MONTGOMERY — State Rep. Chip Brown's (R-Hollinger's Island) legislation changing the Public Service Commission (PSC) to an appointed entity was taken off the calendar on Thursday.
According to Brown, the controversial bill needs some "ironing" out after receiving feedback, but he told reporters that the PSC had been "failing" the state for a long time with ever-increasing rates.
"At the end of the day, this is about rates, it's about cost," Brown stated. "And that's what I'm concerned about is lowering our costs, and we've been kicking the can down the road with the Public Service Commission for over 100 years, re-electing people with just the catchy name on the ballot. This is an effort to try to modernize the Public Service Commission and make it more customer-friendly."
As for what is being tweaked in the legislation, Brown said he wants to "make it more customer-friendly, more friendly to average Alabamians."
Brown was asked if he had the votes in the House and the Senate for his bill.
"We have the votes in the House," he replied. "We're still analyzing the Senate."
Brown denied that Alabama Power was behind his bill, saying the company had told him it was "neutral" on his legislation.
The Mobile County lawmaker was asked if his legislation was political after Georgia recently elected two Democrats to its PSC. He voiced his concern about "dark money" entering the state on both sides.
"I will tell you, the dark money, which is Soros money, Walton Foundation, Tides Foundation, Rockefeller, it's here," Brown outlined. "If you look at PACs, if you look at Energy Alabama, if you look at those groups, it's the same groups that did that in Georgia, so it is a concern. It's a concern on both sides. Dark money coming into Alabama politics is a concern."
"Outside influence is dangerous," he added.
Brown was then asked about his bill, possibly "legalizing bribery."
Brown noted that Energy Alabama raised that issue at the committee hearing earlier this week. During the hearing, the organization's executive director, Daniel Tait, denied that any funding came from George Soros, instead saying it was membership-based.
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"Well, I mean, my response to that is I know who said that. It was Energy Alabama. Where is their money coming from? Disclose where their money is coming from," Brown stated.
The lawmaker said he wasn't sure if his bill would come back this session.
"I don't know," he replied when asked if his bill would return. "I hope so, because I think it's a desperate need that we need to reform the Public Service Commission."
Energy Alabama released the following statement in reaction to the bill being pulled:
Today, the Alabama House did not take up the Alabama Power Grab as scheduled. After advancing out of committee and being positioned for a floor vote, the bill was pulled from the agenda before lawmakers had to go on the record.
That is not a defeat just yet. It is simply a delay. Delay is not enough.
This bill would strip Alabamians of the right to vote for the Public Service Commission and replace public elections with political appointments, shifting oversight of monopoly utilities away from voters and toward insider politics. It would move electric bill decisions further out of public view at the exact moment customers need more transparency and stronger accountability.
The fact that this bill was pulled is a sign of two things: first, that the sponsors know this proposal does not hold up well in the sunlight, and second, that public pressure is working. When people understand what this bill does, they do not like it, and lawmakers do not want to have to defend it.
But Alabamians should not take their eyes off this bill. The bill is still alive, and it could return to the House floor with little to no notice.
Energy Alabama will continue monitoring this closely, and we urge supporters across the state to stay ready to act quickly if this power grab reappears. If lawmakers want to improve the system, they should focus on real solutions that lower electric bills.
Brown's bill is backed by Gov. Kay Ivey and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who is the frontrunner to replace the term-limited Ivey as Alabama governor.
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