By Reagan Priest | State Affairs
Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill instituting new reporting requirements for utility companies helping to connect data centers to Arizona’s electrical grid, but stakeholders are divided about whether it will bring meaningful results.
Hobbs signed 53 bills on Friday, clearing her desk of every piece of legislation lawmakers sent her last week. Among the flurry of bills was House Bill 2756, a mostly bipartisan bill from Rep. Gail Griffin requiring Arizona’s utility companies to file comprehensive reports on data center growth to the Arizona Corporation Commission and allow the regulatory body to have final say over the rules governing data center contracts.
The legislation was praised by representatives for the commission and Arizona Public Service on Monday.
“… the bill does codify much of the work we have already been doing over the last few months,” ACC Chair Nick Myers said in a statement. “We appreciate the ability to work with the bill sponsor and everyone involved to make sure Arizona is protecting residential and small business customers.”
A spokesperson for APS said the company is supportive of any policy that aligns with its “growth pays for growth” approach to data center development.
However, not everyone is convinced that the legislation will actually move the needle on data center oversight or regulation.
