PHOENIX — On Wednesday, the Arizona Corporation Commission, in a 4-1 vote, rejected calls to rescind a 2017 rate increase for Arizona Public Service.
The issue arose after thousands of customers signed a petition alleging they were misled and their utility bills increased more than the 4.5% the utility company touted.
Appearing before the Commission, Stacey Champion who led the petition campaign, called on commissioners to prove that they were not “owned” by the large energy company. Champion pointed out the dwindling trust in the commissioners, “How do you expect the general public to have faith in this governing body if you don’t have the spines to govern?”
“You are the boss,” Champion told the commissioners referring to their regulatory obligation. “You have an opportunity to assert yourself and show this public that you’re not owned by this utility monopoly.”