John,

It's Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Last week, I held a town hall in Tucson with about 100 residents to discuss Tucson Electric Power's proposal to raise residential rates by 14%.



Kris at last week’s town hall. Katya Mendoza, AZPM News.

Here's what's at stake: If TEP's rate hike is approved, Tucson customers will pay an extra $19.43 per month for electricity beginning next year. That's $172 million more per year that TEP would collect — while their parent company Fortis Inc. reported net earnings of $1.6 billion in 2024.

This would be TEP's third rate increase in a row. They raised rates 10% in 2023 and 6% in 2021.

At the town hall, I heard from retirees on fixed incomes, small business owners struggling with survival, and families who are tired of being held hostage by a utility monopoly.

One retiree told me: "14% rate increase to someone that has a fixed income, that's a big increase and it will impact my household income and flexibility."



The audience at the town hall. Katya Mendoza, AZPM News.

A small business owner said: "I'm tired of not having a voice when you are struggling with survival."

My office will be presenting evidence at a March hearing in Tucson, arguing against this increase.

We'll be arguing that a company making hundreds of millions of dollars in profit should not be asking for its third rate increase in a row — and certainly not 14%.

I'm also challenging TEP's secret deal with Project Blue, a data center in Pima County. A portion of the agreement is redacted, and it includes a "choose your own rate" provision that essentially allows TEP to negotiate rates outside the supervision of the Corporation Commission at some future date.

When utilities try to raise your rates while reporting record profits, I fight back. That's my job.

If you're interested in pushing back against this rate hike and making your voice heard, here are the upcoming public comment dates:

* Thursday, March 19, 5:30-8 p.m. (telephonic only) 

* Monday, March 23, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (in person or telephonic) 

* Wednesday, April 1, 5:30-8 p.m. (in person or telephonic) 

* Tuesday, April 7, 5:30-8 p.m. (telephonic only) 

* Wednesday, April 22, 10 a.m. (in person or telephonic)

All meetings are at the State of Arizona Building, 400 W Congress St in downtown Tucson. For telephonic comments, call 1-877-309-3457 and use the passcode 246011833204##.

Your voice matters. Show up. Speak up. Make them hear you.

Thanks for having my back,

-Kris

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