Some Arizona customers to see monthly fees increase for rooftop solar, advocates criticize rate hike

Source: Associated Press

Some Arizona customers to see monthly fees increase for rooftop solar, advocates criticize rate hike

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Updated 2:33 PM EST, February 24, 2024

PHOENIX (AP) — About 1.4 million customers in Arizona will be paying more for electricity now that regulators have approved a rate hike proposed by the state’s largest utility, and an extra fee for customers with rooftop solar systems is prompting more criticism.

The average monthly bill for Arizona Public Service Co. residential customers will increase by about $10 to $12 starting in March, and those with solar panels will be on the hook for an extra $2.50 to $3 per month under the changes adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission following an hourslong hearing Thursday.

A few dozen people spoke during the meeting and more than 2,000 people had submitted written comments over the months leading up to the decision.

Commission Chair Jim O’Connor told reporters Friday that he and three Republican colleagues approved the new rate plan without knowing the exact impact it would have on customers since it was projected to be “in the ballpark” of about 8%. O’Connor reasoned that the margin of error was too small to delay voting for another day.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/arizona-electric-rates-increase-rooftop-solar-22ac582966e1ce4b2d9f89e88df9e97e