Sign In
Free Newsletter
APS waves white flag on solar fight
APS Friday dropped its bid to quadruple its solar fee and called out “political gamesmanship” by solar groups that muddied the request to increase the fee. “Unfortunately, what should have been a relatively simple decision-making process has been turned into political theater by attacks and distortions from rooftop solar leasing companies that seek to paralyze Arizona regulators,” APS said[...]
Former Corporation Commissioners seek rehearing in APS solar case
Two former Corporation Commissioners and a solar company say Commissioners Tom Forese and Doug Little should have recused themselves from the proceeding on Arizona Public Service’s solar fee increase. In a separate motion, solar company Sunrun says Commissioner Bob Stump should have recused himself from the proceeding because he has prejudged the net metering issue.
Former Supreme Court justice says Corp Comm has authority to subpoena utility
Former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket said the commission has the clear authority to subpoena a public service corporation’s spending. Solar advocacy group The Alliance for Solar Choice asked Zlaket to provide a legal opinion on the commission’s subpoena power, and the group filed Zlaket’s letter to the utility electioneering docket Thursday.
Rooftop solar is a prime example of free market development
I want to respond to APS CEO Don Brandt, and what he wrote in a recent opinion piece in another publication last week entitled “APS serves Arizona. Solar guys? Not so much.”
Solar advocacy group to stay out of Corporation Commission elections
The solar advocacy group The Alliance for Solar Choice will voluntarily stay out of Arizona Corporation Commission elections due to a request from regulators last week.
Corp Comm splits, approves solar fee hike hearings
Disregarding the recommendation of an administrative law judge, the Corp Comm last night voted to move forward with a hearing on APS’s application for a solar fee increase instead of waiting for the utility’s 2016 rate case.
Massive solar fee increase to be considered this year
Arizona Public Service will move forward with its proposal to more than quadruple the monthly fee charged to homeowners with solar panels now instead of waiting until next year when regulators will evaluate the company’s entire rate structure.
ACC to consider solar fee tomorrow
The Arizona Corporation Commission is expected to decide tomorrow whether a fee on Arizona Public Service solar customers can be handled now or should be pushed back to become part of a rate case in 2016.
“Dark money” group won’t have to disclose donors
One of the most prominent spenders of dark money in the 2014 election won’t have to disclose its donors, thanks to a federal judge’s determination that a key campaign finance statute is unconstitutional.
Customers flock to new utility-owned solar programs
When Tucson Electric Power opened up spots in its brand-new rooftop solar program on July 1, the utility received 200 applications within the first half-hour.
Looming end of federal subsidy poses challenge for solar industry
Facing the end of a major federal subsidy and utilities pushing policy changes to limit savings homeowners with solar panels will receive through net metering, solar companies nevertheless say they will be able to survive – without subsidies.
2 Corporation commissioners tell utilities: stay out of 2016 campaign
Incessant allegations that Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility and one of its largest employers, spent heavily to influence the elections of its regulators last year are weighing heavily on the minds of some of those same regulators.
