MONTGOMERY —The House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee passed the bipartisan bill changing the Public Service Commission (PSC) to an appointed entity despite pushback from both sides of the aisle on Tuesday.
State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island), HB392's sponsor in the House, spoke in favor of the bill to begin the hearing, noting that Alabama "was only one of 10 states" in the United States that elects PSC members rather than appointing them.
"This legislation would provide accountability," Brown outlined. "It requires each utility to have a public hearing once a year, something we don't have now. This also takes politics out of the Public Service Commission and potential conflicts of interest to be no out-of-state interest influence in the Public Service Commission. The governor and us in the Legislature would be accountable for the Public Service Commission."
State Reps. A.J. McCampbell (D-Demopolis) and Rolanda Hollis (D-Birmingham) voiced concerns about the bill, including the possibility of influence on the PSC and the potential loss of power to voters.
A group of speakers made their pitches before the committee, with most speaking against.
Most notably, Energy Alabama executive director Daniel Tait railed against the bill, arguing it created a "loophole" to allow PSC candidates and members to accept money from receiving donations. Tait addressed accusations that his organization was backed by George Soros.
Tait was quizzed over his organization's leadership and backing, and he refuted any funding from Soros. After some back-and-forth with State Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile), he said his organization had around 35,000 paid members.
He argued that the questioning of Energy Alabama's funding was a "distraction" because people "didn't want to talk about Alabama Power's prominence."
Ahead of the meeting, Ivey backed the bill, as well as its two other packaged bills, as part of the Alabama Affordability Protection Plan. The three-bill reform package includes data center legislation in addition to PSC changes.
"For Alabama to remain the best state to live, work and raise a family, we have to grow the state, while keeping our cost of living low. That certainly includes our utilities, and we are seeing discussions in states around the country about best ways to lower those bills for families. Through a package of bills, we are taking steps to protect energy costs for Alabamians, while keeping our state competitive for further economic development. In addition to maintaining Alabama's low cost-of-living and growing business and industry, I have also been proud to make strong appointments to the Public Service Commission specifically. My appointments of PSC President Cynthia Almond and PSC Commissioner Chris Beeker show what a future Administration could do to serve the people of Alabama well through this regulatory commission. I thank the Legislature for working on this very relevant issue," Ivey stated.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, candidate for Place One on the PSC, issued a statement in opposition to the bill.
"The Alabama Public Service Commission should remain a voice of the people," he said. "As an elected sheriff starting my twelfth year in office, I know personally that public officials must be held accountable to the people they serve by listening to citizens' concerns. As sheriff, I have had to notify families that their loved ones have passed away. I have sat with grieving parents whose children are addicted to drugs and tried to explain to families the randomness of why a mentally ill person chooses to kill someone decades later."
"It is a responsibility and a burden I have carried proudly as an elected official, and I have always understood that I am accountable to the citizens I serve. I was blessed to be unopposed for re-election in 2018 and 2022. I announced my candidacy for the Alabama Public Service Commission after hearing from people all over Alabama who want to see change at the PSC. I believe that change can occur through the current process by electing new leadership to the Commission. Eliminating the people's voice and changing the PSC to an appointed body removes the public from the process entirely. An elected official is far closer to the people and better able to hear their concerns than an appointed bureaucratic board," he added.
"I fear that appointing, rather than electing, Public Service Commissioners would only make the PSC further out of touch with Alabama consumers," Gentry continued. "I urge Republican members of the Alabama House and Senate to vote against HB 392 and SB 268 and keep the Public Service Commission an elected body."
All three of the package bills passed.
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