Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5A
Georgia Power agrees to
limit cost recovery for
Plant Vogtle reactors
By Dave Williams
Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia Power has agreed to spare the utility’s custom
ers $2.6 billion of the $10.2 billion it’s costing the compa
ny to build two additional nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle.
Under an agreement between Georgia Power and the
state Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Public Inter
est Advocacy Staff announced Wednesday, the company
would pass on nearly $7.6 billion of the project’s cost to
customers, with shareholders picking up the rest.
If the PSC approves the agreement, the average residen
tial customer’s monthly bill would increase by $8.95.
The first of the new reactors at the plant south of Augus
ta, Unit 3, went into commercial operation late last month
after years of delays and billions of dollars in cost over
runs. Fuel loading has begun at Unit 4, which is expected
to go into service late this year or early next year.
Several environmental advocacy groups that have op
posed the project worked with Georgia Power and the PSC
staff on the proposed agreement. As part of the deal, the
utility has agreed to expand its energy efficiency and senior
discount programs.
“We reached key settlement terms to mitigate bill hikes
for Georgians with limited incomes and expand efficien
cy programs to help reduce energy usage and lower bills,”
said Bob Sherrier, a staff attorney with the Southern Envi
ronmental Law Center.
“While project delays and overruns do mean Georgians
will be paying for this project for decades, Georgia Pow
er agreed to significantly lower the construction costs they
were expected to pass on to customers.”
PSC Chairman Jason Shaw said the agreement is the
products of “countless hours of analysis,” probably with
more evidence presented than for any other project in the
commission’s history.
“The culmination of construction on this historic project
marks the expansion of clean energy production for anoth
er 60 to 80 years here in Georgia,” Shaw said.
Under an agreement the PSC and Georgia Power reached
in 2018, any Vogtle-related rate increase the commission
approves would not take effect until a month after Unit 4
goes into commercial operation.
Piedmont earns ‘A’s for
social responsibility
Piedmont Athens Re
gional Medical Center has
received an “A” grade on
the 2023-24 Lown Institute
Hospitals Index.
Piedmont achieved this
honor through performance
across metrics of health eq
uity, patient outcomes, qual
ity and safety, and value of
care, out of more than 3,600
hospitals nationwide.
Piedmont Athens ranked
first out of 99 hospitals in
Georgia and 131 nationally
on the Social Responsibili
ty metric. According to the
Index, the hospital also re
ceived “A” grades in value
of care, cost efficiency and
was named a Top Hospi
tal for Fair Share Spend
ing. Piedmont Athens also
ranked a top 5 in Georgia
for Clinical Outcomes, in
cluding quality and safety
and received “A” grades for
patient outcomes and clini
cal outcomes.
“We are honored to be
recognized as Georgia’s No.
1 hospital for social respon
sibility,” said Piedmont Ath
ens Regional CEO Michael
Burnett. “Piedmont Athens
is committed to improv
ing the health of our entire
community and investing in
programs and services that
reach all patients in our ser
vice areas.”
Piedmont Athens received
the following rankings:
•#1 in Georgia for Social
Responsibility
• Value of Care Grade: A
• Patient Outcomes Grade:
A
• Clinical Outcomes
Grade: A
• Cost Efficiency Grade: A
•Top Hospital for Fair
Share Spending
•Top 5 in Georgia for
Clinical Outcomes
These are independent
rankings and hospitals do
not apply or pay to be listed.
Nutrient management
for poultry
producers workshop
planned in Jefferson
The Georgia Association
of Conservation Districts
(GACD) and the Oconee
River Soil and Water Con
servation District are part
nering to present a free in
formational workshop for
local poultry producers and
anyone who wants to learn
more about managing poul
try by-product and usage
along with government pro
grams you can utilize.
Attendees will learn more
about nutrient management
plans, mortality dispos
al, phosphorus application
and sample management.
In addition, information on
federal programs and state
programs will be present
ed. Partnering agencies for
this event include Melony’s
Manure Management, UGA
Extension, UGA — College
of Agricultural and Envi
ronmental Sciences, USDA
— Natural Resources Con
servation Service (NRCS)
and the Georgia Georgia
Department of Agriculture
(GDA).
The event will be held on
September 13, from 5:30-
8:30 p.m. at the Jackson
County Agricultural Facil
ity located at 1869 County
Farm Road, Jefferson. Din
ner will be served. This is a
free event, but registration
is required online at www.
gacd.us/events.
PLEASE READ,
THEN RECYCLE THIS
NEWSPAPER.
The Jefferson High School marching band entertained the crowd at half-time during the football game
in 2003. Pictured are: Andrew Stephens, Clay Skinner and Dane Richards.
Looking Back: Week of Sept. 6
Take a look back at the headlines from this week over
the past 50 years:
50 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 5,1973
It was apparently a slow news week on September 5,
1973, likely due to the Labor Day holiday.
Two stories on the front page detailed the Commerce
Tiger and Jefferson Dragon football wins.
Four stories outlined upcoming court details and jurors.
It was announced that “Twas the Night Before Christ
mas” was set to be the theme of the 1973 Commerce
Christmas parade.
And Judger James Horace Wood of the State Court of
Jackson County issued an order naming four special crim
inal bailiffs.
40 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 7,1983
•Nicholson may get branch bank in town — It was
brought to the Nicholson City Council’s attention in
September 1983 that a bank was interested in locating a
full-service in Nicholson.
•Hoschton ups policeman’s pay, keeps its own down —
Hoschton Mayor Billy Holder and the council agreed in
1983 to raise Police Chief Rick Murphy’s pay from $4 to
$5 an hour. But they declined to increase their own pay
from $1 a year to $25 a month.
30 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 8,1993
•Chamber, IDA hire executive director — After months
of wrangling and political infighting, a new executive di
rector was hired by the Jackson County Area Chamber
of Commerce and Industrial Development Authority in
1993. Bob Ringo of Atlanta was named by the Chamber
and IDA to lead the county’s economic development ef
forts.
•Restraining order handed down on merger vote by
McWhorter — Superior Court Judge T. Penn McWhorter
issued a temporary restraining order directing the City of
Commerce to cease work on the Sept. 21 school merger
referendum until a hearing to rule on a petition challeng
ing the referendum.
20 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 10,2003
•No decision yet in BOC lawsuit - It could be several
weeks before a visiting Superior Court judge hands down
a decision in the high profile lawsuit against the Jackson
Contractors for the Jackson Water and Sewerage
Authority are shown putting piping on Galilee
Church Road in 1993.
County Board of Commissioners over the financing of a
new courthouse, it was announced in 2003.
•Proposed Jefferson PUD facing Monday vote — The
Jefferson City Council was set to vote on a 555-acre
Planned Unit Development that could bring as many as
438 homes, an apartment complex and commercial tracts
to Old Swimming Pool Road, the bypass and Hwy. 11, it
was announced in 2003.
10 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
•Farm Bureau introduces legislators to area agriculture
— The Jackson County Farm Bureau sponsored a Leg
islators Farm Tom spanning more than 35 miles within
Jackson County to acquaint lawmakers outside the district
with agriculture in Jackson County in 2013.
•Maysville plans open house for newly-remodeled city
hall — The Maysville City Council announced plans to
host an open house for its newly-remodeled city hall in
2013.
5 YEARSAGO
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
•Ag facility plans to move forward — Boosters of a
47,500 sq. ft. multi-use agricultural facility had raised
more than $450,000 in private and state funds to help pay
for the $4 million project in 2018.
•Jefferson looks to pave portion of Old Swimming Pool
Road — Jefferson city leaders hashed out a plan to sur
face an unpaved portion of Old Swimming Pool Road and
was set to likely make a decision on the project at its Sept.
10, 2018, meeting.
1 YEAR AGO
SEPTEMBER 7, 2022
•Major traffic changes planned for Banks Crossing — It
was announced in 2022 that some major traffic changes
would be coming to Banks Crossing, including upgrading
and realigning Hwy. 441 from its intersection with 1-85
north to Faulkner Rd. The project will include pedestrian
upgrades and some realignment in the area. Perhaps even
larger, the project will include the construction of a medi
an along Hwy. 441 running south from 1-85 to the Jackson
County line.
•Kidd-Harrison appointed as Hoschton’s interim city
manager — Longtime Hoschton employee and current
city clerk Jennifer Harrison-Kidd was appointed in 2022
as the city’s new interim city manager, taking over for
Shannon Sell who’d served in that position since early
April.
Tracy Perry and Bud Vkluj, young Tiger fans, ap
peared to really be enjoying themselves during
the 1973 Commerce-Banks County football game.
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The Jackson County Board of Education has tentatively adopted a
2023 millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by
16.50 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hear
ing on this tax increase to be held at the Empower College & Career
Center (Media Center/Board Room) located at 1952 Winder High
way, Jefferson, Georgia on Friday September 15, 2023 at 7:30 AM.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 15.495 mills, an
increase of 2.195 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the mill-
age rate will be no more than 13.30 mills. The proposed tax increase
for a home with a fair market value of $311,250.00 is approximately
$273.28 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property
with a fair market value of $311,250.00 is approximately $273.28.