Now we know who is the (Georgia) Power behind the throne

Many folks suspect that Georgia’s state government is merely a service

organization for the utility companies. Now it’s official.

Gov. Sonny Perdue (R-Disney World) has dumped his longtime chief of staff,

John Watson, who, according to a press release, “will pursue opportunities

in the private sector.” That can mean one of two things. Either Watson will

be collecting unemployment insurance or, more likely, “private sector” means some form of lobbying.

The bigger news is Watson’s replacement, Ed Holcombe, a Georgia Power honcho for 39 years, the last 19 in charge of the “state legislative affairs

department.” Interpreted, that means Holcombe gave Georgia Power’s dictates

to governors, PSC members and legislators, who happily gave the utility whatever it wanted.

But it appears Georgia Power didn’t get everything it wanted. So now

the power monopoly/faux free-enterprise giant has its man at Perdue’s ear.

Georgia Power’s customers can prepare to bend over and get a real, um,

shock.

-- John Sugg