APS emergency rate increase not an emergency
by AARP Arizona Advocacy Volunteer Jon Poston

This week, the Arizona Corporation Commission will deliberate another Arizona Public Service request for emergency rate relief. AARP urges the Commission to reject this latest APS rate request-this one calling for a 14 percent emergency rate increase beginning April 1 to cover the company's fuel and purchased power costs.

Emergency rate relief should only be granted under very limited circumstances, such as when necessary to help companies that are facing the threat of bankruptcy or when a company's resources are so depleted they cannot serve their customers.

APS does not meet the above criteria as evidenced by their recent announcement of an increased dividend for stockholders. APS is also not on the verge of financial failure. And, APS is in a position to continue service to its customers without any danger of diminished service, much less an interruption of service.

The real emergency is what this rate increase would mean for Arizonans living on fixed and low incomes as the average monthly residential bill would jump from $101 to $120 based on 1100 kilowatt hours of use.