When most people hear the phrase “Public Service Commission,” their eyes glaze over. It doesn’t sound exciting, and it certainly doesn’t sound like something that affects your day-to-day life. But here’s the thing: the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC) is one of the most important government bodies you’ve probably never heard of.

The APSC is made up of three elected commissioners who serve four-year terms:

• Cynthia Lee Almond – the Commission’s President (or Chair)
• Jeremy H. Oden – Commissioner for Place 1
• Chris “Chip” Beeker III – Commissioner for Place 2

They don’t get much attention, but they make decisions that hit close to home. The APSC oversees electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, water systems, pipelines, and even some transportation. In other words, if you flip on a light switch, pay a power bill, or rely on a cell phone tower, the Commission has a say in it.

Unlike legislators who juggle hundreds of issues, commissioners specialize in utilities and energy. Their job is complicated and technical. It’s full of engineering reports, financial spreadsheets, and legal filings. It takes time, judgment, and a willingness to listen to experts. It’s not glamorous work, but it touches nearly every Alabama family.

The Alabama PSC meeting I watched earlier this month looked like any small-town council meeting at first: they opened with a prayer, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved minutes from the last meeting.

Then the real business began.

One by one, staff presented agenda items:

• Updates on gas company earnings and customer service complaints.
• Pipeline safety inspections and training reports.
• Requests from Alabama Power to adjust certain rates and retire old rate schedules.
• Petitions from wastewater companies to expand or shrink their service areas.

Some decisions are routine. Others carry major consequences for the state’s energy future.

One item that stood out was a petition from rooftop solar customers, the Whitehurst family, who asked the PSC to review the rates Alabama Power charges them for electricity - and the rates it pays them for the solar power they send back to the grid. This net metering issue has been debated for years, and despite the Whitehursts bringing their case forward, the PSC ultimately dismissed it because there wasn’t enough formal evidence to change the policy. It’s a good reminder that individual homeowners can bring their concerns to the PSC, but they should also keep in mind that these cases are complex and require solid technical documentation to move forward.

Another major decision involved Alabama Power’s request to purchase the Lindsay Hill natural gas plant, an 895-megawatt facility in Autauga County. This plant has been operating since 2002 and still has roughly 17 years of useful life left. Alabama Power argued it needed the plant to meet future electricity demand, and after a public hearing where the Alabama Attorney General’s office and advocacy groups weighed in, the PSC approved the purchase. This may sound like a technical detail, but in reality, it means billions of dollars in costs. The direction of Alabama’s energy mix - and ultimately the reliability of the grid - all hinge on decisions like this.

So why does this matter? What always strikes me about state public service commissions is how much responsibility sits on the shoulders of just three people and their staff. These commissioners hear from lawyers, engineers, utility executives, and advocates, and then have to make tough calls that affect electricity bills, economic development, and that state’s long-term energy direction. After watching, I came away with a new respect for the folks who do this job. Commissioners Almond, Oden, and Beeker aren’t flashy politicians. They’re public servants — often overworked, certainly underpaid compared to the industries they regulate, and tasked with reading stacks of technical reports that most of us would never want to touch.

And here’s the kicker: the PSC is elected in Alabama. That means the people of Alabama choose who sits in those seats. Yet, PSC elections get little attention compared to races for governor or legislature.

So here’s the takeaway - if you care about your power bill, the reliability of your electricity, or whether Alabama invests in clean energy, you need to care about the PSC. Watch a meeting, read up on the commissioners, and most importantly - vote when these seats are on the ballot.

Because while it may not make the evening news, the PSC is setting Alabama’s energy policy right now. And that affects all of us.