Commissioner-Elect Jim Zeigler
Alabama Public Service Commission • Place 2
Jim Zeigler takes his seat on the Public Service Commission on January 18, 2027, when the Commission grows from three members to seven. He will be one of its two elected members, answerable to the voters who sent him there.
★ The Commission He Joins
A New Commission, Two Elected Seats
This year the Legislature expanded the Public Service Commission from three seats to seven. Four new members appointed by the Governor are seated in January 2027. Jim Zeigler (Place 2) and Matt Gentry (Place 1) were the two seats left to the voters on November 3, and both were won by Republicans.
The same law froze base utility rates until January 1, 2029, and created a Secretary of Energy. Going forward, a formal rate case can only be called by the Secretary or by five of the seven commissioners.
As one of the two elected commissioners, Jim Zeigler answers directly to the voters, and he will work with Governor-elect Tuberville and the Secretary of Energy to keep Alabama’s power affordable and reliable.
★ A Statement from the Commissioner-Elect
Alabama Posted a Watchman
On Tuesday, November 3, Alabama voters posted a Watchman on the Public Service Commission.
A watchman’s job is to see what is coming and keep the people informed. What is coming to Alabama is growth. Data centers and the investment that comes with them are headed our way, and Governor-elect Tuberville has set the rule they will live by: build what you need, replace what you take. I stand with him. If Big Tech creates the power shock, Big Tech pays for the power solution, not Alabama families.
The rate freeze protects Alabama families while these facilities are built. My job is to make sure every large power contract that comes before the Commission meets the law, and that the people know what is being built in their communities and how much power and water it will use. When a project is headed for your county, you will hear about it from me early.
I look forward to working with Governor-elect Tuberville, his Secretary of Energy and my fellow commissioners to keep Alabama’s power affordable and reliable.
Thank you for trusting me with this post. I take it on January 18, and I intend to stay awake on it.
— Jim Zeigler, Commissioner-Elect, Public Service Commission, Place 2
On the Commission
Review Every Rate Request
Review rate requests thoroughly, ask detailed questions, and make public how costs are recovered from ratepayers. The same standard for natural gas as for electricity.
Big Tech Pays Its Own Way
Cost-allocation rules so the companies that drive new power plants and power lines pay for them — not Alabama households.
Publish the List
Make public every data center operating, proposed, or under construction in Alabama, with its projected power and water use.
Sound the Alarm Early
Tell the public and local officials about large projects before they are a done deal, not after.
A Record of Service
✓ Public Service Commission — elected to the Commission nearly fifty years ago, and elected again in 2026
✓ State Auditor, elected twice, 2015–2023
✓ First elected official to call for Governor Robert Bentley’s impeachment
✓ Led the grassroots effort that stopped the I-10 Mobile Bay toll
Reach Jim Zeigler
Have a concern about your utility bill, a pipeline, a railroad crossing, or a data center or solar project coming to your community? Jim wants to hear about it.