Alabama Lawmakers Push Electricity Rate Reforms

0:00In Birmingham, it's March 13th. Here's what is happening. Alabama lawmakers want to shake up the Public Service Commission to bring down high electricity rates for families. The Senate passed a reform bill Thursday with no opposition votes. It aims to grow the three-member board that oversees utilities like Alabama Power into a seven-member group elected by Congressional District. The Senate plan starts this year with four governor-appointed members and finishes the switch to all elected by January 2031. It adds a cabinet-level energy secretary to run things and freezes retail rate hikes until January 1st, 2029. Plus, it requires yearly public meetings where folks can weigh in on costs, reliability, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the House takes a different tack with its own bill up for a vote. Tuesday, that one keeps the three commissioners elected statewide but forces formal rate reviews every three years. Those would be sworn hearings with subpoena power,

1:02something the commission has skipped for decades. Alabama's residential power prices top neighbors last year, sparking these pushes. Lawmakers worry about outside influences after Democrats won seats in Georgia's commission, groups like Energy Alabama, back the House bill for real accountability and profit caps matching nearby states. Alabama power calls its rates near the national average and promises no increases through 2027. Sponsors from both chambers top merging ideas for broader change with the House vote coming soon. D&N is sponsored by our partner. If sleep podcasts are your thing, this is your pillow. Bill for Comfort and Calm, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.