Commssion debates secret hearings

On Tuesday, Georgia's Public Service Commission will decide whether or not to restrict secret conversations between the Commission itself and the utilities it monitors.

The state's PSC is supposed to monitor utilities, such as Atlanta Gas Light Company, on behalf of consumers. In the past, if a consumer dispute arose, the Commission and the utility would hammer out a deal out of earshot of the public...in secret hearings.

At its next meeting, the Commission will vote on whether or not to continue that practice.

Twice in 2007, Commissioner Angela Elizabeth Spier proposed banning such hearings. First in February and again in May. Both proposals were tabled for further study.

Also at the May meeting, several motions were defeated that would have limited access to members of the Commission by the general public.

In a statement at the Public Service Commission website, Commissioner Spier wrote that any process which excludes the public "undermines the hearing process" and public confidence.