Mary Caitlyn Montgomery

The commission discussed various items including the proclamation for 811 Safe Digging Month, consumer service inquiries related to billing and telecommunications, and natural gas utility reports regarding projected returns on equity. The commission also considered a rate increase filing, various interconnection agreements, and applications to cancel certificates and withdraw tariffs. Furthermore, the meeting included updates on gas pipeline safety activities, railway safety incidents, motor carrier services, and a report on electricity policy, specifically focusing on rates, energy cost recovery, and financial examinations of Alabama Power.

The meeting included reports on consumer service complaint inquiries, rate adjustments for utility companies, and the approval of a Special Services Agreement. Discussions covered gas pipeline safety inspections, enforcement actions, and incident reports. The commission reviewed railway safety activities, motor carrier registration and insurance compliance, and various petitions for certificate reinstatement or cancellation. Additionally, updates were provided on electric utility rate filings, and the commission addressed show cause proceedings for delinquent companies. The session concluded with the recognition of an outgoing judge for his long-term service.

The regularly scheduled monthly meeting involved the approval of minutes from the February 3rd, 2026, regular meeting and the February 17th, 2026, special commission meeting. New business included reports from utility services. The natural gas agenda covered preliminary figures for the RSSE return on average common equity for Spire Gulf Inc. and Spire Alabama Inc., noting one was within range and the other below range. A vote was required for Spire Alabama Inc.'s application regarding a special services contract change with Solution Inc. The utility enforcement division reported on railway safety, including track defects, incidents such as vehicle strikes and a derailment, and motor carrier services compliance. The electricity division presented monthly updates on rates RSC and ECR for Alabama Power Company, noting an underrecovery of approximately $60 million for ECR. An annual update to rate PAEE concerning energy payments for qualifying facilities under PERPA (Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978) was also discussed, clarifying the commission's authority only pertains to the PPA contract itself, not the building company if the facility size exceeds 80 megawatts.

The meeting covered several administrative and operational reports. The Utility Services division report addressed consumer services for electric and gas utilities, including an update on the Spire Alabama zero meter usage issue resolution. The division noted a decrease in telecommunications complaints due to reduced jurisdiction. Gas agenda items involved reporting the Revenue Requirement Staff Submitting Estimate (RSSE) results for Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf, with Spire Alabama's return being within the authorized range and Spire Gulf's being below its range. A contract for natural gas sale and purchase between Spire Alabama and JP Morgan Chase Bank NA was recommended for approval. The Utility Enforcement division reported on railway safety, noting 56 track defects and addressing four incidents, including a mainline derailment that resulted in a fatality. Motor carrier services reported lower vehicle registrations but average filings, and a household good tariff was accepted after corrections. The Electricity Policy division presented findings on Alabama Power Company's rate RSSE, showing a weighted return of 6.07% and recognizing revenue allocations to the natural disaster reserve, along with an underrecovery of approximately $31 million for energy costs (ECR). The Legal division handled multiple docket items concerning the reinstatement of motor carrier certificates for several companies that had lapsed insurance coverage, and the cancellation of one certificate.

Key discussions focused on personnel appointments. A motion was passed to provisionally appoint Mr. Luke Bentley as the chief administrative law judge, subject to state personnel requirements, and to appoint him as the commission's acting executive director pending a memorandum signed by all three commissioners detailing his duties. Additionally, a motion was made to provisionally appoint Mr. Devin Bey as secretary of the commission, also subject to state personnel requirements and approvals, and naming him acting secretary pending permanent appointment processes.