Press Release
Despite Promises To Wait Until Next Rate Hearing, APS Prepares to Ask Regulators For Another Solar Tax
(PHOENIX) There they go again. Despite the fact that Arizona Public Service promised not to revisit taxes on rooftop solar customers until the next formal rate hearing, they are at it again. APS is preparing to ask the Arizona Corporation Commission to increase a tax on rooftop solar customers from $5 a month to $21 a month.
At a time when the monopoly is under scrutiny from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office over alleged improper communications between APS and a former member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, APS is making plans to ask regulators for more taxes on rooftop solar customers.
Rooftop solar power is under siege from utilities, through utility-backed anti-solar legislation and harmful rate hikes designed to drive the popular energy choice from Arizona.
APS has repeatedly said the utility would not visit the issue of solar fees or taxes until the next rate case. In fact, it’s executives expressly said as much during the last quarterly earnings call for Pinnacle West, APS’s parent company.
TUSK Chairman Barry Goldwater Jr. said, “Rooftop solar provides savings to thousands of customers, it provides energy choice to utility ratepayers, and it provides jobs for thousands of Arizonans. The quickest way to kill a thriving industry is to tax it and over-regulate it. Sadly, that seems to be APS’ objective.”
T.U.S.K. (Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed) was formed to stand for energy choice and rooftop solar savings. To learn more about T.U.S.K. visit www.dontkillsolar.com
T.U.S.K. believes that rooftop solar is similar to a charter school—it provides a competitive alternative to the monopoly. Monopoly utilities aren’t known for reducing costs or for driving business innovation, but the Arizona solar industry is. Solar companies have a track record of aggressive cost reduction in Arizona. The more people use rooftop solar, the less power they need to buy from the utilities. Energy independence for Arizonans means smaller profits for the utilities, so they are doing everything they can to stop the spread of independent solar.
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