Six candidates vying for three open seats on Arizona’s utility-regulatory panel sparred on Sept. 26 over the state’s long-term energy policy, with the three Democrats urging a more rapid embrace of solar power and their three Republican counterparts stressing the need for a broader mix including natural gas to ensure reliability.
Democrats including Ylenia Aguilar attacked the current Republican-dominated Arizona Corporation Commission for allowing electricity bills to increase. One of the commission’s most visible actions earlier this year was approving a rate hike for Arizona Public Service that boosted electric bills for the utility’s residential customers by around 8% on average .
“People are suffering and can’t pay their bills,” Aguilar said.
But Republicans including Lea Marquez Peterson, the only commissioner seeking re-election in the Nov. 5 vote, said the commission sliced APS’ funding request by more than $200 million from what was requested. She also stressed the need for high energy reliability, along with the investments needed to ensure it.