SB360 Passes Alabama Senate Committee

SB360, the “Power to the People Act,” which was introduced Tuesday, passed out of the Alabama Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday by a unanimous vote. It now goes to the full Senate, where it could be voted on as early as Thursday.

Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), who is the primary sponsor of SB360, led the discussion of the bill before the Committee:

“As you all know, I am (interrupted) by data and try to make decisions based on data.

“So, a few data points, if you'll just bear with me. In 2000 Alabama was 13th, lowest in the nation for power rates. In 2024, we were 28 — pulling in the wrong direction.

“Another way you can look at it, in 2000 there were only two southern States that were lower than Alabama. We're near the bottom right now. There's only one State higher, one southern State higher than Alabama.

“One last data point in 2000 we were at 82% of the national average. Now we're at 92% of the national average. We're getting to the point where we're getting close to those States that are typically high energy States. We're headed in the wrong direction.

“This increase in rates has no doubt cost the citizens of Alabama hundreds of millions, even maybe billions, of dollars over the last 20 years or so. So, Senate Bill 360, what we want to do is give the power back to the people.

“So the Power to the People Act gives the people more right to vote, not less.

“The Power to the People Act expands the Public Service Commission to seven elected members that correspond with the seven congressional districts. The Power to the People Act will make it illegal to raise power rates until 2029.

“The Power to the People Act prohibits utilities from engaging in the campaign process for PSC members. It goes on. There's a few other things, and I'll skip that for now, just in the interest of time.

“The other, and last thing I'll say, is it transitions the top current staff position at PSC to a Secretary of Energy, a Cabinet-level appointment. That person has been, and will be, under the Secretary, responsible for the agendas and the administration of the PSC. However, I love checks and balances. If five of the seven commission members, when I add, amend, take away from the agenda, five of the seven commission members can do so, it's not absolute power. So with that, Mr. Chairman, I will, I will sit down and be ready to answer any questions.”

John Dodd, Policy Manager for Energy Alabama, spoke in opposition to the bill, saying,  “Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this bill today. I'm here to oppose SB 360 and I want to tell you all exactly why.

“We, as an organization, spent days working in good faith, bringing concrete ideas to the table. Those ideas include mandatory rate cases, real profit reduction measures and keeping appointments out of the process. Instead, this bill does not take the steps needed to reduce Alabama powers, power bills.

“This bill was introduced yesterday. It is in this committee today, and perhaps on the Senate floor tomorrow.

“If you genuinely believe this legislation serves the people of Alabama, your constituents, you don't rush it through in 24 hours.

“Here's what SB 360 actually does. It hands a Governor-appointed Secretary of Energy, who is unaccountable to any voters, the authority to set every PSC meeting and agenda, and control Commission personnel. The PSC, which is the body that is supposed to regulate Alabama Power and other utilities, would now answer most entirely to the Governor's office.

“Alabamians just fought to keep their right to elect these commissioners. This bill dilutes the people's vote by immediately appointing four new commissioners this year, as opposed to a phased-in election approach. And to be clear, Energy Alabama could support an expansion of the PSE provided that there are no appointments and the people are allowed to vote.

“Alabamians are paying some of the highest electric bills in the country. Your constituents called, they emailed, and even came to this State House in person to demand that you help deliver some relief. But, SB360 does not deliver that relief for your constituents.

“Please vote no on SB360, and I thank you for your time today.”

Ashton Kennedy spoke next, saying, “Hello, I'm not with any group. I'm just a citizen that can't afford her power bills. Like many others, rate freezes are just a profit freeze in disguise. I know Alabama is low in education, but we're not that low.

“Y'all have been raising the price. Alabama Power, not y'all, excuse me, Alabama Power has been raising the prices at an exponential rate, and instead we see, I mean, geez, if y'all work this hard the way to help us the way y'all are working hard to secure their profit, I maybe wouldn't have had to leave the state for medical care.

“But, I find it interesting that the same people proposing this bill are the same people who have taken Alabama Power PAC money in almost every race. I find it funny that every co-sponsor I see, almost every first House Bill, 392, whatever they were before, you also found Alabama Power Pack money.

“Alabama citizens do not care to hear about a rate freeze or your profit freezes. 2029 is when the data centers will be done. And this bill will have six or five appointed members that will not be re voted on until 2030 or 2031.

“That is not power to the people, that is more co-opting of the working class language.

“There is midterms coming up, and like I said the first time I was here to speak, there are demographics showing up that no one has ever even considered campaigning to, because you all do not see us. We want a third party, independent audit of Alabama Power and its books.

“Do not give me a lie about fiscal or financial issues. It would cost more to hire five to six people than it would to properly audit and hold those in power in control or hold them in, whatever.

“What I do know is a power freeze or rate freeze at the time when I have Alabamians telling me, just a random influencer yapper, that they're taking out credit cards to pay their power bill. They're wondering, ‘Hey, can I skip this meal to pay my power bill?’ I had someone tell me they were deciding between their medicine and their power bill. So a rate freeze isnt power to the people.” 

Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) took issue with what Ms. Kennedy said, responding that, “Yes. I want to say to you, just because we sign on as a co-sponsor to any bill does not mean that we're going to vote yes on that bill. Many of us co-sponsored a lot of bills. Am I right, Senators?

“You may co-sponsor a bill, but you end up voting against it. But you co-sponsored because you want that conversation to be held. You want that issue to come out. You want to work with your colleagues to work it out.

“I'm offended that you basically said that we take, that we all take Power PAC money, Alabama Power’s money.

“I do. I take everybody's money, because let me tell…yes, I do, but that does not reflect how I vote. If I believe in something, then I'm going to vote for it. But I have the courage and the gumption to vote against somebody who has given me money, too.

“We all know, to run a campaign, to run a race, you have to have money. But every supporter that I have had these 30 years, they also know that they haven't bought a vote, or they haven't bought influence, because if Vivian doesn't believe it's the right thing to do, I can't do it. And I tell them that to their faces.

“So I'm offended that you would say we are being bought, because I am not bought and I am not sold by a living person, and yet I only speak to God.”

SB360 passed the Committee with a unanimous vote, and could be debated by the full Senate as early as Thursday.

The full hearing may be viewed on The Alabama Channel on YouTube at THIS LINK.