Alabama HB475: Public Service Commission; number of commissioners expanded to represent congressional districts, phase-in by election provided, term of office revised, position of Secretary of Energy established as cabinet member, calculation of electric utility rates revised; rate hearings authorized

What the bill says

An Act, Relating to the Public Service Commission; to establish the Power to the People Act; to amend Sections 37-1-1, 37-1-3, 37-1-5, and 37-1-12, Code of Alabama 1975; to revise the membership and terms of the public service commissioners; to establish the Secretary of Energy as a cabinet member appointed by the Governor and provide for the duties of the secretary…

From the enrolled text:

An Act, Relating to the Public Service Commission; to establish the Power to the People Act; to amend Sections 37-1-1, 37-1-3, 37-1-5, and 37-1-12, Code of Alabama 1975; to revise the membership and terms of the public service commissioners; to establish the Secretary of Energy as a cabinet member appointed by the Governor and provide for the duties of the secretary; to add Sections 37-1-81.1, 37-1-81.2, and 37-1-81.3 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit an increase in electric retail base rates for a certain period and thereafter prohibit electric utilities from including certain costs in the calculation or determination of rates or service regulations; to require the commission to hold a public meeting at least annually; to provide for rate hearings in certain circumstances; to amend Sections 17-14-2, 17-14-3, and 36-3-1, Code of Alabama 1975, to make conforming changes; to repeal Section 37-1-9, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to public service commissioners; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Power to the People Act. Section 2. Sections 37-1-1, 37-1-3, 37-1-5, and 37-1-12, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows: "§37-1-1 A commission to be known as …

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Sponsors

• (R, HD-028) · primary sponsor