Alabama lawmakers advanced two bills Wednesday aimed at changing how the Alabama Public Service Commission operates and how electric rates are set.

Rep. Mack Butler’s House Bill 475 seeks to add regular oversight of Alabama Power’s rates by requiring the Public Service Commission to hold one formal rate case hearing every three years. Butler said, “I’m trying to hold the PSC accountable because I’m 62 years old and the last time they had a real rate case hearing I was still in high school. I think it’s more than time.”

Rate case hearings are formal proceedings that include sworn testimony, where utilities justify the rates they charge and present financial information.

Meanwhile, a separate PSC proposal moved quickly in the Senate after being introduced Tuesday and reaching committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 360, titled the “Power to the People Act,” would expand the commission from three members to seven by adding four new members. The bill would also freeze electric rate hikes until 2029 and prevent utilities from passing certain costs — such as lobbying or advertising — onto customers.

The legislation would also create a new cabinet-level “secretary of energy” to oversee operations at the commission. Sen. Clyde Chambliss said, “It transitions the top current staff position at PSC to a Secretary of Energy, a cabinet level appointment. That person has been and will be under the secretary responsible for the agendas and administration of the PSC.”

Chambliss said the position would not have unlimited control over the commission’s agenda due to checks and balances in the bill. “If five of the seven commission members want to add amend take away from the agenda five of the commission members can do so. It’s not absolute power,” he said.

Butler criticized the Senate proposal, saying, “I was not personally thrilled with it. I just felt like it’s growing government. As republicans our job is to shrink government and lower taxes and return more power to the people. I’m not sure that legislation is doing it.”

Unlike Butler’s House Bill 475, Senate Bill 360 does not mention open rate case hearings.

During a public hearing, two people spoke against Chambliss’ bill, including John Dodd, Energy Alabama’s policy manager. Dodd told ABC 33/40 one of his main complaints was, “It will establish a secretary of energy for the state of Alabama, something that’s not only unprecedented but is appointed. That secretary is only held accountable to the governor’s office. They have no election accountability. That it a huge problem in my eyes.”

Both bills will now head to the floor of their respective chamber.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Members of the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee heard from more than a dozen people in their Wednesday morning meeting about whether the state should close its primary elections or keep them open.

Closed primaries would mean only registered republicans can vote in republican primaries, and only registered democrats can vote in democratic primaries.

“Closed primaries protect the voice of the people who are truly invested in the party’s vision,” said Carol Johns, secretary of Alabama’s Republican Party, who spoke in favor of HB541.

Alabama voters currently do not have to declare a political party affiliation when registering to vote.

Other public speakers disagreed with the idea.

Some said that they feel the open primaries give them the flexibility to choose the candidates that most align with their views rather than selecting a single political party.

“I’m not Democrat, not Republican, I am an unaffiliated voter who defended everything that you stand for,” said Andrew Newby, a former Marine who spoke in opposition to HB541. “I’m not allowed to vote in this state. That defies reasoning.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), said he wants to discourage anyone from voting in primaries with the intention of bringing unqualified candidates to the general election.

“My bigger concern here is that we have closed primaries so that everyone gets to choose the party that they want to vote for, and the candidate, the nominee that they vote for, reflects the party’s values,” he said.

However, the committee’s democratic members, including Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), pushed back on the idea.

“If this bill passes, in order to participate, I got to pick a party before I pick a candidate,” he said.

While there are states that already have closed primaries, Rep. England said he is against the idea for any state.

“It’s the antithesis of what democracy is supposed to be about,” he said.

The committee did hold a vote on House Bill 541 after the public comment. Chairman Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) said that the committee will hold a final vote on the bill during a special meeting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. central.

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