By Ryan Randazzo | The Arizona Republic
Arizona Public Service Co. officials told utility regulator Robert Burns on Wednesday that the company has no obligation to disclose what it or its parent company spends on political campaigns, denying his request for the company to report such expenses.
APS did not deny such spending in a written response to Burns but said singling out the utility for disclosure would be unfair.
“Compelled disclosure about political contributions that APS or its affiliates may have made out of shareholder profits would go beyond what is required of all corporations under Arizona campaign finance law, and would impinge on APS’ First Amendment rights,” wrote Don Brandt, president/CEO of APS and its parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp.
