Tim is from Clayton County, Georgia. He went to North Clayton High School. He has a Bachelor of Arts in english and Master's degree in non-profit organizations and mass communication from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife in Jefferson.

Candidate LinkedIn

Tim has been Public Service Commissioner for the past twelve years. He previously worked at the Family Resource Network, which trained young people about politics.

Tim Echols is currently Public Service Commissioner representing District 2. He was elected in 2016 and has served two terms.

Wants Georgians to change their behavior in order to save money on their power bills, such as by turning of air conditioning from 2 pm 7 pm in the summer and driving electric vehicles. He included his power bill on his website as an example of reducing power use during the summer.

Supports reprocessing nuclear waste so that energy consumers don't have to pay for nuclear waste storage.

- Wants Georgians to change their behavior in order to save money on their power bills, such as by turning of air conditioning from 2 pm - 7 pm in the summer and driving electric vehicles. He included his power bill on his website as an example of reducing power use during the summer. 
- Supports reprocessing nuclear waste so that energy consumers don't have to pay for nuclear waste storage.

Utility Costs

Supports Plant Vogtle and nuclear power in Georgia.

Wants to continue to expand solar power in Georgia without subsidies or a legislative mandate.

Supports flexfuel cars, which run on ethanol rather than gasoline.

Supports biomass, which is wood waste used for energy, that is grown in Georgia.

- Supports Plant Vogtle and nuclear power in Georgia. 
- Wants to continue to expand solar power in Georgia without subsidies or a legislative mandate. 
- Supports flexfuel cars, which run on ethanol rather than gasoline.
- Supports biomass, which is wood waste used for energy, that is grown in Georgia.

Renewable Energy

Wants to stop military bases from being closed in Georgia when they are no longer needed and wants to help bases meet their energy mandates.

- Wants to stop military bases from being closed in Georgia when they are no longer needed and wants to help bases meet their energy mandates.

Infrastructure

As of July 5, 2022, Tim Echols’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Administration

Tim Echols

Colin is originally from Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Georgia and a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He lives with his wife.

Colin is an emergency room doctor. He worked in the emergency department of the Athens Regional Medical Center. He did his residency is emergency medicine.

Colin McKinney's campaign for Public Service Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

As of October 28, 2022, Colin McKinney’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "it is our responsibility to protect our environment for both our neighbors and our descendants. However I also believe that Society works best when people are free to make choices they feel best suit themselves, their families, and their interests."

- Said, "it is our responsibility to protect our environment for both our neighbors and our descendants. However I also believe that Society works best when people are free to make choices they feel best suit themselves, their families, and their interests."

Said, "I will try my best to inspire the most free-market solutions possible."

Wants to get rid of all taxes except for sales taxes and let taxpayers choose what their tax money gets spent on.

- Said, "I will try my best to inspire the most free-market solutions possible." 
- Wants to get rid of all taxes except for sales taxes and let taxpayers choose what their tax money gets spent on.

Wants to "allow[] taxpayers to vote with their tax dollars, in addition to at the ballot box."

- Wants to "allow[] taxpayers to vote with their tax dollars, in addition to at the ballot box."

Colin McKinney

Patty has a Master's of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Patty works at Cool Planet Solutions, where she has been for one year. She previously worked at the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

Patty Durand’s campaign for Public Service Commissioner is her first entry into politics.

Wants to reduce rates without building new power plants. As an alternative, she wants to use demand response, peak energy rebates, and energy efficiency programs.

Supports preventing Georgia Power from overcharging.

Opposes the rate increases and monetary waste caused by the construction of Plant Vogtle. She said, "Vogtle-caused rate increases are expected to begin in 2022 and are likely to put Georgia Power customers #1 in the nation for highest power bills."

- Wants to reduce rates without building new power plants. As an alternative, she wants to use demand response, peak energy rebates, and energy efficiency programs.
- Supports preventing Georgia Power from overcharging.
- Opposes the rate increases and monetary waste caused by the construction of Plant Vogtle. She said, "Vogtle-caused rate increases are expected to begin in 2022 and are likely to put Georgia Power customers #1 in the nation for highest power bills."

Said, "\[I will] ensure that new job generating clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and battery storage are the first choice for Georgia’s energy growth."

Wants Georgia to become carbon neutral by 2035. She supports adopting a carbon pollution measuring system so that Georgians can monitor their environmental impact.

Wants to improve adoption of solar energy by removing caps on the number of solar panels. She also wants to encourage programs like community solar and rooftop solar.

Wants to require utility companies to consider pollution and damage to the climate when considering the cost of their energy production.

- Said, "\[I will] ensure that new job generating clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and battery storage are the first choice for Georgia’s energy growth."
- Wants Georgia to become carbon neutral by 2035. She supports adopting a carbon pollution measuring system so that Georgians can monitor their environmental impact.
- Wants to improve adoption of solar energy by removing caps on the number of solar panels. She also wants to encourage programs like community solar and rooftop solar.
- Wants to require utility companies to consider pollution and damage to the climate when considering the cost of their energy production.

Wants to adopt programs that ensure equal access to clean air water, and energy for lower-income communities and for communities of color.

Said, "\[I will] upgrade and fortify our power lines and other energy infrastructure, we can ensure reliable power for Georgians during a crisis."

Wants to improve internet access by establishing reasonable rates for internet pole attachment fees. She also wants to establish new partnerships to expand internet access into rural communities.

- Wants to adopt programs that ensure equal access to clean air water, and energy for lower-income communities and for communities of color.
- Said, "\[I will] upgrade and fortify our power lines and other energy infrastructure, we can ensure reliable power for Georgians during a crisis." 
- Wants to improve internet access by establishing reasonable rates for internet pole attachment fees. She also wants to establish new partnerships to expand internet access into rural communities.

Said, "\[I will] end secret commissioner meetings with lobbyists once hearings on rate increases begin at the commission. This is illegal in forty-nine other states."

Wants to make utility reports publicly available. These reports are currently not available to the public.

Wants to provide free transcripts for public hearings. These transcripts currently cost 40 cents per page.

- Said, "\[I will] end secret commissioner meetings with lobbyists once hearings on rate increases begin at the commission. This is illegal in forty-nine other states."
- Wants to make utility reports publicly available. These reports are currently not available to the public.
- Wants to provide free transcripts for public hearings. These transcripts currently cost 40 cents per page.

Patty Durand

- A Public Service Commissioner is an elected official who serves on the Public Service Commission. This statewide, five-person board acts as the chief regulators for public utilities in Georgia. This includes power, natural gas, telecommunications, and trucking in Georgia.
- In 1879, the Public Service Commission was formed to oversee the construction and maintenance of railroads. Today, the Georgia Public Service Commission ensures that consumers receive safe and reliable telecommunications, electricity, and natural gas. 
- Public Service Commissioners heavily influence how much you pay in utilities by regulating the rates charged by most intrastate, investor-owned telecommunications, gas, and electric utilities operating in Georgia (companies such as Georgia Power and Atlanta Natural Gas and Light).
- The commission is made up of five elected members who serve staggered, six-year terms. Each commissioner is elected by a statewide election.