The Federal Highway Administration announced Wednesday that 35 states, including Arizona, had their infrastructure plans for electric vehicles approved, which allows for construction of charging stations along highways across the state. 

Most Arizona Public Service Co. customers will pay a little less for electricity now, but the utility, which initially sought a 5% rate increase, is threatening to sue over the decision. 

State utility regulators are trying to determine how hot is too hot – and least when it comes when blocking electric companies from shutting off the power to customers.

Having a state website dedicated to spending transparency is a good thing, but not enough people pay attention to it, and government officials have too many ways around it, an open-government advocate said Wednesday.

This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene.

This month, health insurance rate increases become effective – ranging from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona with a 10.9 percent average annual increase impacting 67,248 individuals, to Aetna Small Group with a 14.1 percent increase impacting 46,916 individuals.

With Arizona declining to establish a health insurance exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, a lawmaker wants to make sure the state maintains its oversight of insurers and policies.

By upholding the federal health care law, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to establish their own health insurance exchanges — web portals where individuals and small businesses can purchase health plans.

It looks like Arizona won’t have to spend $100 million to put state budget information online. In fact, not even close. The cost of the Financial Transparency Web site scheduled to be launched in 2011 is estimated to cost $740,000, according to a Sept. 1 report by the General Accounting Office.