MONTGOMERY — Two competing House and Senate bills that would make changes to the PSC passed their respective committees on Wednesday.
State Sen. Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) announced on Tuesday the "Power To The People Act," a measure that expands the PSC from its current three seats to seven seats elected by the public.
The Power To The People Act, sponsored by State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), adds four new seats to the commission and requires that all seven posts be elected by congressional district.
To create staggered terms, four commissioners would initially be appointed by the governor in July 2026, with two serving two-year terms and two serving four-year terms. Commissioners would run for office by congressional district beginning in November 2028 and, upon election, serve six-year terms.
The bill passed the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday afternoon after a brief public hearing. It now heads to the Senate floor.
A provision in the bill outlaws rate increases for the next three years — until a majority of the board is elected — but it continues to allow rate reductions to be voted on and implemented at any time.
The Public Service Commission already approved a two-year rate freeze for Alabama Power in December.
The Power To The People Act also creates a new cabinet-level secretary of energy, a position recently suggested by Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who would oversee the commission's administrative functions.
Chambliss said at the committee meeting on Wednesday, "In 2000, Alabama was 13th lowest in the nation in power rates. In 2024, we're 28th, headed in the wrong direction. In 2000, there were only two Southern states that were lower than Alabama. We were near the bottom. Right now, there is only one Southern state higher than Alabama."
"In 2000, we were at 82% of the national average. Now, we are at 92% of the national average. We are getting to the point where we are getting close to those states that are typically high-energy states. We are headed in the wrong direction. This increase in rates has no doubt cost citizens of Alabama hundreds of millions even maybe billions of dollars over the last 20 years or so," Chambliss said.
Brent Woodall, a Republican candidate for Place 2 on the PSC, told 1819 News he opposed the Senate bill.
Woodall said, "The solution to a problem created by government is never to expand government. That is what this bill would do."
"The title of the (Senate) bill is a misnomer; it doesn't give power to the people, it takes power away from them. As it stands now, every voter in Alabama can vote for every seat at the Public Service Commission. If this law is enacted, those same voters will be able to vote for only one seat at the Public Service Commission, the seat of the congressional district in which they live," Woodall said. "Since the WBRC report establishing that Alabama has the third-highest electricity rates in the nation, the legislature has been proposing ways to fix the problem. The fix, however, isn't to expand the Alabama Public Service Commission; it is to change the people who are on the PSC. The people of Alabama can fix what's wrong at the PSC by electing qualified candidates to clean up what's wrong there."
The Alabama House Committee on Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure passed legislation on Wednesday by State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) that requires the PSC to hold regular public rate case hearings.
Butler told reporters on Wednesday morning his bill and the Senate bill are "night and day different."
"Ours has real reforms. It has serious consequences," Butler said. "One is growing government, and one is not. I was not personally thrilled with (the Senate bill). I just felt like it's growing government. As Republicans, our job is to shrink government and lower taxes and return more power to the people. I'm not sure that legislation is doing it. I'm trying to hold the PSC accountable. I'm 62 years old, and the last time they had a real rate case hearing I was still in high school. I think it's more than time."
Butler's bill now heads to the House floor.
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