Energy Alabama Issues CTA on PSC Bills

Advocacy group Energy Alabama has issued a Call To Action (CTA) urging Alabamians to contact their representatives in the Legislature in support of HB475 and in opposition to SB360.

In a post on Facebook, the group said:

🚨 We need you in Montgomery Tuesday.

The House will vote on HB 475, a real reform bill. But the swamp may try to gut it and replace it with SB 360, the so-called “Power to the People Act.”

The post goes on to encourage people to:

Show up on Tuesday, March 17th: 

📍 Alabama State House

 📅 Tuesday, after 12 PM

And:

Tell your rep:

 ✅ Support HB 475

 ❌ Oppose SB 360
If you can’t attend, call your representative:

 📞 House switchboard: 334-261-0500

Two action links are provided in the post for those who wish to respond via the web, and are below:

To SUPPORT HB475:

https://secure.everyaction.com/YtCDVfaEQkKsPvzUihQlYA2 

Tell Lawmakers: Vote YES on HB 475

“Alabama families deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to their power bills. HB 475 would establish a formal, regularly scheduled rate case process and reduce the amount of profit utilities are allowed to charge customers. It also reinforces a simple principle: electric bills should cover the cost of providing electric service, not lobbying, political activity, or other unrelated expenses.

At a time when other proposals, including the so-called “Power to the People Act,” fail to address the real reasons Alabama families are facing high power bills, HB 475 begins tackling the core issue: stronger oversight of utility rates.”

To OPPOSE SB360:

https://secure.everyaction.com/7I9exrIBKUSjzyPZabiceA2 

Tell Your Lawmaker: Vote NO on SB 360

The bill called the “Power to the People Act” (SB 360) has a great name — but a fatal flaw.

Buried inside the bill is a provision giving the Governor's hand-picked Secretary of Energy control over the agenda and staff of the Public Service Commission (PSC). That means a cabinet official, that nobody elected, answering only to the Governor could effectively control the commission that regulates Alabama Power.

 That's not power to the people. That's a blatant power grab by your legislators.

 Earlier this session, tens of thousands of Alabamians spoke out to defend their right to elect Public Service Commissioners. The message was clear: the PSC must answer to voters — not political insiders.

 SB 360 doesn't fix the real problem driving high electric bills in Alabama: the lack of transparency and oversight of Alabama Power. Alabamians deserve real relief from record-high power bills, not another political power grab.

 Take Action: Tell your lawmakers to oppose SB 360 and support real reforms that bring transparency and accountability to Alabama Power.

HB475, introduced by Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City), as substituted, requires the PSC to hold formal rate hearings every three years. It stipulates evidentiary hearings, with utility officials under oath rather than simple public meetings. It broadens the scope of transparency on these hearings, as well as broadening the cost prohibitions imposed on the utilities, barring them from including political activity, lobbying and trade/industry association dues. It prohibits utilities from earning a Return on Equity (RoE) higher than the national average—something Alabama Power currently does. The substitute maintains the impeachment provisions for the members of the PSC if they fail to carry out their duties in the original bill, and adds provisions for investigation and enforcement of prohibited cost inclusions by utilities. It currently awaits consideration by the full Hoise.

SB360, introduced last Tuesday, passed unanimously out of Senate committee last Wednesday, and passed the Senate unanimously last Thursday. SB360 would expand the Commission to seven members, each elected from a congressional district rather than at large. The Governor would appoint four additional Commissioners by July 2026. Two of those appointees would serve two-year terms and two would serve four-year terms, after which the seats would be filled through elections beginning in 2028. Commissioners elected after June 1, 2026, would serve six-year terms. It would also create a new cabinet-level position, Secretary of Energy, appointed by the Governor to oversee the commission’s administrative operations and set its agenda.

SB360 is sponsored by Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) and lauded by Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman).