The Commission was charged with the regulation of utilities providing electricity, gas, water, and steam, companies
operating streets or inter-urban railways, as well as rail and communication companies being regulated by the former
Railroad Commission. The new Commission’s regulation of utilities included approving the sale or lease of utility property or franchises. The Commission was composed of three elected members: a president and two associate commissioners. 

The Commission's authority was broadened in 1920 when the Legislature made it responsible for utility rates.

As Alabama's highway system developed in the late 1920s, the operation of trucks and buses as common carriers increased. In 1927, the Legislature placed all motor transportation companies operating as common carriers of freight or passengers over regular routes on Alabama highways under the Commission's regulatory authority. The Legislature broadened the Commission's authority over transportation companies in 1931 and 1932 by including motor carriers not operating over regular routes. Air carriers were included in 1945.

In 1971, the Commission's authority over motor carriers was broadened. Transportation enforcement officers were empowered to enforce the rules and regulations of the Commission. In 1971, radio common carriers were placed under the Commission's authority. The Commission's safety jurisdiction was extended to include railroad tracks and equipment in 1976 under the State Participation Program of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970.

In 1977, the Legislature empowered the Attorney General's office to represent consumers and the State in all Commission proceedings.

In recent years, two very important laws were passed by the United States Congress, both of which greatly influenced state regulatory agencies.

Title IV of the Federal Aviation Administration Act of 1994 provided for federal pre-emption of state regulation of prices, routes and services of motor carriers of all freight except household goods. This eliminated tariffs and hearings on applications for authority to operate. The Commission still regulates carriers of household goods and passengers and still ensures all carriers maintain proper cargo insurance and all carrier's vehicles maintain appropriate safety standards.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 provided a framework for opening the nation to competition for local telephone service, a federal action that again provided for pre-emption of rules of state regulatory agencies. The Act left many of the details to be worked out by federal and state regulators.

The Commission’s challenge in the current regulatory environment is to successfully resolve a multitude of issues related to the onset of competition at different levels. That’s why its role is more important to the daily lives of Alabamians now than ever.

Walter L. Bragg:  Served  February 1881 -  February 1885

Henry R. Shorter:   Served  February 1885 - February 1897

James Crook:   Served  February 1897 - February 1901

John V. Smith:   Served  March 1901 - March 1905

B.B. Comer:   Served  March 1905 - January 1907

Charles Henderson:   Served  January 1907 - January 1915

Samuel P. Kennedy:  Served  June 1915 - January 1923

A.G. Patterson:   Served  January 1923 - January 1927

Hugh White:  Served  January 1927  - January 1945

Gordon Persons:   Served  January 1945 - January 1951

C.C. (Jack) Owen:   Served  January 1951 - January 1965

Eugene (Bull) Conner:   Served  January 1965 - January 1973

Kenneth Hammond:   Served  January 1973 - December 1975

C.C. Whatley:   Served  December 1975 - January 1977

Juanita W. McDaniel:   Served  January 1977 - February 1980

William J. Samford, Jr.:    Served  February 1980 - January 1981

Billy Joe Camp:   Served  January 1981 - January 1983

Jim Sullivan:   Served  February 1983 - November 2008

Lucy Baxley:  Served November 2008 - Present

James Crook:  Served  February 1881 - February 1885                                      

Levi W. Lawler:  Served  February 1885 - September 1892

Gen. James T. Holtzclaw:   Served  February 1893 - July 1893                            

Willis G. Clark:   Served  August 1893 - February 1895

Harvey E. Jones:   Served  February 1895 - February 1899                                   

A.E. Caffee:   Served  February 1899 - February 1903

William T. Sanders:   Served  April 1903 - January 1907

Charles Henderson :  Served  January 1907 - February 1907

W.D. Nesbitt:   Served  March 1907 - January 1911

Leon McCord:   Served  January 1911 - January 1915

B.H. Cooper:   Served  January 1915 - January 1923

Fitzhugh Lee:   Served  January 1923 - January 1943

Gordon Persons:   Served  January 1943 - January 1945

James Perdue:   Served  May 1945 - January 1947

James Hitchcock:   Served  January 1947 - June 1959

Ralph Smith, Jr.:   Served  August 1959 - August 1960

Joe Foster:   Served  August 1960 - January 1963

Ed Pepper:  Served  January 1963 - January 1967

C.C. (Jack) Owen:   Served  January 1967 - January 1975

Jim Zeigler:   Served  January 1975 - January 1979

Pete Mathews:   Served  January 1979 - March 1981

Lynn Greer:   Served  June 1981 - November 1990

Jan Cook:   Served  November 1990 - Present

Col. Charles P. Ball:   Served  February 1881 - February 1885

Wiley C. Tunstall:   Served  February 1885 - February 1895

Ross C. Smith:   Served  February 1895 - February 1899

Osceola Kyle:   Served  February 1899 - December 1900

Wiley C. Tunstall :   Served  December 1900 - January 1907

John G. Harris:   Served  January 1923 - May 1936

W.C. Harrison:   Served  June 1936 - January 1947

C.C. (Jack) Owen:   Served  January 1947 - January 1951

T.O. Walker:   Served  January 1951 - January 1955

Sibyl Pool :   Served  January 1955 - January 1971

Juanita W. McDaniel:   Served  January 1971 - January 1977

C.C. Whatley:   Served  January 1977 - January 1979

Jim Folsom, Jr.:   Served  January 1979 - November 1986