‘Shady’ Tax Would Not Be Very ‘Poplar’ With Customers
(News Release)
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” –famous philosophical thought experiment that raises questions regarding observation and knowledge of reality.
“If we try to implement a tree tax and no one is around to oppose it, does it help our bottom line?” –what Arizona Public Service might say.
Arizona Public Service has already called on the Arizona Corporation Commission to tax the sun by ending solar savings for rooftop solar customers. Now that APS is touting the planting of shade trees to cut energy costs, T.U.S.K. (Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed) is taking the proactive step of calling on APS not to attempt a tree tax in what would be another “shady” move by the utility monopoly.
Trees create shade and can help APS customers reduce electric bills, just as rooftop solar does. Given APS’ zeal to slap a tax or surcharge on anything that saves ratepayers money, TUSK is urging APS not to ask regulators for a tree tax.
On its website, APS proudly promotes the planting of shade trees in order to help customers cut their energy costs. Fears are rampant that APS will use the same logic with shade trees as it does with solar: those without rooftop solar are subsidizing those with it.
Will APS next argue that those without shade trees are subsidizing those with trees?
This could be the continuation of a dangerous trend of “cost-shift” concerns gone awry and APS will claim the following:
People in smaller homes are freeloading off people in bigger homes.
People in Yuma are subsidizing those in Flagstaff.
People without children are freeloading off those with children.
People who have western exposure are subsidizing those that have north-south exposure.
People with double-pane windows are freeloading off of those with single-pane glass.
People that live on the western edge of the state are subsidizing folks that live on the eastern edge.
People with few windows are freeloading off of those with many.
People that like to be cool at night in the summer are subsidizing those that like to be warmer at night.
A tree tax request from APS is not an impossibility. Just last March, APS successfully received a rate hike because demand is down due to its customers finding new energy efficiencies. TUSK is concerned that the planting of shade trees is next on APS’ agenda.
TUSK Chairman Barry Goldwater Jr. stated, “A tree tax isn’t such an outlandish threat, given the fact that APS wants to tax the sun. If APS were to go on record pledging not to tax shade trees, I think we’d all rest a bit easier.”
T.U.S.K. (Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed) was formed to stand for energy choice and energy independence.
To learn more about T.U.S.K. visit www.dontkillsolar.com
T.U.S.K. believes that rooftop solar is similar to a charter school—it provides a competitive alternative to the monopoly. Monopoly utilities aren’t known for reducing costs or for driving business innovation, but the Arizona solar industry is. Solar companies have a track record of aggressive cost reduction in Arizona. The more people use rooftop solar, the less power they need to buy from the utilities. Energy independence for Arizonans means smaller profits for the utilities, so APS is doing everything it can to stop the spread of independent solar.
