New Senate Bill Silences Voters by Ending Alabama PSC Elections

From the Woodall campaign

Montgomery, AL - Senate Bill 268 (SB268) would strip Alabamians of their right to vote for members of the Alabama Public Service Commission (PS) and replace elected commissioners with political appointees, ending statewide PSC elections after 2026.

For more than 100 years, Alabamians have elected PSC commissioners to regulate monopoly utilities and protect consumers. SB268 would eliminate that accountability and move critical decisions affecting electricity rates and utility oversight into an appointment system with less public transparency.

Alabama has the third-highest residential monthly electric bills in the nation, and a U.S.

Senator confirmed that Alabama now has the highest electric rates in the Southeast.

Weakening voter oversight of the PSC would only make it easier for utility monopolies to protect their interests while families pay more.

"SB268 is a direct attack on voters," said Brent Woodall, Republican candidate for Public Service Commissioner, Place 2. "Alabamians deserve to elect the officials who regulate our utilities. This bill removes that right and gives monopoly interests more control. It's not reform—it's a power grab that puts special interests ahead of the people."

SB268 was introduced by a group of liberal Democratic senators, raising serious questions about why lawmakers who campaign on voting right and consumer protection would support legislation that eliminates a statewide election and reduces public accountability.

Alabamians are urged to contact their state senators and representatives and demand they oppose SB268 and protect the right to vote for members of the Public Service Commission.

Brent Woodall is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Public Service Commission, Place 2. For more information on Woodall and his campaign, follow him on Facebook.

Editor’s note: as introduced, SB268 is the twin bill to HB392, which passed out of House Committee on Tuesday. That Committee meeting was reported by ALPolitics.com earlier at THIS LINK. Mr. Woodall’s testimony at that hearing may be read in that article.