How far back Georgia utilities refund overcharges
Georgia Power adjusts past bills for a meter found more than 2% fast back to when the error began, agreed with the customer from usage and test records; mistakes in meter readings and billings are corrected when discovered. Here is the rule behind it, what starts or limits the clock, and what it means for a business with a billing error in Georgia.
Georgia at a glance
| Georgia | |
|---|---|
| Rule | Georgia Power Rules and Regulations for Electric Service, Section E.4 and E.9 (January 2023); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 515-3 (PSC general rules) and O.C.G.A. §46-4-160.2 (gas marketers) |
| How far back refunds go | Georgia Power adjusts past bills for a meter found more than 2% fast back to when the error began, agreed with the customer from usage and test records; mistakes in meter readings and billings are corrected when discovered |
| What starts or limits the clock | No look-back cap for fast meters in the tariff; slow-meter back-billing is limited to the preceding six months |
| Interest | Set in the utility tariff or by PSC order |
| Regulator | Georgia utility commission |
What it means for a refund claim in Georgia
- Georgia Power's tariff puts the choice of rate on the customer and says the company does not take responsibility for the rate selected or for the lowest annual cost if usage changes, so wrong-rate claims there rely on the customer asking.
- A customer may not change rates within twelve months unless the character of service changes substantially.
- EMCs and municipal systems serve much of Georgia and set their own rules; in the deregulated gas market, marketers must correct reported billing errors within 30 days (O.C.G.A. §46-4-160.2).
- Read the utility's tariff rules on billing and meter error too: tariffs often repeat or extend the commission rule.
- Municipal utilities and cooperatives usually set their own billing rules.
Discovery Energy reviews 36 to 48 months of history on every account and pursues the longest period each jurisdiction allows. See how overcharge recovery works, or compare Georgia with every other state.