Arizona Public Service wants customers to believe that growth and renewable energy are forcing it to ask for more money. But you shouldn’t believe what APS is selling about its rate increase.
APS says it needs a rate increase to match growth and renewable energy investments. That’s not the case.
/Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
By Abhay Padgaonkar | Guest columnist/Arizona Republic
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
The first time APS fooled the ratepayers was in 2017. That rate hike was rubber-stamped by corporation commissioners APS had helped install via “dark money” donations.
The actual customer bill impact turned out to be three times higher than promised.
The current commissioners ordered a rate review audit of APS’s books and records for any evidence of overearning. The independent audit concluded that APS was enjoying a $105 million
