Alabama Arise’s Robyn Hyden testified Tuesday before the House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee in opposition to HB 392 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger’s Island, which would change the Public Service Commission from an elected board to an appointed one. Here is the full text of Hyden’s prepared remarks:

Good morning. I am Robyn Hyden, the executive director of Alabama Arise, a nonprofit coalition of faith-based, civic and community groups and individuals across our state working to alleviate poverty. I’m here today on behalf of our 155 member organizations, 2,000 individual members, and people across our state who have reached out and expressed alarm about this proposal. 

Alabama Arise was founded in the late 1980s by a group of citizens concerned about utility rates and the lack of oversight of public utilities with monopoly power in our state. Over the years, we have supported efforts for more transparency and accountability around utility rates. This year, our members asked us to revisit what can be done about Alabama’s highest power rates in the U.S. South.

This bill is a major step backward in our efforts toward greater transparency and accountability. We know just how unpopular this bill is with the general public, and I’m not just speculating here. We have a recent example of our legislature seeking to transition a government board from an elected to an appointed body, and just how unpopular that was.

In 2019, the Alabama Legislature voted to support a constitutional amendment that would make the Alabama Board of Education an appointed, not an elected, body. When this issue went to the ballot for a vote of the people, it was defeated overwhelmingly, with more than 75% of voters choosing to retain their right to vote and not to delegate that power.

We reject the notion that “people do not know who represents them” on the Public Service Commission. The purpose of public elections is that elected commissioners are accountable to the voting public every four years and must answer for regulatory issues, including the rate-setting process, during those elections.

We also reject the notion that this bill will reduce “outside influence.” The fact is, utility companies will have an outsized influence on the process through the ability to give large contributions to state lawmakers who will be appointing their regulators.

We urge you to protect the people’s right to vote and to hold this commission accountable. Please vote no on HB 392.