Business · Companies · 18 hrs ago
Alabama commission asks power company to stop billing for ads early
Alabama’s Public Service Commission asked Alabama Power to stop billing customers for advertising before a new state law takes effect.
Alabama Power supplies electricity across about two-thirds of the state and can currently include half its non-safety advertising costs in customer rates.
The commission’s request is voluntary, and the company has not said whether it will agree.
Alabama Power spent more than $6 million on general advertising last year, though it is unclear how much customers paid for.
A law passed earlier this year will bar the company from charging customers for those ads starting in 2029.
The commission says the change could help protect customers who have faced high electricity bills, but the next step depends on whether Alabama Power consents.
Alabama’s Public Service Commission asked Alabama Power to stop billing customers for advertising costs before a new state law takes effect in 2029.
The request asks the company to voluntarily exclude all advertising expenses from retail rate setting through December 31, 2028.
Commission President Cynthia Lee Almond proposed the request, and commissioners Jeremy Oden and Chris Beeker IV voted in favor.
Alabama Power spent more than $6 million on general advertising last year, according to company filings.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- Who
- Alabama’s Public Service Commission asked Alabama Power to stop billing customers for advertising costs.
- What
- The commission requested that the company voluntarily exclude all advertising expenses from retail rate setting until the end of 2028.
- When
- The request was made during a Tuesday commission meeting. The article was published November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Alabama.
- Why
- A new state law will prohibit Alabama Power from including the costs of the commercials in customers’ bills starting in 2029. The commission asked the company to act earlier.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Alabama passed a law prohibiting Alabama Power from including the costs of the commercials in customers’ bills, with the law due to take effect in 2029.
Commission President Cynthia Lee Almond proposed asking Alabama Power to stop billing customers for advertising costs before the law takes effect.
Commissioners Jeremy Oden and Chris Beeker IV voted in favor of the request.
The commission is due to expand from three members to seven.
The new law is due to take effect.
- Commission request
- Voluntarily exclude all advertising expenses from retail rate setting through December 31, 2028
- Current billing rules
- Alabama Power can bill customers for half of its non-public safety advertising costs
- Advertising spending
- More than $6 million in general advertising last year
- Commission vote
- Cynthia Lee Almond proposed the request; Jeremy Oden and Chris Beeker IV voted yes
- Commission expansion
- Membership is due to increase from three to seven in January
What people are saying
I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t go ahead and take steps now to begin that process, rather than waiting until Jan. 1, 2029
I move that the commission request that Alabama Power consent to exclude all advertising expenses from retail rate setting until after Dec. 31, 2028, when the new law takes effect
We are grateful for the leadership of President Almond and the full commission for acting to end customers paying for Alabama Power’s advertising
Once in place, Alabama will have one of the strongest customer protections in the nation on this front