Bill > HB392

This bill transitions the appointment of members to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the state body responsible for regulating utilities and public services, from being elected by voters to being appointed by state officials. Specifically, starting in November 2028, the PSC President will be appointed by the Governor, and beginning in November 2030, the two associate commissioner positions will be filled by appointments from the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. All appointed commissioners will serve four-year terms and require Senate confirmation, with specific qualifications emphasizing experience in relevant fields like utility regulation, economics, and law, and a mandate for diverse representation. The bill also revises conflict of interest rules to prohibit commissioners from rendering professional services or holding financial interests in utilities or non-utility entities involved in matters before the commission, and it adds a provision requiring the PSC to ensure lobbying expenses are not passed on to consumers. Additionally, the bill mandates that the PSC staff annually convene public meetings with utility representatives to discuss important issues affecting services under the commission's jurisdiction, aiming to improve public understanding. These changes are intended to modernize Alabama's regulatory framework, which the legislature finds to be over 100 years old and not optimally suited for current and future challenges, noting that most other states appoint their regulatory bodies.

Transportation and Infrastructure

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