Public utilities; private sewer or wastewater systems, authorized to come under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission

HB 140 allows privately owned sewer and wastewater systems that are under common ownership with systems already regulated by Alabama's Public Service Commission to voluntarily elect to come under the Commission's jurisdiction. It creates a process for these "affiliated systems" to file a notice with the Commission, after which their capital and operating costs would be combined with the regulated systems to set a single, unified rate for all customers. The bill does not apply in counties with local constitutional amendments governing wastewater utilities, and existing rates remain in effect until new rates are approved. This change directly affects private utility systems seeking streamlined regulation under the Public Service Commission.