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Southern Politics, Southern Power Prices: Race, Utility Regulation, and the Value of Energy

Summary

In an article by Kristin D. Phillips, the materiality of race in the US South is explored through the lens of southern utilities, shedding light on the political landscape where disputes over the value of energy take place. The article examines the different conceptualizations of value by utilities, regulators, and energy justice advocates and how they contribute to the pricing of energy and racialized dispossession in the Deep South. Focusing on Georgia Power's monopoly on public power, the article argues that it reinforces the racialized political economy of the South, resulting in high home energy prices for low-income families. It also highlights the connection between energy injustice and the everyday experiences of extractive utility bills. The article emphasizes the significance of energy justice within the broader framework of the Long Civil Rights Movement and emphasizes the role of voting rights in energy regulation issues in Georgia. The author calls attention to the ongoing struggle for equity and justice in the realm of energy, drawing parallels with historical civil rights movements and urging continued activism.

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