Opinion: Arizona’s monopoly utilities don’t want you ever to have a choice in where you get your electricity. And the Arizona Legislature is working on a plan to make sure they get their wish.
By Laurie Roberts | Arizona Republic
The Arizona Legislature is charging forth with a plan to block competition against utilities like Arizona Public Service.
In August, a Texas company applied to the Arizona Corporation Commission for permission to compete with Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power, giving us captive customers a choice in who provides our electricity.
The state’s monopoly utilities were not amused.
And so, as night follows day, the Arizona Legislature is now charging forth with a plan to block the competition.
This, by repealing a state law that allows other electricity providers to give the big guys a run for their money.
It is a necessary step, the monopoly utilities assure us, to ensure that service remains reliable and affordable.
Funny, I’m pretty sure Ma Bell said the same thing a half century ago. Back when phones were bolted to walls and had these strange curly wires attached to them, when you talked fast when calling long distance because of the resulting exodus from your wallet.
Law says we ‘shall’ have competition
