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Alabama Public Service Commission
| Alabama Public Service Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $114,639 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $21,511,855 |
| Total Seats: | 3 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Code of Alabama, Title 37-1-1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Cynthia Almond, Chris Beeker, III, Jeremy Oden | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other Alabama Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Alabama Public Service Commission is a quasi-executive, elected agency of the Alabama state government, responsible for regulating the state's utility companies. The commission's mission is to "ensure a regulatory balance between regulated companies and consumers in order to provide consumers with safe, adequate and reliable services at rates that are equitable and economical."[1]
Current officeholder
| Office | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Public Service Commission Place 1 | Jeremy Oden | Republican |
| Alabama Public Service Commission Place 2 | Chris Beeker, III | Republican |
| Alabama Public Service Commission President | Cynthia Almond | Republican |
Authority
The Alabama Public Service Commission was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1915 out of the existing Railroad Commission created in 1881. Between 1881-1915 the duties of the commission were expanded to include regulating utilities that provided electricity, gas, water and steam, leading the legislature to decide on the change. Since then it has been further expanded to include utility rates, motor transportation companies, air carriers, and natural gas transmission and distribution.[1]
The Public Service Commission's authority and duties and are established by Title 37 of the Code of Alabama.[2]
Section 37-1-1:
| A commission to be known as the Public Service Commission, consisting of a president and two associates who shall be competent persons and qualified electors of this state, is established. |
Qualifications
The only qualification established for members of the Public Service Commission is that the incumbent may not be an employee or have any "pecuniary interest," including stock ownership, in any utility.[3]
Code of Alabama, Section 37-1-6:
| No person owning any stock in any utility, or in the employment of any utility or pecuniarily interested in any utility, as defined in this title, shall be eligible to the office of public service commissioner. |
Elections
Presidents of the Public Service Commission are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday every four years during presidential election years (2016, 2020, 2024, etc.). Two associate commissioners are elected every four years during congressional midterm election years (2018, 2022, 2026, etc.).[4] Presidents assume office on the day after election.
Term limits
There are no term limits for the those on the Public Service Commission.
2024
General election candidates
- Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
Democratic primary candidates
The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
Republican primary candidates
- Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (Incumbent) ✔
- Robert McCollum
2022
Place 1
General election candidates
- Jeremy Oden (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Ron Bishop (Libertarian Party)
Republican primary runoff candidates
- Jeremy Oden (Incumbent) ✔
- Brent Woodall
Democratic primary candidates
The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
Republican primary candidates
- Jeremy Oden (Incumbent) ✔
- John Hammock
- Stephen McLamb
- Brent Woodall ✔
Place 2
General election candidates
- Chris Beeker (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Laura Lane (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary runoff candidates
- Chris Beeker (Incumbent) ✔
- Robert McCollum
Democratic primary candidates
The Democratic Party primary was canceled. No candidates filed for this race.
Republican primary candidates
- Chris Beeker (Incumbent) ✔
- Robin Litaker
- Robert McCollum ✔
2020
General election candidates
- Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Laura Casey (Democratic Party)
Democratic primary candidates
Republican primary candidates
- Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (Incumbent) ✔
- Robin Litaker
Past elections
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed in Section 37-1-3 of the Alabama Code.[5] If a vacancy occurs on the public service commission, the governor has the power to fill the unexpired term.
Duties
Commissioners supervise and regulate the state's electricity, gas, water, railroad, and telecommunications companies. Additionally, commissioners supervise transportation companies operating toll bridges, ferries, or roads. The commission's mission is "[t]o ensure a regulatory balance between regulated companies and consumers in order to provide consumers with safe, adequate and reliable services at rates that are equitable and economical."[1]
Divisions
As of January 5, 2021, divisions within the Public Service Commission included:[1]
- Electricity
- Utility Services
- Gas Pipeline Safety
- Utility Enforcement (Transportation)
- Administrative
- Legal
State budget
- See also: Alabama state budget and finances
The budget for the Public Service Commission in Fiscal Year 2025 was $21,511,855.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $114,639, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $106,594, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $106,594, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $107,258 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $103,490 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $103,490 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $103,490 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $103,490, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $103,490, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the commissioners each received a salary of $103,490, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the commissioners were paid an estimated $103,490, according to the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
Since 1881, Alabama has had 20 public service commission presidents.[17]
Click "show" for former officeholders.
| Name | Took office | Left office | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walter L. Bragg | February 1881 | February 1885 | ||
| 2 | Henry R. Shorter | February 1885 | February 1897 | ||
| 3 | James Crook | February 1897 | February 1901 | ||
| 4 | John V. Smith | March 1901 | March 1905 | ||
| 5 | B.B. Comer | March 1905 | January 1907 | ||
| 6 | Charles Henderson | January 1907 | January 1915 | ||
| 7 | Samuel P. Kennedy | June 1915 | January 1923 | ||
| 8 | A.G. Patterson | January 1923 | January 1927 | ||
| 9 | Hugh White | January 1927 | January 1945 | ||
| 10 | Gordon Persons | January 1945 | January 1951 | ||
| 11 | C.C. (Jack) Owen | January 1951 | January 1965 | ||
| 12 | Eugene (Bull) Conner | January 1965 | January 1973 | ||
| 13 | Kenneth Hammond | January 1973 | December 1975 | ||
| 14 | C.C. Whatley | December 1975 | January 1977 | ||
| 15 | Juanita W. McDaniel | January 1977 | February 1980 | ||
| 16 | William J. Samford, Jr. | February 1980 | January 1981 | ||
| 17 | Billy Joe Camp | January 1981 | January 1983 | ||
| 18 | Jim Sullivan | February 1983 | November 2008 | ||
| 19 | Lucy Baxley | November 2008 | November 2012 | Democratic | |
| 20 | Twinkle Cavanaugh | November 2012 | June 2025 | Republican | |
| 21 | Cynthia Almond | June 2025 | Present | Republican |
Contact information
Physical address:
100 N. Union Street, RSA Union
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-242-5218
See also
| Alabama | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Alabama Public Service Commission, "Mission & History, accessed April 24, 2011
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Title 37 - Public Service Commission," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 37-1-6," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 37-1-3," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 37-1-3," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Department of Finance, "Act 2024-355," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ Alabama Public Service Commission, "Past Commissioners," accessed April 24, 2011
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