The Arizona Corporation Commission may vote Tuesday on a new way to calculate utility rates that could mean annual increases on electric and gas bills.The commission now requires utilities to use a prior year of expenses when they request rate increases. Instead, the commission is now considering a process for updating rates every year.Consumer groups are opposed, saying this would make rate increases harder to challenge and would give consumers less say.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has weighed in, asking the commission to delay any vote for at least two weeks. She says such a change “could fundamentally transform utility regulation in Arizona.”Arizona residents can participate in Tuesday’s meeting in three ways: In person, over the phone or through video conference. Comments during the meeting will only be taken by those who submit requests before 9 a.m., according to the commission. A link to the meeting agenda is here.