TUCSON – At the second Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) public comment session on Tucson Electric Power’s (TEP) rate increase request, about 50 people submitted comments against the hike. The current request is for a retail revenue increase of about $60.1 million, effective May 1, 2020.
If the ACC approves TEP’s request, residential electric rates for the average residential customer on non-time-of-use plans will rise by 6.8 percent or about $6.82 per month. For residential customers on any of TEP’s time-of-use rates, average bills would increase by 7.4 percent, or $7.18 per month. TEP is also seeking a $2 per month increase in the fixed charge for residential customers.
TEP is seeking a rate increase to cover the expenses associated with purchasing part of the Gila River Gas Plant, constructing and operating the Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) units at the Sundt facility, and continuing the operation of four units at two coal plants: Springerville and Four Corners.