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55 MARIETTA ST SUITE 903 ATLANTA, GA 30303 of any amount to Georgia Watch today is money well spent. well money is today Watch Georgia to amount any of We’re excited about what we’ve accomplished and what lies ahead – but we can’t do it alone. A tax-deductible contribution contribution tax-deductible A alone. it do can’t we but – ahead lies what and accomplished we’ve what about excited We’re Georgia consumers. Georgia Through generous tax-deductible contributions from our members, we are able to grow, and so does our ability to help help to ability our does so and grow, to able are we members, our from contributions tax-deductible generous Through by powerful interest groups at the State Capitol. Capitol. State the at groups interest powerful by We work to raise these same issues with the media and state offi state and media the with issues same these raise to work We cials every day, and guard against attacks on your rights rights your on attacks against guard and day, every cials ordable health care and other threats to our families and our way of life. life. of way our and families our to threats other and care health ordable aff to access rates, infection hospital today. Georgia Watch is doing more than ever to help you learn about and avoid insurance scams, predatory lenders, lenders, predatory scams, insurance avoid and about learn you help to ever than more doing is Watch Georgia today. Help us celebrate us Help fth year as the state’s leading consumer watchdog by contributing to Georgia Watch Watch Georgia to contributing by watchdog consumer leading state’s the as year fth fi our Help us celebrate our seventh year as the state’s leading consumer watchdog by contributing to Georgia Watch today. Georgia Watch is doing more than ever to help you access aff ordable health care and insurance and avoid scams, predatory lenders, hospital infections, identity theft and other threats to our families and our way of life. We work to raise these same issues with the media and state offi cials every day, and guard against attacks on your rights by powerful interest groups at the State Capitol. Through generous tax-deductible contributions from our members, we are able to grow, as does our ability to help Georgia consumers. We’re excited about what we’ve accomplished and what lies ahead – but we can’t do it alone. A tax-deductible contribution of any amount to Georgia Watch today is money well spent. FOR QUESTIONS is OUTSPOKEN REGARDING ALLISON WALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Already in 2009, Georgia Watch employees ANGELA SPEIR DEPUTY DIRECTOR have made consumer presentations to: DANNY ORROCK POLICY MANAGER • Rotary Clubs of Coweta, Fayette, Meriwether, Dekalb and Polk Counties , East Roswell and Peachtree City . HOLLY LANG HOSPITAL ACCOUNTABILITY CONTACT US BY •Savannah Lions Club PROJECT MANAGER PHONE AT • Various NPUs-D, F, G, H, K, J, P JEANNINE MALONE GRASSROOTS COORDINATOR (866) 33-WATCH • Druid Hills Kawanis Club BETH MALONE COMMUNICATIONS OR BY EMAIL AT • American Legion #911 COORDINATOR GEORGIAWATCH@ You too can book Georgia Watch MIKE RODGERS COURT WATCH FELLOW GEORGIAWATCH.ORG for a speaking engagement by calling (866) 33-WATCH! theWATCHER www.georgiawatch.org THE NEWSLETTER OF THE STATE’S LEADING CONSUMER WATCHDOG VOL. IX, SUMMER 2009 MORE GOOD NEWS... UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED IN METRO ATL? GEORGIA WATCH’S HAP CAN HELP! THE CONSUMER ENERGY By Holly Lang of consumers who are uninsured PROGRAM Georgia Watch launched a new or who have insurance with high By Beth Malone and project this year to help expand deductibles or poor coverage. Angela Speir Phelps access to affordable health care Anonymous responses to the I for uninsured and underinsured surveys will be published in a report consumers in the Atlanta area. next January. The Metropolitan Atlanta Hospital In the coming months, HAP staff Accountability Project – or HAP and volunteers will visit Atlanta’s – examines challenges that low- hospitals, checking that financial income, uninsured and underinsured policies are clear and provided in patients face by talking to consumers languages that are appropriate for In January, former Public Service throughout the metro area, and by their patients, such as Spanish and Commissioner Angela Speir joined analyzing the financial aid policies Vietnamese. We’ll determine how Georgia Watch as deputy director and at for-profit and nonprofit hospitals. much free or low-cost care each senior director of the organization’s HAP also looks at state laws that hospital provides and the process new Consumer Energy Program. require hospitals to give free or low- for accessing it. With Speir at the reins, the new cost care to the state’s uninsured We’ll educate Georgians on how program researches and develops and underinsured consumers, hospitals and consumers use the positions on legislative and suggesting policy improvements. Indigent Care Trust Fund (ICTF), a regulatory proposals that affect state-sponsored program that pays the cost of energy, including the hospitals to offer health care to low- financing of new power plants, Over 1.5 million income people. Most hospitals, both energy efficiency and renewable Georgians, or 18 for-profit and nonprofit participate, energy technology. percent of the to some degree, in ICTF. During the 2009 General Assembly, state’s residents, HAP and its partners will use all this the program helped develop Georgia have no health Watch’s consumer arguments insurance. information, gathered from patients and hospitals, to develop a list of against Senate Bill 31, Georgia And countless Power’s pre-payment scheme for others remain best practices and make public policy recommendations. financing two new nuclear reactors underisnured. at Plant Vogtle, near Augusta. This new project of Georgia Watch is funded by a two-year grant and Called Construction Work in Progress In February 2009, the state includes partnerships with the (CWIP), SB 31 will eventually Department of Labor announced Concerned Black Clergy, Atlanta cost consumers $2 billion, with 75 that 120,139 laid-off workers filed Legal Aid, Georgia Budget and Policy percent of that going straight to first-time claims for unemployment Institute, WonderRoot and Georgia Georgia Power as early profit and insurance benefits – an 81 percent Legal Services program.There are new taxes. increase over January 2008. many volunteer opportunities with In a guest column for the Atlanta This means that even more of HAP, including consumer surveying. Journal-Constitution, Speir the state’s consumers will face expressed her disappointment in mounting health care costs as they the Public Service Commission’s too become uninsured. For more information, please (PSC) vote to give Georgia Power contact Hospital Accountability Through HAP, Georgia Watch and the green light for the financing Project Manager Holly Lang at its partners are conducting surveys scheme. [email protected]. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 1 funding cuts. As a result, residential “Georgia Power, in sworn customers and small businesses testimony, stated that CWIP have no representation in the billion FACT BOX: does not save ratepayers dollar cases coming before the PSC. money,” Speir wrote in the Large corporations and utilities D.I.Y. HOME ENERGY March 29th article. remain protected but, without the CUC, the average person no longer MONEY-SAVERS “The [PSC’s own staff] has a voice at the commission. advised that the [PSC] LOCATE AIR LEAKS could implement a less “I truly hope Georgia Watch’s oppressive form of CWIP energy program will fill the void that later, which would have the elimination of the CUC left,” Fixing a drafty home can save 5 to 30 been a better alternative Speir said. “We’ll work to protect percent on electric bills every year! Georgians by ensuring fairness, for ratepayers. But four [of To find leaks, close all windows and doors, transparency and accountability. the five]“Georgia commissioners Power, in sworn turn on exhaust fans in bathrooms and the We’ll also ensure that stimulus decided testimony,to go against stated the that CWIP kitchen. Walk through your house being money coming to Georgia for energy advice.” does not save ratepayers mindful to listen for and feel out breezes. programs and weatherization is money on a net present value Seal any gaps with an expanding foam being spent prudently.” The PSC certifiedbasis,” the Speir cost wroteof the in the caulk or other permanent sealant. nuclear expansionMarch and passed 29th CWIP article. The federal stimulus package will Likely leaky culprits: in March, without“The implementing[PSC’s own the publicprovide $130 million to Georgia • Electrical outlets (2%) consumer safeguardsinterest recomendedadvocacy staff]for weatherization assistance by their own staff.advised that the [PSC]programs, including attic and • Vents (4%) Much like couldthe Georgiaimplement Power a basementless insulation, reduction of air • Window frames (10%) financing scheme,oppressive other upcomingform of CWIPleakage and heating system repairs • Doors (11%) or replacement. PSC cases maylater, have whicha huge impactwould have • Plumbing (13%) on our families, businesses and the The Consumer Energy Program will • Fireplace (14%) state’s economy. Speir is working provide one-on-one instruction on • Ducts (15%) to raise awareness across the state easy ways to lower utility bills and to encourage consumers to fight for save energy on a daily basis. • Floors, ceilings, walls (31%) fair rates and efficiency. “Turn off the computer or TV when “A major point of the Consumer you’re not using it, set your thermostat INSULATION Energy Program is a ground-level a few degrees higher in the summer Homes built before 1980 may have campaign to emphasize cases that or purchase a programmable one, inadequate insulation. will come before the commission use compact fluorescent lights Aside from walls, floors and foundation, that will impact all of us,” Speir said.

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