Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...

ies, telephone and telegraph companies, and gas, electric lightand power companies. The Commission is vested with theauthority to prescribe rules and regulations for the safe installation and operation of all natural gas transmission and distribution facilities within this State, and to require either by generalrules or special orders, all companies under its supervision toestablish and maintain reasonable and just public services facilties.The Commission must approve any changes in rate,charge, classification, or service; and issuance of stocks andbonds that are payable more than twelve months after theissuance date.The Public Service Commission consists of five memberswho are elected at the general election next preceding theexpiration of the terms of office of the respective incumbents.Their terms of office shall be six years each. The minimumrequirements for the position of Commissioner are that themember be at least thirty years of age, qualified to vote as anelector, and have neither direct nor indirect interest of any kindin any company or business supervised by the Commission.Vacancies on the Commission are filled by Executive appointment extending until the next general election. The five Commissioners select one of their own to serve as Chairman, aposition which is held for a two year term.Authority and responsibilities of the Public Service Commission are enumerated in OCGA 46-2. Adminstrative Rulesand Regulations of the Commission are published in the Official Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the Stale ofGeorgia beginning with Chapter 515-1-1.HISTOR Y. The Georgia Public Service Commission tracesits origins to an Act of October 14, !879(Ga. L. 1878-79,p. 125)which established the Railroad Commission. This forerunnerof the Public Service Commission, one of the oldest regulatorycommissions in the United States, preceded by eight years theInterstate Commerce Commission. Through various Acts ofthe General Assembly the railroad regulatory responsibilities ofthe Commission gradually increased. In 1907 the Commission©sjurisdiction was extended far beyond the railroads to include allclasses of public utilities and transportation. However, it wasanother fifteen years before the name was changed to theGeorgia Public Service Commission. The 1945 Constitution(Art. IV, Sec. 4, Par. Ill) made the Public Service Commissiona Constitutional Commission.Jack McWhorter Barber. Commerce. Chairman, Public ServiceCommission, Jan. 1983-date. Bornin Banks Co., Ga. Attended Ga.Tech. U. of Ga., AB. Democrat.Methodist. Kiwanian. US AirForce-WW II. Mbr., House ofRep., 1949-70. V-Chm., PublicService Comm., June 25, 1980-Jan. 1983. Mbr., ibid., Jan. 1,1973-date. Wife, former JanetAdair McGarity (deceased).James B. Hammock. Dublin. Vicechairman,Public Service Commission, Jan. 1983-date. Born Dec.I, 1933 in Houston Co., Ga. Attended Northwestern State College, La.; Mercer U. Businessman.Democrat. Methodist. US AirForce, 1952-54. Mbr., Public Service Comm., March 18, 1980-date.Wife, former Ramona Johnson; 3children.Horace F. Hartley. Executive SecretaryRobert C. Paflbrd. Lakeland. Public Service Commissioner. Jan. I,1971-date. Born June 7, 1930 inLanier Co., Ga. Attended S.Georgia College, 1949; Ga. Southern College. BS-ED, 1951. Oil distributor and farmer. Democrat.Methodist. US Army, 1951-54.Mbr.. House of Rep., 1963-70.Chmn., Public Service Comm.,Jan. 1, !979-June4, 1980.Ford B. Spinks, Tifton. PublicService Commissioner, Mar. 3,1971-date. Born April 5, 1927 inTift Co., Ga. Graduated NormanJr. College, 1949. Democrat. Baptist. Mason. US Army. 1946-47.Senator. 1963-71. res. V-Chm.,Public Service Comm., Mar.-June1980. Chmn., ibid., June 25, 1980-Jan. 1983. Wife, former Ruby LeePritchard; 3 children.William E. Lovett, Jr.. Dublin.Public Service Commissioner. Jan.1, 1979-date. Born Oct. 12. 1945 inCoffee Co.. Ga. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, AA,1965. Attended Ga. State U.;George Washington U. KappaSigma. Democrat. Methodist.Kiwanian. Wife, former SandraKay Hall; 2 children.Philip E. McMullan. Administrative Services ManagerL. Thomas Doyal. Director, Transportation Certification,Enforcement and SafetyRobert Ginn, Director, Consumer Affairs, Rail Service andTariffsB.B. Knowles, Director, Utilities DivisionJonathan Grant, Public Information Officer40