Georgia Power agrees to deadline extension on Yonah Withdrawal Contract

Yesterday afternoon, WNEG News received an update regarding the last-minute changes Georgia Power included in the contract they submitted to Toccoa officials last week regarding the city’s Lake Yonah Water Withdrawal Permit. 

As previously reported by WNEG News, last month, Georgia Power increased the annual withdraw permit fee from less than $8,000 per year, to more than $167,000 per year, and put a Dec. 31 deadline on Toccoa’s acceptance of the new contract at the new, higher price. 

However, even though city officials advised Georgia Power several weeks ago that they would keep the 6 MGD withdrawal permit and pay the higher price, Georgia Power did not provide the city with a finalized contract to sign until Dec. 21.

City Manager Fredda Wheeler told WNEG News last week that the contract that Georgia Power submitted to the city on Dec. 21 included several new, and unexpected, amendments, including language that would restrict who the city could sell the water to, and what purposes it could be sold for, and giving Georgia Power authority to approve or deny any water sales by the city. 

Although no further information on the proposed contract is available, and city commissioners have not yet met to discuss the changes to the submitted contract, City Attorney John Dickerson did contact Georgia Power to request an extension to the Dec. 31 deadline to give the city time to review the contract changes and city officials time to meet and take action on the contract.

Wheeler told WNEG News yesterday that Georgia Power has responded to that request for a deadline extension, and has agreed to extend the deadline for up to 45 days. 

WNEG News will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as they become available.