Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, a Public Service Commission (PSC) Place 1 candidate, called on Friday for the PSC to hold public rate hearings.
The PSC regulates utility companies in Alabama. Gentry cited transparency concerns and “some of the highest power bills in the nation” as reasons for the need to hold public hearings about utility rates.
“Over the past several months, I’ve traveled across Alabama meeting with citizens, consumers, farmers, and small business owners. No matter where I go, from rural communities to growing cities, the message is almost universal with Republicans: the people want a public rate hearing. They want transparency. They want answers. And they want relief from some of the highest power bills in the nation,” Gentry said on Facebook on Friday. “Alabama families are working hard, but many are feeling squeezed by rising utility costs. The people deserve the opportunity to be heard in a full, open, and transparent rate hearing. That’s how accountability works. When I'm elected as the next PSC Commissioner, I will call for a public rate hearing as the first order of business.”
Gentry continued, “I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with good citizens all my life to protect them from those who have bad intentions. I do not support efforts to remove Public Service Commissioners from being elected by the people. The PSC belongs to the citizens of Alabama, not political insiders. If elected, I will fight to protect the people’s right to vote and to ensure their voices are heard.”
State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) introduced legislation on Thursday requiring the PSC to hold annual hearings.
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