Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Stan Wise announced he will not qualify in March for re-election to the seat he has held for nearly 23 years as the state’s longest continuously-serving statewide-elected Republican.

Wise was swept into office in the 1994 Republican Revolution that gave the Republican Party control of the U.S. House and Senate, a majority of state legislatures, a majority in the Georgia Congressional Delegation, and gains in five statewide offices in Georgia.   After narrowly defeating the incumbent that year by less than 1%, Wise went on to handily win three more consecutive terms in 2000, 2006, and 2012.  Wise owned and operated an insurance business in Cobb County before being elected in 1990 to his first office as a Cobb County Commissioner.

Wise had the respect of his colleagues across the country, having been elected by his peers to serve a two-year term as the President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

His tenure spanned the reformation of AT&T from several Baby Bells, the onset of local and long distance phone competition, and the dawn of the Internet age.  His service started before Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics.  A year later, under order of the PSC, Atlanta would become the first city in the nation to roll-out ten digit dialing for outgoing calls.  The retail natural gas market was deregulated during his watch.  Retail electric competition was debated but didn’t advance.  Coal and natural gas swapped places as the dominant electric generation fuel of choice.  Natural gas commodity rates reached historic highs and lows.  Billions of dollars were invested to modernize electric and natural gas energy infrastructure.  Plant emission controls have made air quality vastly better.  Georgia is now a leader in deploying renewable energy, which he supported, though he opposed subsidies and cost shifts.  An unabashed supporter of nuclear power, Wise will leave office as two additional nuclear units are under construction at Plant Vogtle.

Throughout his service Wise was an advocate for competitive markets with level playing fields.  He embraced the important role the Commission and utilities play in advancing economic development, job creation, community service and philanthropy.

“There is an old saying that happiness doesn’t come from doing easy work,” said Wise. “I was sent here to make tough decisions and I did my best to advance our state and its citizens.  We have reliable utility services and abundant energy supplies and capacity.  We haven’t deferred infrastructure investment, which will keep rates more affordable over time.  Businesses are more likely to choose Georgia because of the climate we have created, which means more jobs and prosperity.  It brings me immense satisfaction to know I played a hand in that,” he added.

Public Service Commissioners qualify from one of five districts throughout the state and are elected statewide in staggered terms.  Wise, a resident of Cobb County, currently represents the 5th District, which comprises 23 counties in the west central portion of the state.  Qualifying begins March 5, 2018 and Wise’s term ends December 31, 2018.