Alabama Republican Assembly resolution rejecting SB 360

The Alabama Republican Assembly Board of Directors Conference March 11, 2026

Resolution

Rejecting Alabama Senate Bill 360 "Power to the People Act," as a risky move that undermines utility regulation and equal representation for Alabamians. 

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 360, hastily introduced on March 10, 2026, and misleadingly titled the "Power to the People Act," represents the most radical and disruptive overhaul of the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) in over a century by ballooning the commission from three statewide-elected commissioners to seven elected by congressional district, creating a new cabinet-level Secretary of Energy, imposing a multi-year moratorium on electric retail base rate adjustments, and imposing other sweeping restrictions on utility operations; and

WHEREAS, this proposal cynically abandons the proven, century-old system of statewide elections that guarantees every Alabamian, regardless of geography, an equal vote in choosing officials who regulate essential services like electricity, natural gas, and water, replacing it with a fragmented, district-based model that invites, regional favoritism, and the very politicization the bill falsely claims to prevent; and

WHEREAS, linking PSC elections with congressional districts could introduce needless confusion, potential legal issues, and political division into the unbiased regulation of utilities that provide energy to homes, businesses, and industries throughout our state; and

WHEREAS, the bill's complicated phase-in process, which includes the governor appointing four initial commissioners in 2026 and holding staggered elections through 2030, would result in years of instability, possible conflicts of interest, and a weakened commission that would struggle to provide steady, experienced oversight during an important time for energy and infrastructure needs; and

WHEREAS, the proposed rate freeze through June 1, 2029, and blanket prohibitions on recovering certain costs, while superficially appealing, represent heavy-handed government interference that could deter necessary investments in reliable, affordable energy, invite costly litigation, shift burdens unfairly among ratepayers, and ultimately harm the very consumers the bill purports to protect; and

WHEREAS, it is essential that voters are informed of the financial sources supporting candidates for public office and elected officials, including disclosure of the sources, amounts, and timing of contributions related to SB 360; and

WHEREAS, far from empowering the people, SB 360 constitutes a thinly veiled attempt to manipulate control of the PSC under the guise of reform, risking higher long-term costs, reduced service reliability, and erosion of the statewide accountability that has safeguarded Alabama families and businesses for generations; now therefore be it

RESOLVED THAT THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY strongly condemns Senate Bill 360 for threatening Alabama's energy future, disrupting statewide representation, and favoring corporate interference over sound policy. We call for SB 360 to be rejected and dismissed from consideration.

RESOLVED FURTHER THAT, no amendments short of complete preservation of the current three-commissioner, statewide-elected structure and rejection of district-based elections and arbitrary rate controls will suffice to render this bill acceptable; any effort to advance it will be met with resolute opposition in defense of Alabama's ratepayers and economic stability.

RESOLVED FURTHER THAT, the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to promptly provide certified copies of this resolution to the sponsor and all co-sponsors of SB 360, the Chair and members of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor, as a formal and unequivocal statement of this body's strong objection.

ADOPTED this 11th day of March 2026.

The Alabama Republican Assembly 

John Rice, Resolutions Committee, Phone 334-524-2100

Murray Edwards, Alabama Republican Assembly – Phone 334-220-2658