Gov. Kay Ivey appoints four new Alabama PSC members as commission expansion takes shape

Governor Kay Ivey announced the appointment of four new members to the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) this Wednesday, marking a significant step in the state's utility regulator expansion authorized by lawmakers earlier this year.

These appointments arrive on the heels of a shakeup in the PSC primary runoffs, where former state auditor Jim Zeigler unseated incumbent Commissioner Chris Beeker for the Place 2 seat. This follows the May 19 primary, which saw Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry defeat incumbent Jeremy Oden by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. Both Zeigler and Gentry head to the November ballot to face Democratic challengers, while current PSC Chair Cynthia Almond remains in her position.

Meet the New Commissioners

The four new appointees, set to assume their roles on January 18, 2027, were selected from a list of nominations submitted by legislative leadership from both sides of the aisle. The terms will be split, with two members serving two-year terms and two serving four-year terms:

• Ron Burgess: A retired three-star general and former executive vice president at Auburn University. The former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency will serve a four-year term.
• Fred Johnson: A veteran executive with over four decades of experience in telecommunications and electric distribution, including 23 years as CEO of Farmers Telecommunications. He will serve a two-year term.
• Demarcus Joiner: An associate at Maynard Nexsen with extensive background in public policy via the University of Alabama System. He will serve a two-year term.
• Quinton Ross Jr.: The current president of Alabama State University and a former state senator with over 20 years of experience in education. He will serve a four-year term.

Regulatory Shift and Public Scrutiny

The commission is undergoing a structural transition from three members to seven under the “Power to the People Act.” According to Ivey’s spokesperson, Gina Maiola, the legislation eliminates the requirement for commissioners to work full-time, noting that the new Secretary of Energy position will handle day-to-day administrative burdens and agenda setting.

The expansion arrives amid intense public pressure regarding utility costs. Federal data shows Alabama residential electricity consumers paid an average of 17.01 cents per kilowatt-hour in March, ranking as the highest in the South. Advocacy group Energy Alabama has welcomed the expansion, with policy manager John Dodd emphasizing that the commission must prioritize consumers and address the fact that the utility has not undergone a full, open rate case since 1981.

While the new law includes an electric rate freeze, critics like Dodd have characterized it as a temporary pause rather than a long-term solution, particularly as the freeze is slated to expire in 2029.

As the commission grows, the transition faces potential legal hurdles. Sheila McNeil, the Democratic candidate for PSC Place 2, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of restructuring the commission while the election cycle is already underway.