An APS employee works on a power line. Several Valley residents filed complaints with the Arizona Corporation Commission, which oversees Arizona Public Service Co., over a potential rate hike.
Arizona Public Service Co. has asked the Arizona Corporation Commission for what amounts to a nearly 14% rate increase in its filing on June 13, what would amount to about a $20 bill increase for customers, according to the company.
APS, the state’s largest utility, says it wants to use another rate increase to recover costs officials say the utility has paid to improve its existing infrastructure for its 1.4 million Arizona customers, according to Ann Porter, a spokesperson for the utility.
In total, the rate increase equates “to a 13.99% net increase to its revenue” collection, the APS website stated.
The ACC will preside of the rate case, which likely will take months of filings and testimony before the case is heard before the public. It will be up to the commission to approve the request or develop it’s own plan for increased rates, potentially giving the utility a portion of what it is asking for.
If approved, new rates would not go into effect until the second half of 2026. Hearings for the rate case have not been scheduled.
“We understand rising costs are impacting so many aspects of customer’s lives today and that’s it’s never a good time to see bills increase,” the company said on its website regarding the rate request. “That’s why we’re focused on doing our part to keep our costs down as much as we can, while giving customers tools, programs and choices to help them manage their bills. Reliability isn’t optional — it’s essential, especially in Arizona.”
System upgrades range from pole repair and pole replacement to substation and grid technology improvements, according to the website.
Additional revenue would go toward improving protection against security threats and “expansion of battery energy storage at renewable energy” locations to capture renewable energy and use it during peak hours, the website stated.
In March 2024, utility bills for the typical APS customers went up by about $10.50 per month from the last APS rate hike, according to Jill Hanks, an APS spokeswoman.
For information, visit: https://www.aps.com/ratecase
Brent Ruffner joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2021 where he writes about developments at TSMC and Maricopa County issues, including election topics.
He's written about stories that range from accusations that a Mesa monkey breeding facility is unsafe to what to do if you encounter a rattlesnake in the desert.
Community: He is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, May 2007.
Random Fact: He met former San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays at a Phoenix Firebird game after winning a contest for an autographed baseball.
Hobbies: Hiking in the woods and collecting sports memorabilia.
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