Representative Ortez introduced HB70 to reorganize the Public Regulation Commission support agency and create a utility oversight fund to retain regulatory fees. Committee members asked for clearer language on Open Meetings Act compliance, ex parte notices and the role of hearing examiners; sponsors agreed to meet with legislators to refine the bill.

PSC staff told the subcommittee that revised load projections tied to data-center growth may require substantial infrastructure and requested funding for an engineer and financial analyst to monitor Georgia Power construction projects, totaling about $272,000.

POCO Climate Action and other speakers asked the delegation to resist diverting the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (CIF), back the Affordable Solar Act, and support grid-enhancing technologies, battery storage and targeted programs for low-income households.

The Governor said long-term road financing needs attention because construction costs have risen; he defended INDOT projects against cuts, signaled upcoming appointments to a utilities body, and characterized a board member resignation as a near-term term expiration.

A House committee gave a due pass to House Memorial 54, which asks state regulators to convene stakeholders and recommend ways to ensure reliable utility service and clearer landlord obligations in manufactured/mobile home communities after repeated outages were reported.

County officials and residents described multi-agency emergency response after a severe ice storm, noted sheltering and restoration efforts, and discussed FEMA public-assistance and individual-assistance processes; a resident urged the county to seek state oversight of the NES utility board.