Georgia Power has formally accused Patty Durand, a former Democratic candidate for Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC), of stealing sensitive trade secrets in an incident that has drawn widespread attention.
Durand, known for her outspoken criticism of the state’s energy policies, was arrested on Tuesday by Georgia Capitol Police and charged with felony theft, according to a report from Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). The allegations center on actions taken during a public hearing regarding Georgia Power’s request to expand the state’s energy infrastructure.
The hearing in question was convened to consider “Georgia Power’s request to add two Plant Vogtle-sized units of new power, primarily to supply data centers,” GPB reported. Durand has long opposed the expansion of data centers and potential rate hikes associated with these projects. She is also the founder of Georgia Utility Watch, a watchdog organization advocating for transparency and accountability in the state’s energy policies.
Video footage from the hearing reportedly shows Durand, wearing a brown jacket, approaching a desk, picking up a booklet, placing it back, and then moving to another part of the room. Moments later, she appears to take a second booklet from a different desk, placing it in her bag before leaving the room. The incident has prompted scrutiny of her actions and raised questions about what she intended to do with the materials allegedly taken.
Earlier, in an August interview with GPB, Durand criticized what she called a lack of transparency in Georgia Power’s dealings with data centers. “The Public Service Commission allows very heavy redactions and trade secrets,” she said. “So the contracts between Georgia Power and the data centers are also redacted and trade secreted. No one will know what they actually charge data centers.” Her comments highlight ongoing concerns regarding the opacity of energy agreements and the challenges of ensuring public accountability.
Georgia Power has stated that it is cooperating fully with authorities in the ongoing investigation, as reported by Fox 5. Meanwhile, the Georgia Recorder detailed that the PSC hearing involved a request to add nearly 10,000 megawatts to the state’s power grid, with roughly 60% coming from gas plant expansions or new construction, and 40% from renewable energy sources. Durand, who founded Georgians for Affordable Energy earlier this year, publicly alleged that Georgia Power is prioritizing profits for its five affiliated gas companies rather than investing in solar and battery storage solutions.
She described the company’s actions as “immoral” and called for accountability, asserting, “There is no court in the land that would allow that kind of corruption to go on, and I have no idea why the state of Georgia does,” according to the Recorder. Her statements underscore her long-standing role as an energy policy critic and her advocacy for renewable energy investment.
Following Durand’s arrest, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon issued a statement, criticizing Durand’s actions and questioning her credibility as a “watchdog.” He said, “Patty Durand built her brand attacking the Public Service Commission and now she’s been arrested for stealing from it. This is the same failed Democrat PSC candidate who parades around as a so-called ‘watchdog’ while caught on video taking confidential Georgia Power materials. While Republican leaders are working to keep energy reliable and affordable for Georgia families, Democrats like Durand are sneaking around government offices and walking off with stolen documents.”
Durand’s political associations have also drawn scrutiny. Her campaign website features a photo of her with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who has been labeled by critics as a “pro-abortion radical.” Reports from Breitbart News noted that Ossoff previously hired an aide with open-borders views as senior counsel prior to the federal government shutdown, linked to efforts to expand health care access for undocumented immigrants. Additionally, Breitbart highlighted comments from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and other Democrats admitting that the government shutdown partly facilitated access to taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits for illegal aliens.
The case also invites comparisons to other high-profile incidents involving theft and breach of trust. Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell, another Democrat, was convicted of felony burglary in July, over a year after being caught breaking into her stepmother’s home. Mitchell had claimed she entered the residence to retrieve belongings of her late father, noting that her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The parallel underscores the political sensitivity and potential reputational risks when elected officials or candidates face criminal charges.
As Georgia authorities continue their investigation into Durand’s actions, the case has sparked a broader conversation about transparency, accountability, and ethics in both public service and energy policy. Observers are closely watching how legal proceedings will unfold, particularly in the context of ongoing debates over energy infrastructure, renewable investment, and consumer protection.