Alabama Expands Public Service Commission, Aims for Rate Cuts

0:00It's April 2nd. This is Birmingham News today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Corey with the story. Alabama lawmakers just greenlit the power to the People Act, expanding the public service commission from three seats to seven, all elected by the Public Through Congressional Districts. The bill adds four new spots, with the governor appointing the first four in July 2022 for two-year terms and two for four-year. Stints, to set up staggered elections starting November 2028, were winners served six years. No ray hikes allow for the next three years until the majority gets elected, though cuts can happen anytime and it rolls out a new cabinet level, energy secretary to handle admin duties. Reactions poured in from folks fed up with sky-high utility bills, Alabama's among the nation's priciest way above neighbors like TBA, with Rhett Mc. Butler, the House sponsor, voting no on the final version, slamming big profits from local customers. Amendments tweaked it for more transparency, like oath-based hearings on rates triggered

1:03by five commissioners or the energy secretary, plus minority. Leader input on two appointments now has the governor Kay Ivey to seal the deal on this push for real oversight.