Dive Brief:

• Arizona's election to determine its utility regulators has attracted more than $6 million in funds from the largest power provider in the state and the largest rooftop installer in the country, as each sides try to install a slate favorable to their interests, according to media reports. 
• Arizona Public Service has now spent $3.5 million supporting its favored candidates, all Republicans. SolarCity has spent more than $2 million, along with $700,000 funds in the primary to support current Arizona Corporation Commissioner Robert Burns.
• The Arizona Daily Sun points out that APS' election spending is more than 1% of its earnings last quarter. The utility's parent company, Pinnacle West, recently announced earnings of $263 million. 

Dive Insight:

The battle for the Arizona Corporation Commission has turned expensive, with both sides pouring money into the fight in the waning weeks of the election.

While the two may not agree on much, they are both supporting commissioner Robert Burns, a Republican. But the utility is also supporting current commissioner Andy Tobin and Boyd Dunn, both Republicans. SolarCity has backed Democratic candidates Bill Mundell and Tom Chabin.

Interestingly, both Pinnacle West and SolarCity are financially supporting Burns who has usually sided with the solar sector during regulatory hearings. He also previously voiced frustration with Pinnacle West for not disclosing political contributions. That led to Burns subpoenaing the company for its financial records over the 2014 election cycle.

Pinnacle West formed a political action committee, AZ Coalition for Reliable Electricity, in October with a goal of spending $1 million in the upcoming election.  New funding disclosures indicate the utility holding company has spent far more.

The Phoenix Business Journal previously estimated SolarCity's spending in the race to stand at $4.5 million, but new media accounts put the number closer to $3 million. 

A number of critics have accused APS of funneling dark money to political groups supporting the campaigns of current regulators Doug Little and Tom Forese in 2014, but the utility has neither denied or confirmed those accusations. Even so, those allegations have continued to dog the ACC, leading Burns to push for an investigation of the current ratemaking process this year. His colleagues eventually nixed his request in a 3-1 vote.