In a unanimous decision that's stirring the pot of energy politics in Arizona, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is taking steps to dismantle the state’s Renewable Energy Mandates.
The push, led by Vice Chairman Nick Myers, saw a 5-0 vote during the ACC’s August 14 meeting, where the commission set into motion the process to repeal the rules that mandate a portion of Arizona's electricity come from renewable resources, according to an ACC release. The Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff Rules, commonly referred to as the REST Rules, mandate that, starting in 2024, utilities must source 15 percent of their retail electric sales from renewable energy sources, with 30 percent of that figure derived from distributed resources, including rooftop solar.
Myers justified the move by suggesting these mandates inflate customer costs. "I believe it’s time for the Commission to move forward and repeal these outdated renewable mandates that have unnecessarily driven up costs for customers," Myers stated in an ACC release. He stands on the platform that utilities need the freedom to choose their energy sources without the constraints of government-mandated rules.
The ACC has lined up a series of oral proceedings to gather public opinion on this significant shift in policy. Hearings are set for November 10 in Tucson, November 12 by phone, and November 13 in Phoenix, with the commission also accepting written comments until November 14. Interested parties are directed to submit feedback to the Commission’s Docket Control (RE-00000A-24-0026), the details of which are laid out in the ACC release.
For more information on the proceedings or to reach out directly, contact Vice Chair Myers at [email protected].
