Political Will Needed to Fix Electric Rates in Arizona
Opinion by Drew Williamson
© 2026 Williamson News Service LLC
Here’s a crazy idea: What if the government adopted a goal of lowering the cost of electricity for everyone while protecting the environment?
Saving money on electricity and protecting the environment seem unimportant to the current administration. The federal government seems more interested in promoting industries that make big political contributions: like data centers, fossil fuel producers (coal, natural gas and petroleum), and the nuclear power industry.
Higher electric bills affect everyone, which should command the attention of all national, state and local officials. The average household in Arizona spends about $130 monthly on electricity. https://www.sofi.com/cost-of-living-in-arizona/ That is a little higher than the national median of $120, which is surprising considering how much Arizonans rely on air conditioning from May through September. But it seems every state has challenges when it comes to electric rates.
Electric rates have gone up 19.9% in the last five years (2021 to 2026) in Arizona https://www.doxo.com/w/reports/ That’s about a 4% increase per year. In the previous five years (2016 to 2021), they went up less than 1 percent a year. The big change came in 2023 when they went up 14.7% in 12 months.
If you are concerned about your electric rates in Arizona increasing, you had better buckle up because it looks like you may be in for a rough ride. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is contemplating a request from Arizona Public Service (APS) to increase the electric rates for 1.4 million households by another 14%. A decision is expected by Dec. 31, 2026 and would take effect in 2027.
The ACC has the last word on electric rates for APS. The public hearing on this increase request was one of the longest rate hearings in state history. It included an unprecedented intervention by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Part of Mayes’ objection to the increase was that it is being driven by data center growth. Her office is holding a public meeting to discuss data center development in Arizona. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday October 14 from 5-6:30pm in the Eagles Community Center, 828 E Broadway Rd, in Mesa. https://www.azag.gov/office/outreach/events
Mayes, a Democrat, is seeking re-election in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. Two seats on the five-member ACC are also up for election in November.
In September, President Donald Trump proposed sending a $5000 check to every adult citizen in the U.S. to help people deal with the cost of living. https://govtschemes.org/trump-5000-dividend-check/ The proposal would cost the government about $1.2 trillion. That is a very generous offer considering the government is already $40 trillion in debt.
Rather than borrowing $1.2 trillion, perhaps we could approach the cost-of-living problem by focusing on lowering costs that we all pay, such as electricity bills.
The Australian government has given a good example of how this might work. By developing a fleet of large-scale storage batteries, Australia has been able to lower the spot market price for wholesale electrical power 47% for its citizens. https://www.ft.com/content/c77b86cb-a915-412e-89d9-52cfc32cdc80?syn-25a6b1a6=1
The fleet of large-scale batteries lowered both electricity costs and carbon emissions by storing lower cost wind and solar power generated during peak sunny or windy times and then sending it back to the grid when most needed.
The U.S. region of New England is starting to experience similar success to what Australia is enjoying. Using solar and wind power with battery storage, New England is reducing its reliance on burning natural gas to generate power. https://by-drew-williamson.ghost.io/rooftop-solar-batteries-light-the-way-in-new-england/
These same tools and innovative spirit are available in Arizona, too. As a matter of fact, Salt River Project (SRP) has proposed installing large-scale batteries that can store up to 400 megawatts (MW) of power at the Marigold Energy Center near Stanfield south of Chandler. The center also would include 600 MW of solar generation and 675 MW of natural gas generation. SRP is a large, non-profit power company that serves about 1.2 million customers in Arizona.
The means to lower electricity costs while protecting the environment are available. All we need is the political will to remain focused on that goal.
I am a freelance writer in Arizona. My professional expertise includes newspaper reporting and editing, advertising sales and management, and investment advising and retirement planning. I have a BA in Journalism/Political Science from the UA in Tucson and a MBA in Strategic Management from ASU in Tempe. I am a proud member of the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).