The Georgia Public Service Commission voted 4-1 on Thursday to let the utility raise prices starting April 1. The average residential customer will pay $9.91 more a month from June through September and $3.44 the other eight months of the year.

The hike is to help pay for the cost of fuel that the company uses to produce power. The increase is the company's seventh fuel charge hike in as many years.

The commission vote approved a settlement that put to rest a 3-month-old case after Georgia Power saw a $683 million deficit because of collection shortfalls from unpredictable fuel prices. Customers will pay for the deficit over 42 months.
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com