Candidate LinkedIn

University of Georgia

Russell was born and raised in Peachtree City, Georgia. Russell has a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Carolina Asheville and a law degree from the University of Georgia. He lives in Athens with his wife and son.

Russell is an attorney. He works at Russell J. Edwards, PC law firm, where he has been for 11 years. He previously worked as a Spanish teacher in the Washington, DC Public School System.

Russell Edwards is currently County Commissioner representing Athens-Clarke County. He was elected in 2018 and has served one term.

Said that the Plant Vogtle project has been mismanaged, leading to high costs and higher rates. He wants to finish the Plant Vogtle project.

- Said that the Plant Vogtle project has been mismanaged, leading to high costs and higher rates. He wants to finish the Plant Vogtle project.

Utility Costs

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Supports the development of renewable energy to reduce pollution and electricity rates.

- Supports the development of renewable energy to reduce pollution and electricity rates.

Renewable Energy

As of March 15, 2022, Russell Edwards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Infrastructure

Administration

Russell Edwards

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 is a President and Founder. She 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 Georgia’s five-member Public Service Commission, which oversees statewide utilities like electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and trucking.
- The commission was originally created in 1879 to manage the building and upkeep of railroads.
- Today, its role is to make sure Georgians have safe, dependable, and affordable utility services, including electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications.
- The commission has five members, each chosen in statewide elections to serve staggered six-year terms.