Georgia Power has been given the go-ahead to increase rates for its customers.

The Georgia Public Service Commission has approved an $873 million rate hike which translates to an increase of $2.19 a month for residential customers in 2014 / another jump of $3.61 in 2015 / and another increase of $2.96 per month in 2016. Georgia Power had originally requested a rate hike of $1.46 billion – but reduced that amount after reaching agreements with the Public Service Commission.

About half of that increase will go toward paying for pollution controls at Georgia Power’s coal-burning power plants in order to help the utility comply with ever-tightening federal air emission requirements.

The utility also dropped a plan to start charging a fee, to customers who install solar panels either at their homes or businesses – following an outcry from the solar industry, and renewable energy advocates.

(Coosa Valley News)