Alabama Names First Black Utility Commissioners in 145 Years

Alabama just made history by shattering a 145-year barrier at the state agency that regulates everyone's electricity bills.

Governor Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Demarcus Joiner, an attorney, and Quinton Ross, president of Alabama State University, will become the first Black commissioners in the history of Alabama's Public Service Commission. They'll join retired Army General Ron Burgess and telecommunications executive Fred Johnson as four new appointees expanding the commission from three to seven members.

The timing couldn't be more significant. The commission was founded in 1881 as the Alabama Railroad Commission, and its early leadership included former Confederate officers. Bull Connor, the notorious Birmingham police commissioner condemned worldwide for using dogs and fire hoses against civil rights protesters in the 1960s, even served on the body.

Ronald Ali, president of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, received the news while walking through a historic Mobile cemetery filled with Confederate grave markers. "This displays a hope for Alabama and for America," he told reporters.

The new commissioners face real challenges ahead. Alabama Power customers currently pay the highest total electric bills among the nation's 100 largest utilities, and frustrated voters ousted two sitting commissioners in recent primaries over energy costs.

The Ripple Effect

The appointments represent more than symbolic progress. Ali emphasized these weren't quota-filling choices but selections based on genuine qualifications and experience. The commissioners will make crucial decisions affecting millions of Alabamians' utility bills and energy future.

Starting in 2027, commissioners will be elected by congressional district rather than statewide, giving more communities direct representation. Current PSC President Cynthia Lee Almond welcomed the incoming members, saying their diverse backgrounds "will prove to be an asset to the Commission."

The four appointees bring serious credentials to the table. Burgess brings military leadership experience, Johnson understands telecommunications infrastructure, Joiner offers legal expertise, and Ross leads a major state university. Together, they'll oversee Alabama's utility companies and approve rate increases that directly impact every household.

Governor Ivey said she expects the new commissioners "to serve with honesty and integrity" as Alabama works to balance affordable energy with reliable service. For a state once defined by segregation and exclusion, January 2027 will mark a long-overdue step toward representation that reflects the people these commissioners serve.