The Grand Canyon State’s business community has no better cheerleader than Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Glenn Hamer.
Read More »Corp Comm drama will scramble 2016 field
A railbird familiar with the Corp Comm told our reporter there’s a lot of anger among commissioners after Tuesday’s divide over utility electioneering disclosure. Bitter Smith and Burns had previously said they were planning to run together in 2016, and Gray previously told our reporter he’d be running on a slate with Burns.
Read More »Anti-corruption group: Pick one career
The Public Integrity Alliance (née the Arizona Public Integrity Alliance), which went after Horne in 2013 and 2014, is asking Commissioner Susan Bitter Smith to sever all her ties with outside groups, and cease all lobbying on behalf of any client during her term as a regulator.
Read More »Time to figure out the Corp Comm’s limits?
The Corp Comm today (Sept. 8) discussed but took no action on Burns and Bitter Smith’s suggestion that regulated and unregulated entities that appear before them refrain from Corp Comm electioneering.
Read More »Better call Saul Tom
Attorney Tom Ryan is officially seeking the removal of Commissioner Bitter Smith from office. Today, the lawyer filed a complaint with Brnovich’s office, alleging that Bitter Smith was not qualified to run for office because of a conflict of interest: She works as a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry, which the commission oversees.
Read More »Net metering and the Arizona Corporation Commission
I believe many of the Arizona Corporation Commission’s recent decisions to this date surrounding net metering have done more harm than good to our local economy, to businesses like mine, and especially to low-income and middle-class families throughout the state (who would benefit the most from rooftop solar).
Read More »Bitter Smith under fire for lobbying ties
Several lawyers and former commissioners are calling out Corp Comm chairwoman Bitter Smith for her ties to a cable industry trade group, and one attorney is considering filing a complaint with the AG to have her be removed from office because of conflict of interest, KJZZ’s Kristena Hansen reported today (Aug. 24).
Read More »Summer heat, dying animals: Rural San Tan Valley residents deal with demise of water supply
Rural San Tan Valley area residents were left in a lurch late last month when a water utility shut off a standpipe they used to fill water tanks and hydrate their families, pets and homes.
Read More »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.
Read More »Appeals court rejects method of hiking water rates outside of rate case 
The Arizona Court of Appeals today rejected a mechanism adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission to allow a water company to recover capital costs – and thereby hike rates – in between rate cases.
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