Grandparents shouldn’t have to choose between running A/C, enjoying retirement
AARP Arizona poll shows that senior voters want corporation commission to consider affordability, financial hardship when setting utility rates
Posted
Dora Vasquez
Submitted Photo/Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
APS is asking the (Arizona Corporation Commission) to approve another rate increase. Under the company's proposal, a typical residential customer could pay about $240 more a year. For a retiree on a fixed income, there is no such thing as “just” another $20 a month.”
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OPINION — Many Arizonans spent decades working, raising families and planning for a retirement they hoped would bring some financial security.
But for too many, retirement has become another exercise in stretching every dollar. Housing, groceries, prescriptions and utility bills all compete for the same fixed income. And in Arizona, where air conditioning is essential for staying safe during extreme heat, the electric bill is one expense retirees simply cannot choose to avoid.
As Nana to eight grandchildren and great-grandmother to three, I think about this especially as Grandparents Day approaches on Sept. 13. It is a day to celebrate everything grandparents contribute to their families and communities, but it should also be a reminder that the people we honor deserve to live their later years with dignity and some peace of mind.
This year, the average Social Security retirement benefit is about $2,071 a month. For retirees like me, who depend heavily on that monthly check, there is not a lot of room in the budget for another expense to go up. When the electric bill increases, our income does not suddenly increase to make room for it. In Arizona, electricity is not a luxury. During a 110- or 115-degree summer day, air conditioning can be a matter of health and safety, especially for older adults. Turning the thermostat up or shutting off the A/C because a bill is becoming too expensive can have serious consequences.
Decisions about utility rates at the Arizona Corporation Commission matter because of exactly this. The ACC’s five elected commissioners have the final say on rate adjustments for regulated utilities, such as Arizona Public Service. What looks like a technical proceeding on paper eventually shows up on someone's monthly bill. That’s what we are seeing right now. APS is asking the commission to approve another rate increase. Under the company's proposal, a typical residential customer could pay about $240 more a year.
For a retiree on a fixed income, there is no such thing as “just” another $20 a month. That money has to come from somewhere. It can mean less for groceries, a prescription, a doctor’s copay or the everyday things that make retirement enjoyable. I hear this concern from retirees regularly. They worked their whole lives, paid into Social Security and planned for the day when they could retire with some dignity and peace of mind. Now, many are still doing math at the kitchen table every month, deciding what gets paid first and what can wait.
For Arizona seniors, that balancing act can become dangerous, too. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. When someone keeps their home hotter than is safe because they are afraid of the next electric bill, affordability becomes a public health issue.
This is what can get lost in a rate case. The proceedings are filled with filings, testimony and complicated calculations. Those things are necessary. But behind them are ordinary people trying to figure out whether their monthly income will still cover the basics.
Older Arizonans are making clear that affordability matters. A recent AARP Arizona poll found that 80% of voters 50 and older support requiring the ACC to consider consumer affordability and financial hardship when setting utility rates.
As the ACC considers the APS rate case, commissioners should closely examine what any increase means for the people paying the bills. Affordability must remain central to the decision, especially for retirees and families already struggling with rising costs. What looks manageable on a spreadsheet may not be manageable for someone living on a fixed income.
Utilities show up with lawyers, experts and resources to make their case. Retirees and other Arizonans, who ultimately pay the bills, deserve to be heard, too. I invite my fellow seniors and Arizonans to call the ACC at 602-542-4251 and let them know why you reject a rate increase.
This Grandparents Day, we have an opportunity not only to recognize the special role grandparents play in our lives, but also to reflect on how we can better support and honor them all year long.
Dora Vasquez, a retired grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of three, is executive director of Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. 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.
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