Arizona’s utility regulators face growing scrutiny over their ties to the companies they oversee. The Energy & Policy Institute alleges Commissioner Kevin Thompson recruited regulators and solicited $50,000 corporate sponsorships for the GOPAC-affiliated Regulators Roundtable Institute, offering companies access to regulators. All five Arizona commissioners attended its events, according to the watchdog. The institute’s president defended the meetings because no official actions occur there; Thompson did not respond to a request for comment.
The allegations have intensified an election-year dispute over rising utility bills and whether residents are paying costs associated with data centers. A consumer advocate study alleges Arizona Public Service may have shifted up to $600 million in natural gas expenses intended to meet large commercial demand onto other customers, prompting Attorney General Kris Mayes to call for an audit. Democratic commission candidates Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill are highlighting Thompson’s Roundtable involvement as they challenge his reelection.
