Votes at a glance: Mississippi Public Service Commission March 2025 meeting

The Mississippi Public Service Commission approved multiple routine and substantive items at its March 2025 open meeting, including utility special-contract approval, Lifeline designation, water and wastewater certificates, referrals of solar facility petitions for hearing, certification of fuel audits to the legislature, and two adopted resolutions honoring pipeline safety service and recognizing Natural Gas Utility Workers Day.

Why it matters: The items affect electric-service arrangements and local water and sewer infrastructure, determine which providers may participate in the Lifeline program, and set the procedural track for proposed large-scale solar projects. Several items also fulfill statutory duties—such as certifying fuel audits to the legislature—and adopt resolutions that formally record the commission's recognition of public servants.

Key actions and outcomes (motions and votes taken during the meeting):

- Mississippi Power Company special contract with PCC Gulf Chem Corporation: The commission approved a proposed special contract allowing Mississippi Power to provide electric service to a new PCC Gulf Chem facility collocated at the Chemours plant site in Hancock County. Staff said the agreement meets the requirements of Mississippi Code §77-3-35 and the commission's Rule 27. Staff recommended approval; motion passed.

- TAGG Mobile (Lifeline ETC designation): The commission approved TAGG Mobile's application for Lifeline ETC designation to provide Lifeline services statewide using AT&T's wireless network. Staff recommended approval based on the company's application, exhibits, and compliance plan; motion passed.

- Darling Water Association wastewater project (Quitman County): The commission granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity allowing Darling Water Association to construct a wastewater collection system tied into the Falcon wastewater system. Staff said the project would cost roughly $3,500,000, serve 82 households, and that a $25 flat monthly fee will be assessed to ratepayers to cover treatment and maintenance; vote carried.

- Saint Thomas Water Association / City of Clinton cancellation: The commission approved a joint petition to cancel a portion of Saint Thomas Water Association's certificated area where the City of Clinton has been providing service under a longstanding agreement (originally executed 02/2015); vote carried.

- East Madison Water Association supplemental certificate for Ragsdale Solar 1 (Madison County): The commission approved a petition authorizing East Madison Water Association to construct approximately 3,300 linear feet of 4-inch PVC main to serve the operations and maintenance building at the Ragsdale Solar 1 site. Staff said Ragsdale will fund the work and ratepayers will not subsidize the expansion; vote carried.

- Q Link Wireless (docket referenced): Staff moved to refer an order for hearing concerning Q Link Wireless Inc.'s Lifeline designation after the company's CEO and sole owner entered guilty pleas in federal court related to fraud in the Lifeline program. The commission referred the matter to hearing; vote carried.

- Referrals of CPCN petitions for proposed solar facilities: The commission referred the CPCN petitions for Jasper Solar LLC (docket 2024-UA-136) and Italica Solar LLC (docket 2024-UA-137) for hearing in the commissioners' respective districts; motions passed.

- Certification of annual financial and procurement fuel audits: The commission certified the audits for Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power and directed staff to transmit the reports to the legislature; motions passed (see separate article for audit summaries).

- Resolution honoring Ricky L. Cotton: The commission adopted a resolution recognizing Ricky L. Cotton, director of the commission's pipeline safety division, and accepted his retirement effective March 31, 2025; motion passed unanimously.

- Resolution recognizing Natural Gas Utility Workers Day: The commission adopted a resolution recognizing March 18, 2025, as Natural Gas Utility Workers Day in Mississippi; motion passed.

How the votes were recorded: Most motions were moved and seconded during the public meeting and passed on unanimous or unopposed voice votes recorded as "aye"; the transcript records no roll-call tallies by name. Where staff cited docket numbers or statutes, those citations are included in the item summaries above.

What follows next: For referred CPCN petitions and the Q Link matter, the commission will schedule hearings in the assigned districts. For the audit certifications, staff will meet with utilities and auditors to examine recommendations and prepare supplemental orders as needed.