SB316 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
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: Alabama SB 316 removes the sunset date from the Energy Security Act of 2015, making its transmission facility provisions permanent.
What This Bill Does
It amends Section 37-4-150 to strike the sunset that would end the Energy Security Act of 2015 in 2023, so the act stays in effect indefinitely. It preserves the right of incumbent electric suppliers to construct, own, operate, and maintain new and upgraded transmission facilities that connect to their own systems (with proportional rights if multiple incumbents are involved). It maintains the rule that waivers to allow non-incumbent suppliers to build such facilities require a commission order, and disputes between incumbents can be taken to circuit court. It removes the sunset-related committee and reporting requirements.

Who It Affects
Incumbent electric suppliers (utilities serving retail customers) would retain permanent rights to build, own, operate, and maintain transmission facilities connecting to their systems.
Non-incumbent electric suppliers and non-jurisdictional electric suppliers (such as certain municipalities, cooperatives, and other entities not subject to PSC jurisdiction) would not gain these permanent rights under this bill and would remain outside the Commission’s jurisdiction for these provisions.

Key Provisions
Removes the sunset provision from Section 37-4-150, so the Energy Security Act of 2015 does not automatically expire.
Authorizes incumbent electric suppliers to construct, own, operate, and maintain new and upgraded electric transmission facilities that connect to their systems.
If a new facility connects to more than one incumbent supplier, each supplier has a proportional right to that facility, subject to any written agreements.
Requires a commission order to authorize waivers that would let non-incumbent suppliers build transmission facilities, and provides for circuit court resolution of disputes among incumbents.

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