Preceded by Susan Parker Religion Christian, Baptist Children Andrea A. Dunn | Political party Republican Succeeded by Chip Beeker Name Terry Dunn | |
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Born July 3, 1959 (age 64) ( 1959-07-03 ) Spouse(s) Alicia H. Dunn (m. September 3, 1982) | ||
Terry L. Dunn (born 3 July 1959) was an Associate Commissioner on the Alabama Public Service Commission. A native of Southside, Alabama, in Etowah County, Dunn was elected in November 2010, carrying 55% of the statewide vote. In his successful bid to win Place 2 on the Alabama Public Service Commission, Dunn may have set a record for getting the most votes for the least amount of money. He reportedly spent $8,000 in securing the Republican nomination in June and $9,000 to win the general election in November. Of 99 percent of state's precincts reporting, Dunn received 791,487 votes to incumbent Susan Parker's 639,792. As a member of the PSC, Dunn's duty was to serve the public interest by ensuring that financially sound electric, natural gas and telecommunications companies provide safe, reliable and quality utility services at reasonable rates for Alabamians. Dunn is married to the former Alicia Horne, and they have one daughter, Andrea.
Contents
Business
Dunn is the owner of Dunn Development Corporation and Dunn Investment Group, and has held the state license in municipal utilities contracting for the past 25 years.
Activities
Among other volunteer endeavors, Dunn is co-chairman of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind board of trustees. In 2009 Governor Bob Riley appointed him to the board of trustees. Governor Robert Bentley reappointed him to a term that will end November 28, 2018. Dunn serves as vice chairman of the board and serves on its finance and operations committee as well as the facilities and property committee.
Political background
He has long been active in the Republican Party, serving on both the State and Etowah County Republican Executive Committees. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2004 and 2008. Dunn was elected as an alternate delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Endorsements
Initiatives
After taking office in November 2010, Dunn successfully pushed through several initiatives, including the following:
At the end of 2011, Dunn announced the successful conclusion of contract negotiations between Alabama Power Company and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company manufacturing plant in Gadsden. Under the contract, Alabama Power will provide steam to the Goodyear plant for the next five years.
Dunn also ended his second year in office by announcing that Alabama Power Company rates would remain flat in 2012 and 2013.
While fighting potential rate increases caused by federal regulations, Dunn was supportive of the power company’s pilot projects in the area of renewable energy, including biofuels and wind energy. Dunn supports only those renewable projects in which the price of the electricity to be produced is the same or less than the power generated at conventional plants. Dunn encourages industrial operations to contact Alabama Power Company about ways to reduce energy costs.
In January 2013, Dunn made a motion at the monthly Alabama Public Service Commission meeting to conduct a formal review of the return on equity ranges for the state's three largest utilities. The motion died for lack of a second. Although Dunn and his staff have been participating in informal, public hearings for the utilities, Dunn continues to push for a formal review.
It has been 30 years for the largest utility and 29 years for the second largest since a full rate case has been done. Dunn advocates a full financial evidentiary review to determine what rates are fair to the consumers and the regulated companies.