INTRODUCTION TO THE APSC

Commissioners (left to right) Jan Cook, Jim Sullivan and George C. Wallace, Jr.

The activities and accomplishments of the Alabama Public Service Commission during the period October 1, 1999, to September 30, 2000, are presented in this annual report. The Alabama Public Service Commission is a quasi-judicial regulatory body whose jurisdiction, powers and duties are delegated to it by the Alabama Legislature. The Commission derives its authority from the Code of Alabama, 1975, Sections 24-1-28, 10-2-231, 10-5-3, 10-5-4, 10-5-7, 11-50-268, 11-50-269, 11-50-270, 37-1-32, 37-2-3, 37-2-171, 37-3-7, 37-4-60, 37-4-82, 37-4-108, 37-9-8, and 37-9-9.

The Public Service Commission has been charged with the responsibility for the regulation of public utilities and some aspects of the transportation industry doing business in Alabama. These include privately-owned corporations providing electric, gas, water and telecommunications service to the public, plus railroads, buses, some trucking companies, and taxis operating outside police jurisdictions.

The three elected Commissioners -- a president and two associate commissioners -- administer all functions of the Commission. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms, with the president's term staggered by two years from the two associate commissioners.

The Commission supervises and regulates utilities and some aspects of public transportation to ensure adequate service and facilities are made available at rates that are reasonable. The law prohibits variation from established rates. The quasi-judicial status of the Commission requires conducting public hearings on applications, petitions, and complaints, together with the rendering of decisions on those proceedings.

The Commission operates solely from inspection and supervision fees received from the companies regulated and appropriated by the Legislature.

The various divisions conduct the work of the Commission. A statement of the function, operational procedure and accomplishments of these divisions during FY-00 appears in this report, which is published by the Public Affairs section of the Advisory Division.

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