Terry L. Dunn

Terry L. Dunn (born 3 July 1959) is 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. He is committed to serving 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.

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

Individuals:

• Karl Rove, former chief of staff and longtime advisor to President George W. Bush

Associations:

• Association Alabama Alliance Against Abortion
• Conservative Christians of Alabama
• The American Conservative
• Alabama Tea Party Express
• Alabama Republicans for Liberty

Initiatives

Since taking office in November 2010, Dunn has successfully pushed through several initiatives, including the following:

• Created an incentive rate package with Alabama Power Company to encourage job growth for small, medium and large companies. The Commissioner crafted his proposal to ensure the incentive rate would also encourage job growth by limiting the special discounts to existing businesses opening new locations.
• Restructured the PSC's Energy Division by establishing the Electricity Policy Division, with no additional hiring.
• Pushed successfully for the appointment of a second assistant attorney general to represent utility customers before the Commission.
• Created an internship program with Auburn University's College of Engineering to bring electrical engineering students to the PSC’s Electricity Policy Division.
• Approved a Purchase Power Agreement between Alabama Power Company and AbiBow U.S. Inc.. to help keep jobs at their pulp paper mill plant in Childersburg, Alabama
• Voted to approve more stringent ethics rules for commission members and employees of the PSC.

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 has been 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.

External links

• Commissioner Terry Dunn page at Alabama Public Service Commission
• Political Graveyard Bio 1