Albany’s Doug Everett announces retirement from PSC

ATLANTA – Commissioner Doug Everett of Albany announced during Tuesday’s Commission Administrative Session that he will retire from the Georgia Public Service Commission effective Dec. 31. Everett has served on the PSC since Jan. 1, 2003 and is currently in the fourth year of a six-year term.

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed state Rep. James S. “Jason” Shaw Jr. of Lakeland to fill Everett’s unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2020. The new commissioner will have to seek election to a full six-year term in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce this decision,” Everett said. “This commission has been like a family to me. I have not measured my life by riches but by friendships, and in that I am truly rich. It has been a privilege and honor to serve the people of Georgia.”

Everett has a long record of public service to southwest Georgia and the state.

“Commissioner Everett has dedicated his life to public service and the people of Georgia, both here at the commission, in the legislature and in the city of Albany,” PSC Chairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald said. “He will be missed.”

Commission Vice Chairman Tim Echols agreed.

“From his time serving the city of Albany, to refereeing football games, to serving in the legislature and then almost two decades on the Georgia Commission, Doug Everett has been a true public servant,” Echols said.

Everett was the first Republican from southwest Georgia elected to the Georgia Public Service Commission. During his time on the commission, Everett was instrumental in getting approval to expand the number of Compressed Natural Gas fueling stations in Georgia, through an innovative program with Atlanta Gas Light Company using the Universal Service Fund (USF).

He promoted economic development in south Georgia by using the USF to provide natural gas service. He also served as president of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in 2007-2008. He has been a strong proponent of nuclear power.

Everett first served on the Albany Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals and was later elected to the Albany City Commission, where he served two terms as mayor pro tem. In 1996, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Albany and served three terms there before being elected to serve on the Public Service Commission in 2002.

He twice won re-election to the commission by overwhelming majorities.

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