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Opinion

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

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.

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