PSC dismisses Ashford Alliance complaint
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
At the recommendation of its legal staff, the Public Service Commission dismissed Ashford Alliance’s complaint June 7 on whether the regulatory agency can determine where Georgia Power locates its substations.
The vote was unanimous, 5-0.
The issue, which was before the commission for the first time, became a hot topic after members of the Ashford Alliance Community Association and West Nancy Creek Civic Association in north DeKalb chose to fight the state’s largest utility on the choice of its newest substation site – the entrance to their community.
“We [PSC commissioners] all have sympathy for homeowners facing some of these problems,” said Robert Baker, chairman of the PSC. “But in the end, we didn’t feel like we had the legal authority or the jurisdiction.”
Attorney Christopher Giovinazzo, who represents the Ashford Alliance, said he is still exploring the next step.
“Clearly we’re disappointed by the ruling,” he said. “We’re researching our options at this point.”
While it’s not clear what, if any, appeals process may be exercised, community activist Jeff Turnage indicated in an e-mail to homeowners where he stood on the matter. As the utlity company looks to build more substations, several might be built inside I-285, he said.
“In the meantime, we will continue to rally citizens throughout the Atlanta Metro area to protest this situation,” Turnage said.
Baker said the next step is out of the PSC’s hands.
“The bottom line is the legislature will have to change the law either to give us [PSC] the power to rule on these substations or it will have to make it subject to local zoning regulations.”
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