Dive Brief:
- State regulator Robert Burns has rejected a settlement proposed by Arizona Public Service that would have ended his requests for political spending disclosures in return for the utility agreeing to greater transparency in the future.
- According to the Arizona Capitol Times, the new rules would have covered political spending disclosures by regulated and unregulated entities intervening at the Arizona Corporation Commission, but Burns rejected the settlement over concerns its terms would not come into force.
- This summer, Burns issued a subpoena to the utility attempting to determine whether APS and its parent company Pinnacle West funded groups supporting election campaigns for the commission in 2014 using ratepayer money.
Dive Insight:
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Robert Burns is on a one-man quest for APS' political spending disclosures, and he is showing no signs of backing down. A proposed settlement now rejected, Arizona Capitol Times said Burns is continuing to meet with his attorney to determine how to proceed.
Over the summer, regulators voted 3-1 to block Burns' investigation to evaluate potential outside influences on the utility ratemaking process. In September, APS filed a lawsuit against Burns, arguing the information he is demanded is data the utility is not required to provide. According to the Capitol Times, that lawsuit is now on hold.
Burns' dogged inquiry revolves around allegations of dark money funding during the 2014 election, from utilities and solar companies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed former Arizona regulator Gary Pierce and utility officials in July as a part of a "long-term investigation related to the financing of certain statewide races in the 2014 election cycle."
In particular, APS was accused of contributing funds to an independent groups supporting the campaigns of current Commissioners Tom Forese and Doug Little. But in an ironic twist, APS poured funds into a group called AZ Coalition for Reliable Electricity to financially support Burns' bid for re-election earlier this year.
