Meet the PSC Candidate: Tim Echols
As Georgia voters prepare to elect members of the Public Service Commission, Encounter GA is committed to fostering informed and thoughtful participation in public life. Our Meet the Candidates series invites those running for office to share their perspectives on issues that matter deeply to Georgia’s Catholic community—and to all who care about environmental stewardship, justice, and the common good.
The Commission plays a vital role in shaping Georgia’s energy future by ensuring affordable and reliable service, addressing the challenges of climate change, and protecting God’s creation. To help voters engage with these responsibilities, we invited each candidate to respond to questions rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and aligned with our four core values: conservation, climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice/community impact.
We are pleased to share unedited responses below from Commissioner Tim Echols (R). Our hope is that these reflections will help Catholics as they exercise faithful citizenship in the upcoming election.
Name: Tim Echols
District: District 2 (Incumbent)
Party: Republican
Bio: Tim Echols has been a commissioner for 15 years. He and his wife Windy have seven children and have been married 42 years. He has 3 degrees from the University of Georgia.
Conservation: Catholic tradition teaches that creation is a gift, and we are called to be good stewards of natural resources. How would you approach the Public Service Commission’s responsibility to protect Georgia’s land, water, and air while ensuring reliable infrastructure and energy development?
As an evangelical, I do believe that God created the planet and has given us dominion over it. That requires stewardship. It also means God is responsible for the final disposition of this planet. I do reject the philosophy that we can alter God‘s ultimate plans for this earth. But that in no way gives us a license to be irresponsible. It’s one of the reasons that I drive an electric car and have solar on my home.
Climate Change: Pope Leo calls on all of us to confront the climate crisis with urgency and courage. What steps would you support as a Commissioner to transition Georgia toward cleaner energy sources and reduce our state’s contribution to climate change?
I have worked very hard to make Georgia a top 10 solar state. I believe that nuclear energy also can be a positive force for good with its carbon-free energy. I led the way in Georgia to make sure that we finished the only nuclear plant that was under construction in America. I very much believe in taking personal responsibility. I created a glass recycling program for high school students. I founded the EV braintrust and the Clean Energy roadshow in Georgia.
Sustainability: Many Georgia families are concerned about rising energy costs. How would you ensure that decisions made by the Commission support long-term affordability and stability for both ratepayers and utility providers?
I think the most important thing that I’ve done is to freeze the Georgia Power rates for three years until the end of 2028. I’ve worked for 15 years with the Salvation Army to bolster their low income assistance program using my political capital to increasingly add money to that fund. It has millions of dollars in it now. I’ve also voted to increase the senior discount and low income discount at the power company.
Environmental Justice / Community Impact: The Commission’s decisions can affect rural and urban communities in different ways. How would you ensure that the needs of local communities—including access, affordability, and infrastructure development—are heard and considered in Commission decisions?
We certainly have a regular public comment period at all committee meetings. But I think more importantly is the personal engagement with people. There are many low income people that call my cell phone and I’m able to intervene and assist them—sometimes paying their bill out of my own pocket. I connect them with the Salvation Army, Hopeworks, and other organizations that can provide assistance.
