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Electricity

heat-related deaths, APS, SRP, Maricopa County
Jul 24, 2023

Utilities forced to change after death of woman when power cut off

Stephanie Pullman died on a sweltering Arizona day after her electricity was cut off because of a $51 debt. Five years later, the 72-year-old's story remains at the heart of efforts to prevent others in Arizona from having their power cut off, leaving them without life-saving air conditioning in temperatures that have topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on every day this month.

APS, Arizona Corporation Commission, utilities
May 24, 2023

Watchdog fights to protect consumers, keeps tabs on utility companies and commission that regulates them

Phoenix resident Abhay Padgaonkar has worked as a fierce consumer advocate, fighting for the rights of those who struggle to pay their utility bills and keeping tabs on utility companies and the commission that regulates them.

Sep 17, 2021

We need energy reliability and affordability, not power outages

Americans have been hoping for economic recovery and a return to normalcy. Instead, they’re  experiencing ongoing pandemic concerns and the ravages of wildfires and hurricanes. And adding to their woes, they’re now increasingly worried that the electricity grid on which they depend could fail when they need it most.  

Jun 4, 2021

Electricity grid not ready for EV revolution

California’s rolling blackouts last year, followed by the Texas grid catastrophe in February — and now the threat of blackouts across the Western U.S. this summer — are a wakeup call. We need a grid we can count on. Ensuring we do means properly valuing the dispatchable, reliable generating capacity we already have.

Jan 29, 2021

Biden must focus on affordable, reliable electricity

Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, along with a new Biden administration, promise sweeping policy changes in the United States. This includes campaign pledges to remake America’s electricity mix. But with campaign season over, Democrats should put rhetoric aside and pursue a bipartisan energy plan that supports economic recovery.

Mar 9, 2020

AARP wrong: Only restructuring can save Arizona’s ratepayers

Full restructuring of electricity markets in Arizona offers the best antidote for the outdated monopoly model.

Jun 20, 2019

Regulators bar electric companies from cutting off power June 1 to Oct. 15

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted to require electric companies to give those who fall behind up to four months after Oct. 15 to repay their outstanding balance. But it bars the utilities from charging interest or late fees.

May 8, 2019

Arizona benefits from diverse energy mix – including coal, nuclear

Undoubtedly, natural gas and renewables are gaining prominence in Arizona and the nation. But it makes sense to keep all options on the table. In Arizona, coal and nuclear power have proven reliable for decades. They should continue to be part of an all-of-the-above energy mix alongside natural gas and solar for years to come.

May 2, 2019

Utility regulators must have wisdom of Solomon, spirit of Edison

Electricity is among the most political of commodities, and everyone has her favored form of power, with a constellation of advocates to promote it. Too often, wishful thinking masquerades as fact and political sloganeering substitutes for intellectually rigorous policy analysis. Utility regulators have a challenging set of responsibilities as they sift among the claims of these competing interest[...]

Aug 17, 2018

Steyer: APS using “dishonest tactics” against clean energy initiative

Billionaire Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer criticized the state’s largest electric company and the biggest competitor of his clean energy ballot initiative Friday for using shady tactics to block a public vote of the renewable energy measure in November.

Debbie Lesko (Photo by Katie Campbell/Arizona Capitol Times)
Feb 19, 2018

The Breakdown, Episode 7: ‘Hamilton’ was bound to come up sometime

The Arizona Capitol Times team didn't know how to say no to a "Hamilton" tribute, and "licenses schmicenses" was a real topic of conversation.

May 22, 2017

Buying and selling electricity to meet Arizona’s peak demands

States that generate large amounts of renewable energy, such as California with its abundant supply of solar power, have to “sell” power to neighboring states at negative prices, meaning California is effectively paying Arizona to take energy from their systems.