The Arizona Corporation Commission voted Wednesday to begin a regulatory audit and a rate review of APS following numerous complaints of increased electricity bills by customers. The decision follows a letter by Chairman Bob Burns and Commissioner Boyd Dunn asking for an inquiry into whether APS properly and sufficiently executed its customer outreach and education programs. As part of the Corporation Commission’s approval of APS’s recent rate increase, customer outreach and education were required to inform ratepayers of the different rate plan options. The education was intended to give customers the tools and knowledge to keep their bill increases to a minimum. Due to the significant amount of complaints of large bill increases, commissioners believe that APS may not have adequately performed its outreach efforts and might be earning profits beyond what was authorized in its recent rate case. Commissioners instructed staff to begin the review immediately. The report is due out in May.
