HB517 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan BakerRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Electricity utility services, to remove sunset provision from Energy Security Act of 2015, Sec. 37-4-150 am'd.
Summary: HB 517 would remove the sunset provision from the Energy Security Act of 2015, making its transmission facility rights permanent.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, the bill would remove the sunset date from the Energy Security Act of 2015 so the rules allowing incumbent electric suppliers to build and operate transmission facilities stay in place indefinitely. It preserves and clarifies key terms and rights, ensuring incumbents can construct and upgrade transmission facilities that connect to their systems. It provides that waiving these rights requires a commission order and allows disputes to be resolved in circuit court. It does not grant new rights to non-incumbent or non-jurisdictional entities and keeps their status largely outside PSC jurisdiction.

Who It Affects
Incumbent electric suppliers (utilities) would retain permanent rights to construct, own, operate, and maintain new and upgraded electric transmission facilities that connect to their systems.
Non-incumbent electric suppliers and non-jurisdictional entities (such as municipalities, cooperatives, and other such bodies) would not gain new transmission rights from this act and would remain largely outside PSC control, outside of any required commission orders for waivers or dispute resolutions.

Key Provisions
Removes the sunset on Section 37-4-150 (Energy Security Act of 2015), making its transmission facility rights permanent.
Continues to authorize incumbent electric suppliers to construct, own, operate, and maintain new and upgraded electric transmission facilities connecting to their systems, with proportional rights when multiple incumbents are involved, and requires commission approval before waivers can be granted; disputes may be heard in circuit court; non-incumbent and non-jurisdictional entities are not granted new rights under this act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Electricity