Arizona regulator demands information on ‘troubling’ campaigns against net metering

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is demanding information from organisations including utility Arizona Public Service (APS) on the possible use of ratepayer funds in controversial public relations campaigns against solar power and net metering.

Commissioner Bob Burns of ACC has written to the Tucson Electric Power, its parent company, Unisource Energy, electric co-operatives, as well as APS, regarding their methods of fund public relations and advertising campaigns.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

APS, the state's largest utility company, was recently forced to admit it had funded a campaign via a conservative Washington DC area political organisation called 60 Plus Association against the net metering of solar, despite previously denying the action.

Burns said he was “troubled by the magnitude and cost” of recent PR campaigns against net metering and said that he wanted to know how much money was being spent on anti-solar campaigns by utility companies. He raised concerns that funding was coming from ratepayers, either directly or indirectly.

Burns’ letter stated that he was also asking solar power providers for the same information regarding their corresponding pro-solar and net metering campaigns.

Although at present solar companies are not regulated by ACC, Burns said he was interested in their funding of campaigns as it would help in his consideration of the matters. Burns asked for replies to be sent no later than 6 November.

The commissioner’s letter asked three direct questions:

  1. How much money was spent on campaigns regarding net metering, including lobbying.
  2. The number of hours spent by salaried staff on campaigns regarding net metering
  3. In the case of utilities, whether the funds spent on campaigns would be recovered through operative and administrative costs.

ACC will issue a ruling on 14 November on whether or not prices for electricity should be raised for customers using solar power, which has been lobbied for publicly by APS.

Read Next

September 15, 2025
Advances in edge-based artificial intelligence are helping make solar and storage interoperable by tackling the data challenge, writes Andrew Foster.
September 15, 2025
Italy’s latest renewable energy tender has received 12GW of bids, of which the majority, 10GW, came from solar PV.
September 15, 2025
Sunrun has priced a securitisation of leases and power purchase agreements, taking its non-recourse debt capital raised in Q3 above US$1.5 billion. 
September 15, 2025
Norwegian energy firm Statkraft has agreed to divest a portion of its renewable energy portfolio to Serentica Renewables.
September 15, 2025
UNSW spin-out company Lab360 Solar has been awarded funding from ARENA to bring its drone-based PV inspection technology to market.
Premium
September 15, 2025
The UK government and solar industry have jointly published a long-anticipated roadmap detailing how to maximise the country’s solar potential. Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK takes a closer look at the details.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines