Local opinion: The most important election affecting your utility bill is one many Arizonans ignore

When most Arizonans think about elections, they think about the Governor, Congress or the State Legislature.

Few think about the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).

That's a problem because there is no elected office in Arizona with a more direct impact on your monthly finances than the five commissioners who serve on the ACC. Every month, millions of Arizonans open their electric bill and wonder why it keeps getting higher. They feel the squeeze of rising costs but rarely make the connection between the number at the bottom of the bill and the decisions made by the Commission. Of course, many voters have never been told what the commission does. And some skip the race when they come to it on their ballot because they don’t know the people running.

That disconnect has real consequences.

The Arizona Corporation Commission was created to regulate monopoly utilities by stopping them from rigging the system to make more money. Unlike most businesses, utilities don't compete for customers. If your home is served by Arizona Public Service or Tucson Electric Power, you can't simply switch providers if you don't like their rates or service. Because these companies operate as monopolies, the commission acts as the public's defender.

At least, that's the way the system is supposed to work.

The commission also decides whether utilities offer energy efficiency programs to help customers save money, and how the state balances affordability, reliability, and economic growth. Over the past two years, the commission has made moves to reduce or eliminate these programs.

These decisions affect every household and every business in Arizona. They also affect the state's future.

Arizona is experiencing unprecedented growth. New residents continue to arrive. Manufacturing investments are transforming communities. Data centers and other large industrial customers are increasing the demand for electricity. Utilities are forecasting the need for significant new generation capacity in the coming years.

How Arizona meets that demand will shape utility bills for decades.

Will ratepayers shoulder the costs of new infrastructure? Will Arizona keep making it harder to invest in homegrown energy resources that take advantage of the sunny climate?

The answers determine how much families pay every month. They affect public health, water use, air quality, and economic competitiveness. And they are being decided by five elected officials most voters know almost nothing about.

Meanwhile, monopoly utility companies pay close attention. They hire lawyers, consultants, lobbyists, and regulatory experts to participate in proceedings. They understand the stakes because ACC decisions directly affect their profitability.

Public testimony and concerns about high prices deserve the same weight as utility lobbyists before the ACC. Commissioners must make efforts to see beyond the bubble the utilities create around them.

Right now, Arizona Public Service is seeking another significant rate increase after receiving previous increases in 2022 and 2024. Tucson Electric Power is pursuing its own double-digit rate request. If approved, these proposals could increase electricity costs for families by at least $200 per year while they are already coping with high inflation and the cost of living.

These are not companies hurting for money — both profited hundreds of millions of dollars last year. But history tells us this commission will approve at least part of their request. This is what happens when there is relatively little public attention despite the potential impact on Arizonans’ wallets and energy future. That should concern everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

It is a transparency issue. It is an accountability issue.

That is why we created an education campaign called Follow the Power to help Arizonans better understand the Arizona Corporation Commission, its role in regulating monopoly utilities, and how the commissioners' decisions directly affect everyday life. The Arizona Corporation Commission may be one of the most important elected bodies you've never heard of. Democracy works best when people understand who is making decisions on their behalf.

And in Arizona, it is time for voters to connect the Arizona Corporation Commission to the amount due on their monthly power bill.