Georgia Power Critic Cleared of Trade Secrets Theft Charges After Arrest
An advocate and frequent critic of Georgia Power who was arrested in October 2025 for allegedly taking a notebook labeled with trade secrets will not be prosecuted, according to a decision filed last week in Fulton County Superior Court. District Attorney Fani Willis stated there was insufficient evidence to pursue felony charges against Patty Durand for stealing trade secrets.
Surveillance Footage and Arrest Details
Surveillance footage from October 21, 2025, captured Durand grabbing a notebook marked "Georgia Power Trade Secrets" from a table during a break in a Georgia Public Service Commission meeting. The video shows her flipping through the notebook before placing it in her purse. Durand voluntarily returned the notebook to law enforcement later that same day, but she spent nearly two days in jail following her arrest.
Prosecutorial Decision and Community Service
Prosecutors decided against charging Durand with a misdemeanor, noting that she had completed forty hours of community service and attended a theft awareness class. Durand had faced potential penalties of one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 if convicted of the felony trade secrets theft charge.
Durand's Criticism and Political Context
Durand has continued to voice criticism against Georgia Power, arguing that the company keeps too much information private. She pointed to recent Democratic victories over Republican incumbents on the Public Service Commission as evidence that voters are weary of what she describes as "monopoly exploitation and abuse." The Georgia Public Service Commission oversees Georgia Power's rates and must approve new power plants or transmission lines.
Georgia Power has maintained that releasing certain information publicly would compromise its business operations. A message seeking comment from the company was left unanswered.
Future Plans and Advocacy
Durand announced plans to share more about her experience in her newsletter, stating, "Now that I’m unmuzzled, I’m going to tell the story there, and also tell the story about what it was like to be in jail." Her case highlights ongoing tensions between corporate privacy and public advocacy in utility regulation.
This report is based on coverage by Charlotte Kramon, a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, which places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
