How Google’s Columbia County Data Center Could Affect Your Georgia Power or Jefferson EMC Bill

By Tim McGann of Pristine Panels · Published: October 23, 2026

What’s Being Built in Columbia County

Google announced plans in 2026 to build a new data center in Columbia County. According to WRDW, the campus covers 3,358 acres near the Interstate 20 exit in Appling, construction is underway, and full completion is still years away. Construction Review Online reports the project is valued at $17 billion, could include up to 33 buildings at two sites near the White Oak and Pumpkin Center areas, and that Google is working directly with Georgia Power on its electricity.

The project also comes with local benefits. Google signed a $280 million agreement with Columbia County, paid over seven years, to fund homestead property tax relief.

Why Data Centers Matter for Georgia’s Power Grid

Data centers use enormous amounts of electricity, and they are the main reason Georgia’s power demand forecasts have exploded. According to the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power expected in 2022 to need only 400 megawatts of new generation over seven years. By 2023 that estimate had grown to 6,600 megawatts, and by 2025 it reached 8,500 megawatts. For perspective, Georgia Power deploys about 22,000 megawatts statewide today.

Meeting that demand takes new power plants. Regulators approved roughly 10 gigawatts of new capacity for Georgia Power in late 2025, mostly natural gas, according to Inside Climate News. We covered the bigger picture in our earlier post, AI Data Centers and Your Georgia Power Bill.

What It Means for Georgia Power Customers

The protections in place. In January 2025, the Georgia PSC approved a rule for customers that use more than 100 megawatts, which covers large data centers. Those customers must pay for the generation, transmission and distribution costs built to serve them, can be held to contracts of up to 15 years with minimum bills, and every new contract has to be reviewed by the PSC. Commissioners said the goal was to protect residential and small business customers.

In July 2025, the PSC also froze Georgia Power’s base rates through at least 2028. And in May 2026, regulators approved a fuel and storm cost settlement that lowered the average homeowner’s bill by $4.03 per month.

Google is also helping pay for new power. In September 2026, Google and Georgia Power announced a deal for Google to pay a premium for about 96 megawatts of added output from upgrades at Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch. Georgia Power projects about $900 million in benefits for customers over the life of the units. The deal still needs PSC approval.

The risks that remain. The base rate freeze doesn’t cover fuel or storm costs, which are handled separately and can change your bill. Part of this year’s storm cost credit comes from federal nuclear tax credits that are expected to last only about two years, according to Inside Climate News. Consumer advocates also warn that some costs of serving data centers could still shift to other customers, while Georgia Power says large users are paying their fair share. And after 2028, the cost of all that new generation will be part of the next rate case.

What It Means for Jefferson EMC Customers

Jefferson Energy Cooperative serves about 30,000 members across 11 counties, including Columbia, Richmond, McDuffie and Burke. The Google project is working with Georgia Power, not Jefferson Energy, so it isn’t expected to add load to the cooperative directly.

But EMC members aren’t fully insulated from statewide growth. Jefferson Energy is one of 38 member cooperatives of Oglethorpe Power, which generates a significant share of the electricity those cooperatives distribute. To meet rising demand, Oglethorpe broke ground in May 2026 on the Smarr Combined Cycle plant in Monroe County, a $3.3 billion, 1,425 megawatt natural gas plant expected online in 2029, and 29 of its 38 member cooperatives have subscribed to its power. Oglethorpe received a record $3.3 billion federal loan for the plant in October 2026, and its CEO said the cost of that loan will be passed through to consumers. Oglethorpe says the plant is not dedicated to serving a data center.

How Solar and Storage Help You Stay Ahead of Rising Costs

You can’t control what it costs your utility to build new power plants. But you can control how much power you buy from them.

Make your own power. Every kilowatt hour your solar panels produce and your home uses is one you don’t buy from Georgia Power or your EMC. If future rates rise, the power you make yourself becomes even more valuable. Georgia Power also credits excess solar power you send back to the grid, at 7.22 cents per kWh in 2026.

Store it for when you need it. A battery like the Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh) or Franklin aPower 2 (15 kWh) stores your daytime solar so you can use it in the evening instead of buying it from the grid.

Keep the lights on. A battery also keeps your home running during outages, which matters more as demand on the grid grows. Read more in our post, Is Your Home Ready for Winter Power Outages?

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Google data center in Columbia County raise my Georgia Power bill?

Not directly in the near term. Georgia Power’s base rates are frozen through at least 2028, and a 2025 PSC rule requires data centers that use more than 100 megawatts to pay for the infrastructure built to serve them. Fuel, storm and new generation costs can still change bills over time.

Will the data center affect Jefferson EMC customers?

The Google project is working with Georgia Power, not Jefferson Energy Cooperative. EMC members can still feel statewide demand growth through wholesale power costs, since Jefferson Energy is a member of Oglethorpe Power, which is building a new $3.3 billion gas plant to meet rising demand.

Where is the Google data center in Columbia County?

According to WRDW, the campus covers 3,358 acres near the Interstate 20 exit in Appling. Construction Review Online reports two sites near the White Oak and Pumpkin Center areas.

How can I protect myself from rising electricity costs?

Solar panels let you make some of your own power, so you buy less from the utility. Adding a battery stores that power for evenings and outages. A free consultation with Pristine Panels shows what solar and storage could offset for your home.

Take Control of Your Energy Costs

Big changes are coming to Georgia’s power grid. You don’t have to wait and see what they mean for your bill. Call Tim at (762) 320 9290 or request your free solar and battery consultation online.