# Public Service Commission — District 5 — Tricia Pridemore — The GA Files > Tricia Pridemore, Georgia Public Service Commission — District 5 — campaign finance (live from GA Ethics), where they stand, and any scandals. *Source: https://thegafiles.com/officeholders/psc-5.html · The GA Files (thegafiles.com)* --- [← Statewide Officeholders](https://thegafiles.com/officeholders.html) # Public Service Commission — District 5 Tricia Pridemore Republican Republican, District 5. Appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2018 and elected; former PSC chair and 2024–25 NARUC president. In February 2026 she announced she will not seek PSC re-election, eyeing the open 11th Congressional District; her term runs through December 2026. Tricia Pridemore, a former Deal and Kemp administration official, was appointed to the Public Service Commission in 2018 and elected later that year; she has served as PSC chair and as 2024–25 president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. She champions Georgia Power’s data-center-driven build-out as “energy dominance” and emphasizes reliable baseload over renewables. #### Office & background - PSC Commissioner, District 5 (2018–present); former chair - President, NARUC (2024–2025) - Deal & Kemp administration roles (workforce / economic development) #### Campaign finance — who funds them **$557,278** raised · **$11,800** cash on hand - $10,000 — Ben J Tarbutton (Sandersville, GA) - $8,400 — ShadowBox Studios LLC (Atlanta, GA) - $8,400 — LeFebvre, Dale (Douglasville, GA) - $8,400 — Ormsby, Kyle (Conyers, GA) - $8,400 — Day, Todd (Monroe, GA) - $5,000 — ConnectSouth For a Better GA PAC Inc (Atlanta, GA) Finance as of **Jun 28, 2026** — latest GA Ethics filing (2026 Apr 30 CCDR). Source: [Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission (PeachFile)](https://peachfile.ethics.ga.gov) #### Where they stand Data centers Champions Georgia Power’s data-center build-out as “energy dominance,” joining a unanimous December 2025 vote approving a ~$16 billion expansion (largely new gas). In May 2026 she was part of a 3-2 majority approving a disputed fuel deal and rejecting amendments from new Commissioner Hubbard. Source: [AJC — PSC OKs $16B data-center expansion](https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/12/georgia-power-gets-pscs-go-ahead-on-16b-data-center-power-plant-expansion/) · [GPB — PSC backs disputed fuel deal](https://www.gpb.org/news/2026/05/29/georgia-psc-backs-disputed-georgia-power-fuel-deal-amid-data-center-cost-concerns) Georgia Power rates & bills Voted with the all-Republican commission to approve the series of rate increases since 2023, and in July 2025 joined the unanimous vote to freeze base rates through at least 2028 — a freeze that does not cover fuel or Hurricane Helene storm-recovery costs. Source: [Grist — rate freeze](https://grist.org/georgia-psc/after-years-of-increases-georgia-power-rates-to-hold-steady-for-now/) Solar & renewables Voted for the 2025 IRP, which provides a process for up to 4,000 MW of utility-scale renewables, but her public framing emphasizes reliable baseload (gas and nuclear); she supports keeping solar as part of a “diversified” mix. Source: [PSC — Commissioner Pridemore](https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/tricia-pridemore/) Energy mix (coal, gas, nuclear) Favors a “diversified” mix emphasizing baseload — publicly championing natural gas, coal and nuclear — and voted to approve plans dominated by new gas while supporting extended life for coal units. Source: [AJC — PSC OKs fossil-heavy plan](https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/07/psc-oks-energy-plan-for-georgia-power-locking-in-reliance-on-fossil-fuels/) Plant Vogtle & cost overruns Part of the unanimous December 2023 vote approving recovery of ~$7.56 billion in Vogtle costs from ratepayers, adding about $14/month to residential bills once Unit 4 came online; a consistent public supporter of the nuclear expansion. Source: [AJC — Vogtle costs to customers](https://www.ajc.com/news/psc-raises-georgia-power-rates-passing-most-plant-vogtle-expansion-costs-on-to-customers/6BAIOWM7J5BVHFZ2UN27KYXENA/) Utility profits & accountability Voted for the rate plans and 2025 freeze that locked in Georgia Power’s allowed return of up to 11.9% (above the ~9.5% industry average); in the 2025 freeze it was fellow Republican McDonald, not Pridemore, who moved to lower the cap. One analysis put Georgia Power profits at ~23% of an average bill, which the company disputes. Source: [The Current — Georgia Power profit share](https://thecurrentga.org/2026/03/31/report-puts-ga-power-profits-at-23-of-bills-a-figure-the-company-disputes/) Energy affordability & low-income Has supported income-qualified and senior-citizen fuel discounts in rate proceedings, though her votes also approved the cumulative increases consumer advocates say strained low-income ratepayers. No source specifically on her disconnections stance was found. Source: [PSC — senior / income-qualified discounts](https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/consumer-corner/consumer-advisories/senior-citizens-discounts/) Climate & environment Publicly skeptical of climate-driven energy policy, emphasizing reliability and deregulation; her approved gas-dominated build-out is criticized by environmental advocates as worsening emissions, while she frames nuclear as a “carbon-free” solution. Source: [GPB — Pridemore won’t seek re-election](https://www.gpb.org/news/2026/02/19/pridemore-wont-run-again-for-psc-eyes-georgias-11th-district-seat) #### More - [Georgia Public Service Commission](https://psc.ga.gov/) [⬇ Share image](https://thegafiles.com/share/officeholders/psc-5.png) Finance figures are pulled live from the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission (PeachFile) and are current to each officeholder's most recent filed disclosure report. Policy summaries reflect stated positions and signed records, with sources; scandals are labeled by disposition. Last updated 2026-06-28.