Georgia Senate Bill SR619

Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/24
• Refer: 2/16/24
• Report Pass: 3/7/24

Caption

Senate Public Utility Once Source Billing of Local Governments Study Committee; create

Impact

The creation of this study committee represents an important step towards potentially reforming how utilities charge local governments and school districts. By investigating the feasibility of a unified billing system, the committee may unveil significant cost savings for these entities, ultimately benefiting taxpayers. If successful, this could set a precedent for similar initiatives across other public sectors, leading to a more efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Summary

Senate Resolution 619 establishes the Senate Public Utility Once Source Billing of Local Governments Study Committee to investigate the potential benefits of consolidating utility billing for local governments and school districts. The bill recognizes that separate utility billing for each facility and building can lead to higher costs and suggests that aggregating usage may result in lower rates for water and electricity. This resolution aims to explore ways in which local entities can be billed collectively while still maintaining the functionality of separate meters to track usage efficiently.

Contention

While the bill promotes the idea of cost savings through potentially lower billing rates, it may also raise concerns regarding the complexities of implementation. Questions may arise about how aggregated usage rates will be calculated and how this will be accommodated in existing billing structures. Additionally, stakeholders will likely debate the impact of this consolidation on service delivery and transparency for individual facilities. The discussions surrounding the committee's recommendations may reflect differing viewpoints on local governance and financial management, balancing efficiency with accountability.