Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appropriations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Service Commission seeks additional pipeline safety inspector and budget true-ups
Summary
The Georgia Public Service Commission told the appropriations subcommittee it needs one additional pipeline safety inspector (replacing an earlier two-inspector request) and asked for true-ups to cover lower-than-expected federal reimbursement and increased administrative costs.
The Georgia Public Service Commission told the House appropriations subcommittee it is requesting funding for an additional pipeline safety inspector in FY 2026 and asked for true-ups to cover lower-than-anticipated federal reimbursements and increased administrative costs.
PSC staff said the agency’s pipeline safety program is audited annually by federal authorities and that audit points — and therefore federal reimbursement percentages — can be affected by inspection frequency. The PSC requested funding to add one more inspector (the agency previously received funding for one inspector in last year’s budget and is seeking a second), which the staff said will help the agency meet federal inspection expectations and avoid loss of federal reimbursement.
The PSC also sought a true-up to cover a $24,781 shortfall that resulted when federal reimbursement rates fell closer to 40% of program cost (historically closer to 60%), increasing the state’s share of the expense. The commission raised a separate FY 2025 shortfall of $19,560 for DOAS premiums and rental costs that exceeded budget appropriations.
PSC staff warned of staffing and retention challenges, particularly for attorneys and analysts who can command higher salaries in private industry and regulated utilities, and said hiring and training pipeline inspectors takes several years to reach full effectiveness.
