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Greetings!
I hope you'll mark your calendar for a couple of important events coming up in June. Next Monday, we are co-hosting an important forum on Energy Equity and why it matters to all of us. Please take time to register to attend today.
On June 18, we'll be presenting our Consumer Champion award to honor Gov. Roy Barnes for his tireless commitment to Georgia consumers. It promises to be a fun evening of celebration. We hope you'll join us!
Read below about the Healthcare 2014 initiative we launched in May and the issues we're working on for you at the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Sincerely,
Elena Parent
Executive Director
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| Let's talk Energy Equity | | |
What is Energy Equity?
Energy Equity is the fair distribution of the burdens and benefits from energy production and consumption. Communities of color and low-income communities are more likely to be exposed to air pollution from coal plants, are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and stand to benefit the most from energy efficiency and employment programs that help lower bills. Partnership for Southern Equity, Georgia Watch, the Fulton Atlanta Community Action Agency, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, GreenLaw, Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, and Center for Sustainable Communities invite you to join us for an engaging conversation about the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens from energy production and consumption in Metro Atlanta.
When:
Monday, June 10
7-9 pm
Where:
Fulton Atlanta Community Action Agency, 341 Kelly St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Keynote speaker:
Barbara Hale, Asst. General Manager of the Power Enterprise for the San Francisco Public Utility Commission
Panel:
- Dr. Marilyn Brown, Professor of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- Dr. Joyce Dorsey, President/CEO of the Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority
- Ron Shipman, VP of Environmental Affairs at Georgia Power
- Amelia Shenstone, Southeast Energy Organizer at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Register here.
The event is free and dinner will be provided.
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Georgia Watch launches Healthcare 2014
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On May 28, Georgia Watch launched a new initiative: "Healthcare 2014: What providers need to know" with a presentation to AID Atlanta's Client Services staff about the Affordable Care Act. This presentation by Health Access Program (HAP) Director Bill Rencher focused on the new Health Insurance Marketplace that will begin operating in 2014, providing new options for the uninsured and underinsured to purchase affordable health insurance.
Georgia Watch's Healthcare 2014 initiative is designed to teach healthcare providers and other intermediaries who work with the uninsured and underinsured about these new options so they can provide accurate information to their clients. According to Rencher, "With polls showing that a majority of consumers do not understand how health reform will affect them, it is important to provide accurate information to those who have the most contact with the populations most likely to benefit from the new law." Further presentations are scheduled with AID Atlanta's volunteer staff, the Women of Worth Clinic in Rome, and the Feminist Women's Health Center of Atlanta. Georgia Watch is working to schedule further presentations to providers throughout the state.
"We are excited about our Healthcare 2014 initiative. By educating providers and other community organizations about the Health Insurance Marketplace, we can maximize our efforts to empower the uninsured and underinsured to take full advantage of their new healthcare options," commented Georgia Watch Executive Director Elena Parent. To schedule a presentation, please contact HAP Director Bill Rencher at brencher@georgiawatch.org.
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Please join us to celebrate a consumer champion
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June 18, 6-8 PM
Announcing the 2 013 Georgia Watch Consumer Champion Award recipient: The Honorable Roy E. Barnes, former Governor, exceptional attorney and steadfast consumer advocate.
Gov. Barnes has devoted his career to fighting for everyday Georgians. We will honor him at a fundraiser to support Georgia Watch on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the home of Teresa Wynn Roseborough, General Counsel of The Home Depot.
Please make plans to attend this special occasion! Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $50 per person or $75 per couple. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Karla Johnson at kjohnson@georgiawatch.org or (404) 525-1085.
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Influencing Georgia Power's energy plan
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In May, Georgia Watch participated in three days of hearings on the 2013 Georgia Power Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan before the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). As an Intervener, Georgia Watch is working to ensure the interests of consumers are reflected in our state's long-range energy plan. Specifically, we are advocating that the PSC require Georgia Power to:
- Be consistent in rate treatment for the retiring coal and oil units so that ratepayers are treated fairly;
- Recover capital expenses for environmental remediation projects, such as bag house construction, over the life of the asset and not through accelerated recovery by rider;
- Increase the amount of solar and other renewable energy in the company's resource portfolio;
- Expand DSM programs that encourage energy conservation and reduce overall energy demand and increase its energy-saved target for Energy Efficiency (EE) from .3% to 1% of retail sales;
- Not collect undue profits on DSM programs by substantially reducing the excessive additional sum (64% of program expenses) they currently receive.
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