Three years after approving a $95 million rate hike for Arizona Public Service (APS), the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is still debating whether or not it was implemented correctly and if that caused the company to over-earn.
Arizona chief utility regulator calls report on APS customer programs 'scathing' as commission considers reopening 2017 rate case
The Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission called a May 19 staff consultant's report "a scathing assessment of Arizona Public Service's (APS) customer outreach and education program." The commission is reviewing the customer education and outreach plan implemented by APS, and is considering the possibility of reopening the utility's 2017 rate case.
Report: APS failing to help customers understand electricity plans
A new independent report harshly criticizes Arizona’s largest power company, APS, for not doing enough to help customers save on their bills. The report also accuses APS of failing to implement mechanisms to determine if customers comprehended the menu of billing options that went into effect in August 2017 and remain in place today.
APS paying additional refunds to customers on costly rate plans
Thousands of Arizona Public Service Co. customers are getting a second check in the mail because they continue to pay too much for their power after getting bad advice from the company. The company is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get customers to switch rate plans. Those who get the checks may want to review their plans because the company will not continue to refund people for being on more expensive rate plans forever.
Confused about how to save money on your APS bill? You’re not alone.
“It’s basically a coin toss. Heads, APS wins. Tails, ratepayers lose.” That was the sentiment from a recent conversation I had with Abhay Padgaonkar, a local management consultant who served as the expert witness on behalf of ratepayers in the Stacey Champion complaint against APS.
An appointed Corporation Commission would be more corruptible than an elected one
For the past 2-plus years, I have personally spent countless hours at the Arizona Corporation Commission for my complaint tied to the 2017 APS rate hike, as an intervenor in the APS rate review, and for many various stakeholder meetings. Over this time, I have studied rate-making and energy policies locally and nationally. I have delved into the history surrounding the creation of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and Public Utility Commissions (PUC) as they’re known in other parts of the country.
Elect or appoint? Lawmakers hear arguments on how to select utility regulators
Recent controversies with Arizona utility regulators have gotten the attention of state lawmakers, who propose to let voters decide whether the regulators should be appointed by the governor rather than elected.
Arizona lawmaker wants appointed utility commission
Arizona voters may be asked to decide in November whether they should continue electing utility regulators or let the governor choose who approves electricity and natural gas prices. The debate comes amid growing scrutiny of political spending by Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest electricity provider, and a commitment by its new chief executive not to spend money on races for the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Regulators disagree about confidentiality of AG's investigation into APS
Just before last week's meeting about the faulty APS rate comparison tool, the company told commissioners that it was also under investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The company also relayed that state law required that information be kept under wraps during the open meeting.
New APS boss apologizes for misguiding customers on rates
The new Arizona Public Service CEO offered a mea culpa before the Arizona Corporation Commission on December 11 over a faulty rate comparison tool that misguided 10,000 customers about the most cost-effective rate plan.
New APS Chief Promises Change Amid Problems With Customer Bills
Following a slew of problems with customers' bills, the new CEO of Arizona Public Service, Jeff Guldner promised regulators that the utility would do more to serve their 1.2 million captive customers. The meeting opened on Wednesday afternoon with the five elected Arizona Corporation Commissioners excoriating APS over a rate comparison tool that gave incorrect advice to customers.
New APS CEO to explain why faulty rate tool gave bad information to customers
Arizona Public Service (APS) is set to answer state regulators about a faulty online tool on Wednesday. The company's new CEO Jeff Guldner is expected to explain why the online calculator that was supposed to tell customers how to save money actually recommended more expensive plans.
Regulators Want An Investigation Into APS's Misleading Online Rate Tool
Arizona Public Service said it will repay about 12,000 customers who may have been led to sign up for rate plans that, instead of saving them money, could cost them hundreds of dollars more each year. That was thanks to bad advice from the company's online rate tool.
Customer frustration with APS, Commission staff grows
The admission that the rate comparison tool for Arizona Public Service gave inaccurate information to thousands of rate payers has started even more inquiries into the company's practices by regulators and customers.
Corporation commissioner suggests punishing APS for giving bad advice to Arizona customers
A frustrated utility regulator is suggesting Arizona Public Service Co. could be sanctioned for giving bad advice to customers that encouraged them to switch to more expensive rate plans. "I am appalled with the repeated 'problems' that have arisen from a seemingly simple commission directive," Commissioner Boyd Dunn wrote to the other four commissioners Wednesday.
Corporation commissioner suggests punishing APS for giving bad advice to Arizona customers
A frustrated utility regulator is suggesting Arizona Public Service Co. could be sanctioned for giving bad advice to customers that encouraged them to switch to more expensive rate plans.
APS has been steering customers to plans that steer even more money to APS? Genius!
It just never ends for the long suffering customers of Arizona Public Service. It’s bad enough that APS stacked the Corporation Commission, filling it in 2014 and 2016 with its preferred regulators who then rubber stamped a rate increase in 2017. Bad enough that APS charges more per kilowatt hour than virtually every other electric utility in Arizona. Bad enough that APS has been collecting millions more from its captive customers than what was authorized by its puppet regulators and now wants yet another rate increase. Now comes word that the utility has been steering customers to rate plans that suck even more money out of their pockets.
Another Way Ratepayers are Getting Screwed
If you haven’t heard of the Residential Utility Consumer Office, otherwise known as RUCO, you’re not alone. Though this government organization has been around for more than thirty years, few Arizonans know about its existence. RUCO is a consumer advocacy agency, funded by ratepayers, for the benefit of ratepayers. Its job is to advocate on our behalf whenever public utilities seek rate hikes at the Arizona Corporation Commission.
APS Proposing Rate Hike in 2020; Would Average 5.4% Per Household
Arizona Public Service (APS) wants to raise rates for next year. A request to raise its rates was filed last week, but it's not a done deal -- yet. It will take about a year to 18 months for customers to see the proposed rate increase on their bills.
APS Proposes Rate Increase Following Audit
Arizona Public Service (APS) filed a proposal that could increase the monthly rate for 95% of their customers. They're asking for a $184 million rate increase. Broken down, the average customer can expect to see an increase between 3-6% on their monthly bill, about $7.50.