertise · AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Georgia Power rates & bills

Argues the PSC can lower bills instead of repeatedly raising them — by leaning on cheaper clean energy rather than approving Georgia Power's rate increases.

Source: AJC — your Georgia Power bill
Solar & renewables

A former solar developer who wants far more solar and battery storage — “two of the lowest-cost resources in our Swiss Army knife” — noting Georgia gets only about 7% of its power from solar.

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Energy mix (coal, gas, nuclear)

Favors shifting toward clean energy and away from costly new fossil and nuclear build-outs.

Source: The Current — Hubbard energy expertise
Plant Vogtle & cost overruns

Critical of saddling ratepayers with Plant Vogtle's multibillion-dollar overruns; he founded a nonprofit precisely to push lower bills and cleaner power.

Source: The Current — Hubbard energy expertise
Utility profits & accountability

Founded the Georgia Center for Energy Solutions to advocate for ratepayers and argues the PSC should look out for Georgia citizens, not Georgia Power.

Source: AJC — PSC should look out for citizens
Energy affordability & low-income

Centers his campaign on lowering household power bills through cheaper clean energy.

Source: Re-Elect Peter Hubbard
Climate & environment

Backs a faster clean-energy transition; as part of the PSC minority he has pushed (so far unsuccessfully) pro-environmental motions.

Source: Georgia Recorder — ten candidates, two seats

Accountability File

None documented.

Campaign site · PSC — Commissioner bio · Ballotpedia

R

Fitz Johnson

Republican nominee

An Army veteran and entrepreneur appointed to the PSC by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021, who held the District 3 seat through 2025 before losing it to Hubbard. He won the 2026 Republican primary to seek a rematch.

Previously held

  • Public Service Commissioner, District 3 (2021–2025, appointed)
  • U.S. Army veteran
  • Entrepreneur / businessman

Top contributors

Drew the bulk of his money from the utility-regulated interests the PSC oversees — the Georgia Utility Contractors PAC (GUCA), industrial power users like Rayonier, and the Tarbutton railroad family — per watchdog analyses; itemized donors are filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

  • $10,900.00GUCA Policital Action Committee (Forest Park, GA)
  • $8,400.00Southern Renewable Energy Association (Little Rock, AR)
  • $8,400.00Marzo, Brandon (Smyrna, GA)
  • $8,400.00Hewitson, Steven (Atlanta, GA)
  • $8,400.00Beasley, Darrell (Hazelhurst, GA)
  • $8,400.00Ormsby, Kyle (Conyers, GA)
  • $8,400.00Day, Todd (Monroe, GA)

$886,629 raised · $86,163 cash on hand — as of Aug 1, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Energy and Policy Institute · GPB — energy workers donate to GOP regulators · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Data centers

Points to new PSC rules — adopted while he served — requiring large users (100-plus megawatts) to pay upfront for their infrastructure and a minimum bill, which he says protects ratepayers.

Source: Times-Herald — data centers must pay their share · AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Georgia Power rates & bills

Voted for many of the Georgia Power rate increases that have pushed residential bills up since 2023.

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Solar & renewables

Supports renewables only as “part of the mix,” not as the centerpiece of the state's power supply.

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Energy mix (coal, gas, nuclear)

An “all-of-the-above” advocate — “you have to have baseload power, natural gas, coal and nuclear, with renewables as part of the mix.”

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Plant Vogtle & cost overruns

Backs the nuclear-heavy approach that included Plant Vogtle, framing it as necessary baseload power.

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues
Utility profits & accountability

Took the bulk of his campaign money from the utility-regulated interests the PSC oversees, per watchdog analyses.

Source: Energy and Policy Institute
Energy affordability & low-income

Frames affordability through reliable baseload supply; he backed the rate hikes critics blame for higher bills.

Source: AJC — your Georgia Power bill
Climate & environment

Has not prioritized climate; favors keeping fossil generation (coal and gas) in the mix.

Source: AJC — PSC candidates on the issues

Accountability File

None documented.

Campaign site · Ballotpedia

Every entry is drawn from published reporting, official records, or the candidate's own statements, with sources on each item. Policy summaries are condensed and reflect stated positions; allegations or unresolved matters are labeled as such, and inclusion is not a finding of guilt. Last updated 2026-06-17.