Introduction
In my 11 years covering environmental news in Alabama, I’ve had sources, in and out of government, share tales of trepidation in their dealings with Alabama Power, one of the most powerful and omnipresent forces in the state.
An official in the state’s environmental department asked me nervously if the company was mad when it agreed to pay a record $1 million fine in 2018 for coal ash violations.
The Investigation
My colleague Lee Hedgepeth and I began our reporting by examining the federal filings of the 100 largest utilities in the country and found none reported higher total residential bills than Alabama Power.
We found that Alabama Power’s record high profits were ignored or even obfuscated by the Public Service Commission, the regulator that is supposed to be a watchdog for consumers.
Environmental Impact
We investigated how the company's very expensive electricity carried a huge climate and environmental footprint.
What we found was astonishing: An Alabama Power coal plant has been the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country for nearly a decade, and the company’s decision to leave millions of tons of coal ash in unlined lagoons on Alabama rivers threatens some of the country’s most sensitive ecosystems.
Consequences
Our reporting was re-published and cited by several media outlets, including the Chattanooga Times Free Press, WBHM, Alabama Reflector, Yahoo! News, News from the States, The Guardian and more.
After that, numerous local TV stations and media outlets began their own reporting on Alabama Power’s high rates.
Legislation
Now, the Alabama Legislature seems poised to pass the first meaningful utility reform in decades.
Several bills have been filed this session by legislators who aim to rev up PSC oversight and to rein in the power of Alabama Power.
One bill would require Alabama Power to undergo rate case hearings every three years and would limit the company’s profits to a regional average.
If that bill passes before the session ends in April, Alabama Power will have to face formal rate case hearings for the first time since 1981.
Conclusion
It’s far from a guarantee, but the chance to require real public oversight of Alabama Power is closer than it has been in my lifetime.
Inside Climate News will be closely following this story in the days, weeks and months to come.
Source / Reference
Source: email://[email protected]/The%20path%20to%20real%20public%20oversight_48