As the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) sets its sights on dismantling the state's Electric Energy Efficiency Standard Rules (EEES Rules), Attorney General Kris Mayes stands firm against the motion, warning of the negative repercussions on both household budgets and the overall stability of the power grid. The commission, through a unanimous vote, signaled a troubling march towards rule repeal—a move Mayes contends will serve to heighten costs and undermine the reliability of Arizona's electricity infrastructure. Officials supporting the EEES Rules have long held that such regulations offer a reprieve to citizens' wallets and bolster the electrical system, but despite these benefits, the ACC is pushing forward with the rulemaking process to dismantle these consumer protections, risking a backslide into inefficiency and expense for Arizonans.
Since their inception in 2010, the EEES Rules have mandated tangible utility company investments in energy-saving initiatives, targeting a cutoff of electricity savings equivalent to 22% of the preceding year's sales volume by the year 2020, according to information obtained by the Arizona Attorney General's office, these measures have consistently funneled billions in net benefits directly into the hands of Arizona households and businesses through various channels including dodged costs on new power plants and reduced spend on the wholesale acquisition of power not to mention the palpable enhancements in the comfort and safety of consumers' abodes and a more stable and demand-responsive electrical grid.
Attorney General Mayes, whose tenure at the ACC between 2003 and 2010 included a term as Commission Chair, played a critical role in the establishment of the EEES Rules, as well as the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff Rules (REST Rules). Her recent letter to the commission outlined the threat posed by the proposed repeal, stressing that such a move would compromise the affordability and reliability of electricity for countless Arizona citizens - a stance that reflects her long-standing commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable practices as a guardian of both consumer and environmental interests.
