Dive Brief:
- The Arizona Corporation Commission is considering a measure to eliminate requirements that utilities source some of their power from efficient resources that reduce demand.
- The proposal was filed by ACC staff and will be considered by the full five-member body. Previously, Commissioner Gary Pierce had asked staff to consider ways to amend rules to reduce energy costs.
- Advocates of the rules say they will save Arizona consumers $9 billion on their energy bills by 2030, according to AZ Central.
Dive Insight:
Arizona efficiency rules passed in 2010 are in jeopardy, AZ Central reports. Put in place four years ago and subsequently updated, they give electric and gas utilities until 2020 to reduce demand by 22% and 6% respectively. The new proposal would eliminate those rules, and has angered many efficiency advocates in the state.
Kris Mayes, who served as ACC chairwoman when the state enacted the efficiency rules, called the change "crazy. ... Nothing in the record suggests the standard is not working."
"This is just offensive," Mayes told AZ Central.
A group of energy advocates has already filed comments with regulators, urging them to reject the proposal and pointing out that a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analysis found that the efficiency standards will produce cumulative savings exceeding 6,800 GWh by 2020 and $9 billion in savings for Arizona customers by 2030.
"Because of these significant benefits, we urge you to oppose weakening or rolling back of Arizona energy efficiency goals," the group said. "The Standard has been a great success story for our state. Please keep it on track to provide benefits to us and to our communities well into the future."
