Dear Senators/Representatives:
We urge you to vote NO on HB 2248, HB 2737, SB 1175, and SB 1459.
Our democratically elected commissioners on the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), who are experts in Arizona energy, have spent years developing Energy Rules for our public utilities. These rules, which will require energy production from public utilities to be 100% carbon-free by 2050, proceed from public comments, compromises with interest groups, meetings with industry experts, and buy-in from utility companies.
With these rules, Arizona will join other western states, including California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico, in transitioning to clean energy. They also position Arizona for long-term economic expansion via high-wage jobs, investment in local economies, and a “just transition” away from coal. This is a good thing.
Unfortunately, the four proposed bills seek to strip the ACC of its constitutional powers to regulate public utilities for the health and safety of the public. HB 2248 and SB 1175 would restrict the ACC from regulating the types of power sources a public utility may use. The other two, HB 2737 and SB 1459, would encumber the ACC with an additional external review process, in addition to its current mandated process. These bills would freeze the Energy Rules and plunge them into months of litigation.
Arizona cannot afford to continue pumping carbon into the atmosphere, get left behind by neighboring states, or forego the economic benefits of clean energy. We cannot afford tax money for litigating statutory attempts to strip the ACC of its constitutional powers. We strongly urge you to vote against these bills.
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