Former utility commissioner Tim Echols reflects on Georgia's new power politics

Tim Echols campaigns for reelection in November's Public Service Commission race. He lost that election to Democratic challenger Alicia Johnson. (Emily Jones/WABE)

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

The Georgia Public Service Commission has entered a new era. After nearly two decades with only Republicans, this month two Democrats, Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard, took their seats on the five-member commission after defeating Republican incumbents by a wide margin in November’s election.

One of the ousted commissioners, Republican Tim Echols, sat down with WABE before leaving office to reflect on his 15 years at the PSC and how climate change fits into the commission’s work.