Photo via Arizona Corporation Commission
By Reagan Priest | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- Attorney General Kris Mayes is challenging several recent Corporation Commission decisions
- Commissioners say Mayes is infringing on their authority to set utility rates
- The battle is likely to head to court as Mayes looks to reverse several policy and rate decisions
Attorney General Kris Mayes is challenging several recent Arizona Corporation Commission decisions, sparking frustration from a body often considered Arizona’s fourth branch of government.
In the month of March alone, Mayes’ office filed three rehearing requests in three separate commission matters, accusing commissioners of violating state law, ignoring the commission’s own rules or acting contrary to the best interests of utility customers. Mayes’ office has also filed a lawsuit over the commission’s approval of a controversial data center contract and is intervening in two rate cases involving Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power.
The commission has the exclusive, constitutionally-granted authority to set rates for the state’s public utility companies. Its general counsel, Tom Van Flein, took issue with Mayes’ assertions that recent commission decisions violated any laws.
