by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Nov 14, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Two months ago, Arizona’s monopoly utilities and their political allies were patting themselves on the back about the expansion and development of a couple of new natural gas projects that they claim will help the Grand Canyon state keep up with growing energy demand.
On the surface, an announcement of new projects like the Transwestern Expansion should have been great news for Arizona ratepayers. Our state is in desperate need of more reliable, dispatchable power; especially after years of reckless green new deal investments that have raised costs and reduced reliability.
But sadly, it turns out that SRP’s enthusiasm for gas isn’t about expanding baseload power on the grid after all. The new gas capacity is instead being used to replace existing coal power generation that SRP has pledged to shut down in Arizona. All to meet ridiculous self-imposed carbon reduction goals and climate commitments that should have been junked a long time ago…
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by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Oct 31, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
The Green New Scam got its start in Arizona two decades ago when a 5-0 Republican Commission (including then Republican Kris Mayes) adopted the Renewable Energy Standard and Tarriff Rules, or the REST Rules. Among other things, most significantly it ushered in the first “renewable” mandates in our state, forcing utilities to obtain at least 15% of their power from “renewables.” Ratepayers have been paying the costs (over $2 billion) ever since.
The REST Rules had a target date: 2025. Well, it’s now 2025, and the utilities have not only met that mandate, but they have also voluntarily exceeded it. Now our current 5-0 Republican Commission has started the process of repealing them.
Repealing the REST Rules is important, but the targets have already been met, and the price has already been paid. Substantively, the repeal won’t really affect ratepayers all that much. Why? Because mandate or no mandate, our utilities are completely committed to going “Net Zero” by 2050, and so far, they’ve been allowed to do it…
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by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 25, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Public Service (APS) is seeking to raise electricity rates by 14% starting in 2026 — a move the Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AZFEC) argues would unfairly burden Arizona families while subsidizing costly “green energy” initiatives and the early closure of a key coal plant.
According to filings with the Arizona Corporation Commission, APS attributes the proposed rate increase largely to battery storage projects and the early retirement of the Cholla Power Plant. The Arizona Free Enterprise Club filed an official response criticizing APS for attempting to block the organization’s intervention in the case, while allowing environmental groups such as the Sierra Club to participate. “APS has no issue letting radical groups like the Sierra Club into their hearings, but they’re trying to block the one organization fighting for Arizona families,” said AZFEC President Scot Mussi.
Mussi contends APS’s “carbon free” and “carbon neutral” commitments over the past five years have shaped their energy plans — including their Integrated Resource Plans and large-scale renewable energy projects — resulting in higher costs for consumers. “For years, their voluntary commitments have very likely increased costs for Arizona ratepayers,” the organization said in its filing.
Two days after filing its response, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club announced it had been officially granted intervention in the APS case. This designation allows AZFEC to participate directly in proceedings, making it the only organization representing ratepayers who oppose the rate hike.
In the ruling, the Administrative Law Judge overseeing the case described the Club as “the lone proponent” of an energy approach emphasizing reliability, affordability, and independence — priorities the group says align with President Trump’s “American Energy Dominance” agenda.
“While others are lobbying to shut down Arizona’s coal plants and pour billions into unreliable Green New Scam projects, we’re standing up for the ratepayers who will be left to foot the bill,” Mussi said. “We’re proud to be the only organization in this case fighting to keep Arizona’s energy secure, affordable, and free from political interference.”
The Club’s participation ensures that Arizona ratepayers have a voice during the proceedings, according to Mussi and AZFEC Deputy Policy Director Greg Blackie. “This isn’t about politics — it’s about protecting Arizona families and ensuring that our state doesn’t fall victim to the same radical energy policies destroying affordability across the country,” said Blackie. “We intend to shine a light on the real costs, the real numbers, and the real consequences of this so-called green transition.”
The case before the Arizona Corporation Commission will determine whether APS can move forward with its proposed rate hike. The Arizona Free Enterprise Club says it plans to continue pressing for “transparency, accountability, and energy freedom,” ensuring that “ratepayers are not forced to fund reckless green energy policies.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 2, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Two Arizona lawmakers are raising concerns over what they describe as a failure by the Governor’s Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO) to assist local families facing steep water and sewer rate hikes.
Representatives Teresa Martinez and Chris Lopez, both Republicans representing Legislative District 16, sent a letter to RUCO Director Cynthia Zwick questioning the agency’s handling of constituent requests tied to two pending Picacho Water & Sewer Company rate cases. The utility, which is foreign-owned, has sought increases that residents say are excessive and unfair.
According to the lawmakers, multiple constituents reached out to RUCO for support but received delayed responses—or, in some cases, no intervention at all.
“RUCO exists to stand up for utility consumers, not ignore them,” Rep. Martinez said. “Our constituents are understandably frustrated. They’re facing steep hikes from a foreign-owned utility, and when they turned to the Governor’s office for help, they got silence and a refusal. They deserve better.”
The letter from Martinez and Lopez asks RUCO to provide detailed information about how the office logs and tracks consumer complaints, its response timelines, and who within the agency handled calls regarding the Picacho cases. It specifically requests the dates those calls were received and when responses were issued
Rep. Lopez emphasized the need for accountability: “We’re pressing for answers because these families deserve accountability. Ratepayers shouldn’t be left in the dark when they turn to the very office meant to advocate for them.”
The lawmakers, joined by Senator T.J. Shope of the same district, also requested an in-person meeting with RUCO to review its consumer response practices.
The dispute centers on Docket Nos. W-03528A-25-0056 and SW-03709A-25-0057, in which Picacho Water & Sewer Company has asked regulators to approve rate increases. Residents have argued the proposals would impose unfair financial burdens, particularly given the utility’s ownership outside the United States.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 21, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a key vote on Wednesday, the Arizona Corporation Commission, led by Commissioner Rachel Walden, unanimously repealed the state’s Energy Efficiency (EE) and Demand Side Management (DSM) Rules. The regulations, now 15 years old, have been expired since 2020, and according to the board, have cost Arizona ratepayers more than $1 billion in additional surcharges since inception.
Both APS and TEP have exceeded the requirements, the board noted, with Commissioner Márquez Peterson explaining, “The current standard required the accumulated savings of 22% of retail sales by 2020. We’ve had(sic) reconfirmed that as of 2024, APS is at 26.2% and TEP is currently at 28.52%. Both utilities have exceeded the standard which is out of date.”
“I cast my vote to repeal the rules because the rules were not based on any cost-effectiveness tests, nor did they contain any other ratepayer protection requirements. The mandates instead passed all program costs in support of the few on the backs of all ratepayers, especially onto those who can least afford it—our low- and fixed-income ratepayers, and our hardworking Arizona families,” Commissioner Walden said in a statement Thursday.
“I fully support the use of EE mechanisms and DSM programs, which have demonstrated energy savings, especially during peak summer heating days when our energy needs have stressed the electrical grid. What I do not support is the cost shifts and economic burdens these mandated programs have created, costing ratepayers in excess of $1.1 billion.”
Commissioner René Lopez noted during the meeting that the rules “were written over a decade ago.” He added, “We’ve had a lot of changes in technology, and a lot of changes in demand are coming, It served its purpose, everyone has met the requirements, now it’s time for them to go away.”
The commission explained that the repeal of the rules does not eliminate the EE/DSM program; instead, Arizona utilities will now be required to use All-Source Requests for Proposals when they create plans to address forecasted energy demands, with EE and DSM programs continuing as two categories of solutions that can be proposed for the utility’s consideration.
“I urge technology stakeholders to continue to propose these types of solutions to offset utility generation needs,” Walden added. “The solutions must be cost-effective, and the Commission will continue to evaluate these programs on a case-by-case basis during rate cases. I recently offered an amendment to approve a Bring Your Own Device DSM program for APS customers that did not create a cost shift, and that amendment was adopted by majority vote by this Commission.”
Commissioner Márquez Peterson added in a statement, “As a Commissioner, I will continue to communicate to utilities my support for effective EE programs in future rate cases. These programs can save ratepayers on their electricity bills and help us ensure we have reliable energy during peak times of the day.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
