Senate Bill 360 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

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

Summary

SB360 would expand the Public Service Commission to seven district-based commissioners, create a Governor-appointed Secretary of Energy as a cabinet member to run the PSC, and change electric rate rules and oversight.

What This Bill Does

It expands the PSC to seven commissioners representing congressional districts with phased elections so all seven are in place by 2031. Four initial commissioners would be appointed in 2026 (two with two-year terms, two with four-year terms) from lists provided by the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker, and the President Pro Tempore, with further elections in 2028 and 2030 and six-year terms for later appointees. It creates the Secretary of Energy as a cabinet member who directs the PSC, sets meeting agendas, and manages PSC staff, with duties and appointment processes specified. It tightens rate rules by pausing base rate increases until 2029 and barring certain costs (like grants, lobbying, and non-safety advertising) from rate calculations starting in 2029, requires annual public meetings, and updates related laws to reflect the new structure.

Who It Affects

• Public Service Commission commissioners, who will represent congressional districts, have phased elections, and will serve longer terms under the new structure
• Electric utilities regulated by the PSC and their customers, who face new rate calculation rules and potential changes in what costs can be included in rates
• State leaders (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, and President Pro Tempore), who will play a role in appointing initial commissioners from three-name lists
• Secretary of Energy, who becomes a cabinet member overseeing the PSC, directing its agenda and managing its staff
• Alabama residents and ratepayers, who gain increased public oversight and annual public meetings on utility issues

Key Provisions

• Expansion of the Public Service Commission to seven commissioners representing congressional districts with phased representation to be complete by January 2031
• Initial appointments in 2026: four commissioners (two with two-year terms and two with four-year terms) from three-name lists provided by state leaders; lists due by June 1, 2026
• Elections phased in 2026, 2028, and 2030, with all terms thereafter six years long for those elected after June 1, 2026
• Creation of the Secretary of Energy as a governor-appointed cabinet member who directs the PSC, sets meeting agendas, oversees personnel, and is subject to ethics laws
• Provisions for vacancy filling by the Governor from three-name lists and a process to ensure qualified appointees
• Prohibition on base rate increases before January 1, 2029 and prohibition on including certain costs (grants/funding, lobbying, non-safety advertising) in rate calculations starting in 2029; utilities must affirm compliance or rates can be voided and investigated
• Annual public meetings convened by PSC and staff with utility representatives to discuss cost trends and infrastructure issues
• Conforming amendments to 17-14-2, 17-14-3, and 36-3-1 and repeal of Section 37-1-9 to reflect the new structure

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 13, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications & Utilities