The Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) voted at a meeting on Thursday to consider buying new state vehicles for commissioners.
The action by Public Service Commissioners Jeremy Oden and Chris Beeker III wasn’t specifically mentioned at their meeting on Thursday or in a meeting agenda. The commission currently only has two members because former PSC President Twinkle Cavanaugh resigned last week to join the Trump administration. Cavanaugh’s replacement, State Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa), was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday and will be the new PSC president beginning on June 16.
A spokesman for the PSC told 1819 News the vote on Thursday “initiated the evaluation process” for new state vehicles for commissioners.
“To be clear, the vote yesterday only initiated the evaluation process. No final decisions have been made on the purchase of any new vehicles. However, attached is a list of the vehicles available on state contract,” Caleb Hicks, a PSC spokesman, said on Friday.
According to the PSC, the options for possible new state vehicles for commissioners include a 2025 Ford Explorer, 2025 Ford Expedition, 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2025 Ford Bronco. The vehicles range in price from $37,945.50 to $56,538.90
“It is also noteworthy that one of the vehicles potentially being replaced is a 2008 Ford Expedition with more than 92,000 miles and is in questionable mechanical condition. The other vehicle potentially being replaced is a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe with more than 122,000 miles that has been the subject of recent expensive repairs,” Hicks told 1819 News. “New vehicles for Commissioners will prevent them from having to use our agency pool vehicles on a recurring basis, like one of our former Commissioners who chose not to be assigned a state car and utilized pool vehicles more than 125 times as of late 2024. This will allow our pool vehicles to be used for the intended purpose of being available for our staff who need the vehicles to perform their jobs.”
The PSC is responsible for regulating the state’s utility companies.
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