Arizona Dems Aim to Win a Voice in Energy Policy on Tuesday

In Arizona, Democratic candidates Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill are vying for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission, an elected body responsible for regulating utilities and determining rates for utility customers. The candidates are running against incumbent Kevin Thompson and state lawmaker Ralph Heap, who is embroiled in a campaign finance investigation.

Pratte and Hill argue that utility rate increases have become a significant burden for small businesses and consumers in Arizona. They point to recent rate hikes from Arizona Power Service, which has already hiked rates three times in the past four years. The candidates are advocating for transparency and accountability within the commission, requiring utilities to show their books and investigate claims that ratepayers are subsidizing the costs of data centers.

Diane Brown, executive director of Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, says the recent polling shows 80 percent of Arizonans experienced higher electricity bills in the past two years, and over 60 percent struggle to afford their summer bills. Brown says the recent repeal of energy efficiency and renewable energy standards by the ACC has been detrimental to consumers.

Pratte, a member of the Navajo Nation, and Hill, co-founder of Navajo Power, stress the importance of renewable energy development and limiting excessive rate increases for ratepayers. They argue that Arizonans need more power in their ability to influence utility regulation and hold commissioners accountable.