MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Public Service Commission, which regulates the state’s monopoly utilities, is under renewed scrutiny as critics say its recent actions have made it harder for the public to participate in or even observe key regulatory proceedings.
The PSC, a three-member body elected statewide, oversees utilities like Alabama Power and Spire, companies that provide essential services to millions of residents who have no alternative providers. While the commission holds monthly meetings and posts agendas in advance, it has adopted rules that sharply restrict how the public and the press can document or broadcast its formal hearings. Under the so-called Media Coverage Plan, live streaming and even social media updates from inside hearings are banned. Journalists must request permission to record at least five days in advance, and any party involved in a hearing can veto recording at any time.
These restrictions have drawn criticism from media law experts and transparency advocates, who argue that the commission is effectively shielding its work from public scrutiny. The Alabama Press Association and other groups have publicly objected, saying the PSC’s policy “places unprecedented authority in the hands of a select few persons and is clearly meant to suppress public scrutiny based on a single vote.” The PSC maintains the rules are necessary to preserve the integrity of formal hearings, but critics say the effect is to “shut down the Public Service Commission to the public”.
Transparency concerns extend beyond media access. A 2024 study found that much of the PSC’s oversight of Alabama Power, including decisions about multi-billion-dollar investments, takes place behind closed doors. Unlike many other states, Alabama does not provide ratepayers a meaningful opportunity to review or comment on utilities’ long-term resource plans before they are approved. Clean energy groups and consumer advocates have repeatedly been denied access to documents and hearings, fueling concerns that the commission is making decisions with little public input or oversight.
Meeting minutes from June 2025 show that while the PSC does allow public attendance at its regular meetings and reports on consumer complaints, its most consequential decisions—such as rate adjustments and special agreements between utilities—are often handled with minimal discussion and no opportunity for public comment.
With Alabamians facing some of the highest utility bills in the region and no choice but to buy power from monopoly providers, advocates say the least the commission can do is ensure transparency and give the public a real voice in how rates are set and services are delivered. For now, many remain frustrated by a system that seems designed to keep the public in the dark.