Each state in the U.S. has a board responsible for regulating utilities, such as electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and water. Known as public utility commissions or public service commissions, these small but powerful panels make major decisions that drive the cost of electricity, the future of renewable energy, and how much fossil fuels a state burns. But many voters have no idea who the commissioners are, what they do, or how they’re selected. Georgia is one of the states where the PSC is directly elected, although elections were delayed for years in the face of a lawsuit over voting rights. (They’re finally happening this year.) Its commission is a prime example of how lesser-known elected positions can have an outsize impact on climate policies.
Throughout 2024, Grist and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station, collaborated on a major project to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission for community members in the Atlanta area, as well as in Macon and Rome. To ensure our journalism reached and involved residents who face major barriers to accessing accurate, consistent information, here’s what we did:
Of this entry, the judges found an outstanding example of community-centered journalism that brought clarity and empowerment to Georgia residents on a crucial but often overlooked issue. Grist and Atlanta’s NPR station WABE’s collaboration demystified the Georgia Public Service Commission—an elected body with enormous influence over energy costs, climate policy, and environmental justice—by meeting people where they are, from Atlanta to Macon and Rome. The team partnered with local groups to host accessible listening sessions in both Spanish and English, provided food and compensation for participants, and distributed hundreds of fact sheets and brochures to ensure vital information reached those facing the biggest barriers. Their reporting responded directly to community questions, breaking down power bills, PSC decisions, and environmental impacts, while their paid journalism fellowship gave local residents the tools to tell their own stories. The judges commend Grist and WABE for building true community engagement infrastructure and fostering long-term empowerment through sustained partnerships, creative outreach, and inclusive reporting. Congratulations!