Residents and state officials are pushing back against a proposed double‑digit increase in electric rates that would add about $20 a month to bills and mark the fourth hike since 2017. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will ultimately decide if the proposed increase is approved. At a recent ACC public hearing, speakers argued that families already struggle with high utility costs and that APS’ parent corporation remains highly profitable despite claiming the increase is needed for operating and grid maintenance expenses.
Community members emphasized that in Arizona’s extreme heat, electricity is a necessity, not a discretionary expense, saying they cannot safely reduce air-conditioning use to cut costs. The state attorney general, Kris Mayes, has also intervened in the case, citing hundreds of millions of dollars in reported profits and encouraging public participation at several additional hearings scheduled through May.
