Republican Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore is stepping down early next month, 60 days before the election to replace her.

In an Aug. 18 email to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, Pridemore announced her plan to leave the body that regulates Georgia’s utility companies and helps set energy prices for Georgia Power customers. Her resignation was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Pridemore provided a copy of her resignation letter to the Recorder but declined to comment further. Her resignation takes effect Sept. 4.

“It has been an honor to serve Georgia in this position,” wrote Pridemore, who has served since 2018.

Georgia code gives Kemp, who is a Republican, the authority to appoint her successor until the next election. The governor’s office has not yet announced who the replacement will be and did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

The election is set for Nov. 3, when Republican Josh Tolbert is set to face Democrat Sheila Edwards for control of the seat. Tolbert and Edwards did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Public Service Commission races typically fly under the radar of many voters, but a pair of Democratic flips on the previously all-Republican five-person panel put a spotlight on the utility regulating body. Democrats chalked the wins up to dissatisfaction with rising energy rates under Republican control, but Republicans blamed an off-year election that put the PSC races on the ballot alongside local races in deep blue cities. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.

The PSC has also come under increased scrutiny during Pridemore’s tenure over the growth of data centers, which proponents say will power the internet of the future, but have been the center of commotion at city council meetings around the state where opponents decry their heavy water and power usage.

Pridemore was appointed to the seat in February 2018 by Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and re-elected for a six-year term that year. Lawmakers went on to postpone PSC elections in 2024, which meant her seat was not up for re-election again until this year.

Pridemore’s tenure already had an expiration date. Instead of running for re-election this year, she filed paperwork to run for the congressional seat held by retiring Republican Congressman Barry Loudermilk but fell short of making the GOP runoff.

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