Arizona lawmakers are again pushing a bill that prioritizes utility profits to their shareholders over public interest, clean air and the social determinants of health.
What Is HB2679?
HB2679 is being pushed by APS to let them issue bonds to recover and imposes “non-bypassable” charges on ratepayer utility bills. It basically would let utilities like APS move debt from their balance sheet into mandatory ratepayer charges.
Non-bypassable means there’s a mandatory fee added to all utility customers’ bills which can’t be avoided even if they generate their own power (e.g., via rooftop solar) or reduce energy usage via energy efficiency measures etc.
APS will pay anything to craft energy policies in its favor | Opinion
Extending the Life of Dirty Coal Plants
Besides the fact that customers rather than shareholders would be on the financial hook, HB2679 would likely extend the operational life of the Four Corners Power Plant. This comes at a direct cost to:
- Ratepayers, who will be stuck footing the bill for electricity they buy from outdated inefficient infrastructure.
- Public health, especially for communities already disproportionately affected and because low-income people will be stuck with unavoidable electricity fees.
- The Environment, as the continued burning of coal harms air and water quality.
The real beneficiaries are APS shareholders — not everyday Arizonans.
- A requirement to retire polluting plants.
- Any obligation to replace coal with renewable energy.
- A robust oversight process through the ACC or SRP Board.
- Cost-effectiveness protections that prioritize clean energy.
There’s Still Time to Get It Right
The Four Corners Plant isn’t slated for retirement until 2031. That means there’s no rush to pass this flawed legislation (making ratepayers pay for the retirement of the plant is one of the excuses APS uses for pushing the bill) …. so there’s still time to draft responsible legislation next session that protects consumers, ensures proper oversight, and advances a cleaner, more sustainable energy path for Arizona.
Send a message to Governor Hobbs and ask her to veto HB2679. Use this form here.
Let’s not make a rushed mistake that foists extra costs onto people who buy electricity in order to help wealthy people who have stock in utilities. Instead, let’s take a more thoughtful approach over the next year to truly examine the impacts.