Atlanta, GA- Georgia Power today asked the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) for permission to increase its base rates approximately $482 million, or 6.1 percent. According to the utility, the increase is needed to recover the costs of infrastructure, such as environmental controls, transmission and distribution, generation, and smart grid technologies.

The proposed change in rates would be effective Jan. 1, 2014. If the request is approved, the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see an increase of about 6.7 percent, or $7.84.

“We’re committed to delivering value to our customers in the form of clean, safe, reliable electricity at rates below the national average, and we’re committed to being a partner that our customers can depend on day-in, day-out,” said Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “We will continue to invest what is required to deliver the world-class value our customers deserve and expect and to serve Georgia’s current and future energy needs.”