The Alabama Public Service Commission is supposed to be the big dog on the porch of the people, not the whiny mini chihuahua in the pocket of Alabama's biggest utility companies.

Prompted by questions about utility rates, Republican Commissioner Terry Dunn went to fellow GOP commissioners - PSC president Twinkle Cavanaugh and Commissioner Jeremy Oden - with a wild notion: "Hey, let's formally review the rate structure!"

With his litter mates, Dunn is now about as popular as a wet dog at a wedding.

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Birmingham News and al.com columnist

writes:

"You'd have thought he had outed himself as Barack Obama's secret lover.

(Dunn) says he was called before House Speaker Mike Hubbard and told he was "taking his job too seriously."

"How can a formal review of the rate structure - particularly in light of al.com reports that show Alagasco customers often pay higher rates than those in Mississippi, and that Alabama Power commercial and residential customers pay more than their counterparts in Georgia - be bad for the people or the economy?"

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Alabamians just want answers to a few questions: Are we paying more than we should? Why? Is the PSC in cahoots with the utility companies?

If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear. Let's have a formal review of the state utilities rate structure and let's invite everybody to the party - yes, even those dang environmentalists Ms. Cavanaugh vows to block.

You work for us, PSC. Take a deep breath, quit playing politics and do your job.

Do y'all have any questions for the PSC?

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