Georgia Power Wants Delay In Fuel Hike Request

Georgia Power is asking the Public Service Commission to delay its request for a fuel charge hike. Bobby Baker with the PSC says they just received a letter asking to push back the company’s hearing on the request until September:

"Right now the company hasn't provided us with any specific reason for the delay, other than the change in the economic situation here in Georgia and around the country."

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Baker says if the hearing is delayed to September, a PSC decision wouldn’t come until January. That means customers wouldn’t see a hike on the fuel charge item on their bills until early 2010.

Just last week, Georgia Power won approval from state lawmakers to begin charging customers in 2011, for a pair of nuclear reactors under-construction at Plant Vogtle.

Atlanta to also add ticket surcharge

The Atlanta City Council has approved a citation surcharge in order to combat rising fuel prices.

The proposal is similar to a surcharge approved by Holly Springs on Monday.

Motorists cited for speeding, DUI or other traffic offenses could pay an extra $10 to $15. The council hopes the surcharge will raise at least $500 million.

Holly Springs approves ticket 'fuel fee'

The city of Holly Springs in north Georgia’s Cherokee County hopes its new fee attached to speeding tickets will help offset the cost of fuel for the city’s fleet of police vehicles. The city council approved the 12-dollar fee last night. It goes into effect July 1st. The city expects the fee will bring-in an additional $29,000-$35,000 a year.

North Georgia city to consider fuel charge for tickets

A north Georgia police department may have a new way to help combat the rising cost of gas for its fleet.

The city of Holly Springs in Cherokee County might be the first in Georgia to approve a fuel charge for certain types of tickets, including speeding. The proposed 12-dollar charge would also attach to violations of city ordinances.

Public safety departments across the state--and nation--are struggling with how to pay the soaring price of fuel for their vehicles.

Holly Springs police chief Ken Ball says all departments are grasping for straws in trying to keep the same level of public service.

"This gas cost is adversely affecting public safety. Ambulance services, fire departments, police departments…I don’t know what the answer is, but this is the only good answer I saw where the user pays".

Ball says the department’s annual gas budget of around 45-thousand dollars is nearly exhausted only six months into the year.

The Holly Springs City Council will consider the 12-dollar surcharge next week.