Brent Woodall, an attorney from Tuscumbia, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Public Service Commission Wednesday.

“I’m not running to play politics,” Woodall said in a news release. “I’m running to fight for Alabama families and bring transparency, fairness and accountability to the Public Service Commission.”

Alabama’s Public Service Commission is a three-member body tasked with regulating utilities in the state, including Alabama Power. All three members are elected statewide, with two commissioners and one commission president.

Woodall, who worked as a prosecutor before retiring earlier this week, is running for Place 2 on the commission, currently held by Chris Beeker III. Beeker was appointed in 2024 to replace his father, Chip Beeker, who stepped down from the commission for health reasons.

In a release announcing his candidacy, Woodall criticized what he said was the “hidden tax” on Alabama ratepayers.

“Every single month, when you think you’re just paying for electricity or natural gas, you’re not,” Woodall said. “The PSC takes millions more than it needs from the utilities—money that comes straight out of your pockets—and instead of giving it back to you, they ship it off to Montgomery for politicians to spend however they want.”

“If you overpay, you deserve that money back,” he said. “Whether it’s through lower rates, rebates, or refunds—that money belongs to you, not the state.”

Previously, Woodall worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama. He worked as a staff attorney for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. He was a delegate for President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election and host of a conservative talk show, according to his news release.

He also worked as chief of staff to former Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker. But in his press release, Woodall criticized Beeker’s son, Chris Beeker, arguing the younger Beeker doesn’t “fully understand what the PSC does.”

Beeker did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Woodall previously ran for Place 1 on the public service commission in 2022, losing in the Republican primary to Commissioner Jeremy Oden. In that race, Woodall also criticized the commission for the so-called “hidden tax.”

Oden is running for reelection to his current seat. He faces a challenge from Cullman County Sheriff Matthew Gentry, who announced his candidacy last month. In the first few months of campaigning, Gentry has raised around $200,000. Alabama secretary of state records indicate Oden raised $7,000 in June.

The secretary of state’s office website does not list any current campaign filings for Woodall. Beeker, who will face voters for the first time since his appointment, raised around $30,000 in June, campaign records indicate.

Last month, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Cynthia Almond to serve as president of the Public Service Commission, after former PSC President Twinkle Cavanaugh resigned to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Almond previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing Tuscaloosa.