Electricity customers may get a shock on their bills; Arizona Public Service is seeking to raise customer rates by more than 14%, which would increase the average residential monthly bill by $20.
The Arizona Corporation Commission last approved an 8% increase in 2024, when APS had requested a 13.6% hike.
Attorney General Kris Mayes [D] also had an application approved by the ACC to intervene and join the rate case as an advocate of the Arizona public.
“Arizonans are already feeling squeezed by sky-high electric bills and now APS is trying to jack them up even further,” Mayes wrote in a press release. “Giving APS another rate increase, after making more than $600 million in net income last year, is outrageous and I will not stand for it. APS has a monopoly and should not be allowed to exploit that monopoly on the backs of Arizona consumers.”
The first of five dates of telephonic and in-person public comment meetings has been set for Tuesday,
Jan. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the ACC office located at 1200 West Washington St. in Phoenix. Those wishing to make a telephonic comment can do so by calling (877) 309- 3457 and use passcode 801972877##.
Two telephonic-only meetings are also scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Also two other in-person and telephonic meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Monday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“An increase of 45% to our water bill in Sedona is unacceptable,” Karen Sternberg wrote to the ACC on Aug. 14 noting the commission’s July approval of a rate hike by Arizona Water Company — driven in large part to recoup the costs associated with undergrounding the $20 million East Sedona Storage Tank and Booster project located at State Route 179 and West Mallard Drive. “For those of us on a fixed income, it is prohibitive. Along with the … increase that [APS] is proposing, that would be a 62% increase to basic services! Way over the top!”
APS is a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, that has a market capitalization of nearly $10.5 billion as of Monday, Sept. 29, and has consistently raised its dividend to shareholders from 0.595 cents a share in the first quarter of 2015 to 0.895 cents a share most recently on Sept. 2.
“APS has continued to have significant rate increases over the past few years, that simply put are crippling residential families and their ability to provide a safe home environment,” Sarah Wiehl wrote to the ACC on Aug. 10. “Currently, I live in a [property] in Sedona approximately 2,000 square feet [and] use the majority of [my] electricity during off- peak times, and my bill is currently and consistently approximately $400 a month. This is crushing your families and price gouging that I’m sure are less fortunate than myself. The greed needs to be curbed and we need to return to policies of common sense and effective price setting that is reasonable and just.”
APS’ cited reasons for the proposed price increase include infrastructure upgrades and the increasing cost of doing business.
“I am a residential customer, and have lived in Sedona since 2014,” Lisa Hobson wrote in the ACC public comments on Sept. 8. “The rates have been going up it seems every year. Yet our income is not keeping up with price increases for almost everything. … Lack of competition has led to exorbitant prices for energy to power your home. It appears that the residential consumer increase requested is more than for that for businesses. This should not be the case. There has to be a more efficient way, with less impact on the customer.”
Written comments are also accepted by mailing a letter to by mailing a letter to Arizona Corporation Commission, Consumer Services Section, 1200 West Washington , Phoenix, AZ 85007 and referencing Docket No. E-01345A-25-0105. Comments may also be made online at azcc.gov under the “Meetings & Cases” tab.
If approved, the new rates are not anticipated to go into effect until the second half of next year.
For more information visit aps.com/ratecase
