If you haven't heard the news (links below), you've been appointed by the Georgia Legislature to pay for the most scurrilous bail-out of them all.

The unbelievable facts are that Georgia Power rate payers will be required to pay for the investment in new nuclear plant expansions near Augusta. Your payments will start in 2011 for six or more years in advance of the the new services being on line if the legislation passed by both houses of the legislature is signed, as expected, into law by Governor Perdue.

If you've never paid for anything until you've received it, you're in for a surprise.

You can start paying six years before you get any benefits. Even then, your payments are in addition to prevailing rates you now pay, which are subject to adjustment.

Who gets the benfits of your purchase payments. Not you. The stockholders of Georgia Power get it all. You'll be lucky to get a thank you card.

In this day of corporate selfishness with no pun intended, this is the boldest power play in the whole financial corruption story taking place America today.

Bernie Madoff couldn't have executed it better (his fraud wasn't legal).

Only a majority of legislators, mostly Republican, in both houses are culprits in this sad saga of influence buying by an army of Georgia Power lobbyists with black bags filled with cash that all would like you to believe are campaign contributions. Add to that tickets to favorite events and lavish food and liquor entertainment with tabs that are inconceivable.

We've seen Georgia Power turn on their first team before and we know they're formidable. They have allies such as the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce that has in the past helped them raise huge sums and wash some of the emoluments from legal scrutiny by setting up convenient accounts or committees with nice sounding names.

It would be nice to see a total of the real money involved when you count all the hours of dozens of lobbyists utilized over what appears to be a multi-year drive to accomplish the "bail out in advance". Who will ever see an honest accounting of the gifts and cash passed out by never to be identified mysterious hands.

So that I can be absolutely transparent there are some facts you should know. First, I favor nuclear power as one of the major solutions to the energy crisis. You need to know it's not the nuclear power to which I object, it's the financing methods. Secondly, many years ago I worked as a volunteer with Georgia Power in developing community programs throughout Georgia. I became fairly close with the then CEO, Harlee Branch, whom I believe was one of Georgia's all time great civic and business leaders.

How things have changed in this era of corporate and financial greed and corruption.

You should also know that I have a little experience with major power companies having served on the Consumer Advisory Board of Virginia Power for two terms at a time when VEPCO was a major innovator in the development of nuclear power. We never asked anyone to pay for nuclear facilities development or any develoment the corporation owned, especially several years in advance. That would have been unthinkable.

The Georgia legislators that tell you their votes for this unprecedented collection of fees to pay for infrastructure you don't own, is good for you and Georgia. They'll try to convince you it is prudent financially when no one knows what the very shaky economic atmosphere will be in six years. If they're so expert look at their learned budget just two years ago that missed the mark by only Two Billion Dollars. Don't be fooled, only the stockholders of Georgia Power will be the beneficiaries of your forced donations.

As we've noted in other commentaries, income distribution is THEFT, no matter who is the recipient.

You should know some details of the rest of this act that was rushed through the legislature before the public could understand what is happening.

It exempts payments by big business and industry. The payments are to be made by small business and individual rate payers. What a great time for theft in a nation trying to avoid disastrous financial times. Currently, upwards of a quarter of the rate payers are estimated to be strained in handling current rates. They need to let their legislator who voted for this financial calamity know where their future lies.

On top of these revelations, you should know that Georgia Power has a request before the Public Service Commission for an additional rate increase. The elected members of the PSC would be happy to hear from you.

Where is it written that the customer base and small business must invest in property owned by others so the others investment is enhanced?

You should know the legislation was purposely planned to avoid your elected Public Service Commission. Ask yourself why?

The legislation allows Georgia Power to charge its customers except big business and industry, $1.6 billion in financing charges and an additional $400 million beginning in 2011, continuing until 2017. Under the advance payment assessment, it is estimated increases of $1.30 per month will begin in 2011 for the average customer. These assessments will continue increasing until they reach $9.10 increase in 2017.

This travesty placed on the citizens of Georgia is all but done. The only remaining step is Governor Perdue's signature. Regardless of what he determines to do, we should all let the governor and each of those legislators who voted for this reverse distribution of wealth how we feel. (Citizens paying for industrial infrastructure they don't own while being required to additionally pay prevailing rates for the service they receive.)

Find Your Legislator
Contact Governor Perdue
Contact Georgia PSC
Contact Georgia Power

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees and former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He volunteers as chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis and a member of SCV Camp 1404 in Gainesville and National Chairman of Public Relations and Media for SCV.