Earlier this week, Advanced Energy United (United) co-hosted and organized an Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) candidate forum, bringing together interested member companies from the United West Working Group to engage in thoughtful conversations and dialogue with ACC candidates.

The ACC, which regulates the state’s utilities, is a five-member elected governing body that plays a significant role in shaping the state’s energy policies and maintaining regulatory frameworks that support Arizona’s economic and business environment. The current ACC has a Republican majority, but this November, Arizona voters will have the opportunity to elect three new Commissioners. With three of five seats contested, these elections could shift the balance of power next year.  

The ACC Candidate Forum was an opportunity to connect advanced energy business leaders with candidates to discuss the ACC’s role in supporting advanced energy deployment, maintaining regulatory certainty that businesses rely on, and strengthening Arizona’s economic future.

The forum provided a platform for robust discussion, where the moderators and forum participants asked candidates questions and learned about candidates’ positions on key energy topics ranging from renewable generation to transmission and grid modernization.

Several key themes emerged during the forum, which highlighted the diverse views and policy positions of the candidates on Arizona’s energy future:

1. Energy Reliability and Independence: Ensuring a reliable energy grid amidst Arizona’s rapid population growth was a central concern. The candidates all agreed on support for clean energy resources, with some advocating for an “all-of-the-above” strategy that includes renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power, and others emphasizing support for renewable energy as key for Arizona’s future.
   
   
2. Regulatory Certainty and Business Confidence: Another major concern expressed by both candidates and industry members was the need for regulatory stability. Candidates highlighted how regulatory predictability is key to ensuring that businesses can invest confidently in Arizona’s energy future. There was debate amongst the candidates, with some criticizing regulations that they claim to favor fossil fuels, while others argued that the ACC should not “pick winners and losers,” but allow the market to determine the best energy solutions.
   
   
3. Renewable Energy Standards and Advanced Technologies: The rollback of Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST) and Energy Efficiency (EE) Standard was a hot topic. Several candidates advocated for reinstating these standards to drive the state’s clean energy transition, pointing out Arizona’s abundance of solar resources. Others expressed concern that mandates would be too expensive and stressed the need to keep energy affordable. 

The discussion underscored varied perspectives on how Arizona can secure a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future, and participants gained valuable insights into how the next ACC might shape policies affecting advanced energy in Arizona. This information is crucial in light of recent or proposed decisions by the Commission that threaten clean energy progress in the state, such as repealing the state’s REST and EE Standard and imposing a fee that exclusively targets rooftop solar customers. The decisions the ACC makes directly impact advanced energy businesses, and these elections will be a pivotal moment for the future of Arizona’s advanced energy sector.   

Hosting the event created an opportunity to discuss the future direction of the Commission openly and transparently and ensure that candidates understand how advanced energy companies are impacted by regulatory action. It was important that the industry’s priorities were heard and that we were able to highlight our efforts to strengthen Arizona’s advanced energy future. 

United enjoyed connecting with the candidates, discussing our priorities, and establishing ourselves as a resource to the Commission on energy policies. Arizonans deserve forward progress on clean energy, and the Commission has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for this progress.

Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United’s education and advocacy work in Arizona on behalf of the advanced energy industry.