Why the Arizona Corporation Commission must help make energy affordable again

Margarita Silva

Submitted photo/Margarita Silva

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OPINION — Each summer in Arizona feels a little hotter than the last. By June, stepping outside can feel like walking into an oven. For many seniors, that heat brings not just discomfort but fear of the next electric bill.

After one too many summers worrying about our air conditioning costs, my husband and I decided to install solar panels in 2018, and it truly changed our lives.

My husband and I are retired and live in Surprise. Before solar, summer electric bills were always a worry. Today, even during the hottest months, our bill tops out at about $140. Most months, it’s much lower, recently as little as $38.

Solar didn’t just lower our bills; it gave us peace of mind. It even allowed us to enjoy the holidays again. I still remember the first Christmas after our panels were installed, when we decorated our yard with lights without worrying about the cost later. That kind of relief should not be a luxury. It should be the norm.

As our summers get longer and hotter and our state shatters heat records, extreme heat is now one of the greatest public health threats in Arizona. Because many of seniors rely on Social Security or pensions and live in older homes that are expensive to cool, we are especially vulnerable.

Turning off the air conditioner poses a serious health risk, including the risk of death. According to the World Meteorological Organization, heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S. In Arizona alone, more than 4,320 people died from heat exposure between 2013 and 2024.

I’ve seen the consequences of extreme heat up close. In Happy Trails, a neighborhood near us, some elderly residents couldn’t afford their electric bills, and in the blistering heat, not using air conditioning became fatal. This should never be the case.

Solar energy is one of the most effective tools we have to protect ourselves from rising energy costs. It lowers monthly bills, reduces strain on the power grid during heat waves and provides reliable, affordable electricity when we need it most.

A $10,000 rebate made solar possible for my family; it helped us afford the upfront cost. Without that support, we may never have been able to make the switch. Recent federal cuts to clean energy programs couldn’t come at a worse time. The EPA’s cancellation of the Solar for All program, a $156 million initiative to lower household energy costs, means fewer families will have access to solar’s long-term savings.

At the same time, the Arizona Corporation Commission is moving backward by repealing the state’s long-standing energy efficiency standards, rules that have saved Arizona families millions of dollars since 2010.

For every dollar invested, these programs returned nearly four dollars in lower bills and avoided costs. Despite nearly 1,900 Arizonans asking the commission to keep these rules and only a handful supporting repeal, commissioners voted last fall to start dismantling them.

Even the ACC’s own consultant warned that removing these standards could lead to higher utility bills over time. Slashing support for solar, energy efficiency and grid upgrades removes the very tools that keep bills affordable and the lights on during extreme heat.

The stakes could not be higher. As reported by the Energy Equity Project, one in six Arizona households already faces unaffordable energy bills, and seniors are among those hit hardest. Even so, Arizona Public Service is seeking another 14% rate increase after receiving several in the last 10 years; this latest increase will result in approximately $240 in additional charges on the average customer’s bill.

The Arizona Corporation Commission has a clear responsibility in moments like this. It is meant to provide oversight and protect consumers, not simply approve every request from monopoly utilities.

In Arizona, access to affordable electricity is essential for health and safety. We should expand access to cost-saving solutions, such as solar and energy efficiency, rather than approve rate hikes that put seniors at risk. The commissioners must listen to those most affected and reject higher rates.

Margarita Silva is a Valley native who serves as secretary for the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and treasurer of Communications Workers of America Retired Members Chapter 70003. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.