>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO THIS AZ VOTES 2024 SPECIAL EDITION OF ARIZONA HORIZON I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT WE FEATURE A DEBATE BETWEEN THE FOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THREE OPEN SEATS ON THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION IS BEST KNOWN FOR REGULATING UTILITIES BUT ALSO HAS JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE POWERS AND REGULATES SECURITIES AND PIPELINES AS WELL AS INCORPORATES NEW BUSINESSES.

CANDIDATES IN TONIGHT'S DEBATE WILL BE GIVEN 90 SECONDS TO REPLY TO QUESTIONS AND A 45 SECOND REBUTTAL WILL BE OFFERED.

OPENING AND CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE MADE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

GLOALINGS AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES AGAIN IN ALPHA ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

KRISTEN KELLY A PROFESSIONAL MEDIATOR, CONSULTANT AND FREELANCE JOURNALIST.

AND RENE LOPEZ IS A FORMER CHANDLER CITY COUNCILMAN.

AND LEAH IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION.

AND RACHEL WALDEN IS A MEMBER OF THE MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GOANG GOVERNING BOARD.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH OPENING STATES WE START WITH CHRISTY KELLY.

>> ARIZONA I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

I AM ASKING FOR A SHOT TO BE ELECTED AS YOUR NEXT CORPORATION COMMISSIONER.

I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO PLACE ME AS IN THE PRIMARY AND ALSO IN THE GENERAL.

I AM A WIFE, I'M A MOM, I LIVE IN THE WEST VALLEY.

NOW I AM A MEDIATOR.

I'VE SPENT 16 YEARS BEING A MEDIATOR AND AN ARBITRATOR.

THAT SKILL IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

WE NEED MORE CIVILITY IN OUR POLITICS.

WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TWO PEOPLE IN A ROOM, TALK ABOUT THINGS AND COME OUT WITH AN AGREEMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ALSO, ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES IS TO BRING MORE VISIBILITY TO THE OFFICE OF CORPORATION COMMISSION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT EXISTS IF THEY DO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT DOES.

SO AGAIN I AM LOOKING TO BE YOUR RATEPAYER ADVOCATE AND TO PUT ARIZONA FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE TURN NOW TO RENE LOPEZ.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

SO I'M A THIRD GENERATION ARIZONA NATIVE AND A THIRD GENERATION NAVY VETERAN.

I GOT MY DEGREE IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

I EARNED MY COMMISSION IN THE NAVY SERVED AS AN OFFICER ON BOARD SUBMARINE PLATFORMS.

WHEN I LEFT THE NAVY I WORKED IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN TELECOM AND OIL IN GAS NOW IN I.T.

SO I CAME BACK HERE IN ARIZONA IN 2007 TO FINISH RAISING MY FAMILY AND GOT INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WAS FORTUNATE AND HONORED ENOUGH TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF CHANDLER FOR EIGHT YEARS VICE MAYOR, TWICE, AND ALSO SERVED AS CHANDLER SEAT FOR THE ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION.

SO THOSE SIX YEARS ACTUALLY EXPOSED ME TO A LOT OF THE WATER POLICY STATEWIDE.

I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ARIZONA AS I DID FOR THE CITIZENS OF CHANDLER.

I WANT TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF ARIZONA, REPRESENTING YOU ON THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION AND I HOPE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE TURN NOW TO LEAH MARQUEZ PETERSON.

>> I'M A WIFE, A MOTHER, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND I'M RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION TO ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION.

I HAVE SERVED ON THE COMMISSION SINCE 2019 I'M A CONSERVATIVE VOICE FOR RATEPAYERS.

WHILE SERVING ON THE COMMISSION I HAVE FOUGHT FOR ENERGY RELIABILITY, ESPECIALLY STANDING UP AGAINST OUT OF STATE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THAT HAVE BROUGHT POLICIES TO THIS STATE THAT THREATEN OUR RELIABILITY.

I'VE ALSO STOOD FOR AFFORDABLE RATES FOR OUR RATEPAYERS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE AREAS AROUND FIXED INCOMES.

I HAVE APPROVED A $40 MILLION REBATE FOR CUSTOMERS.

UTILITY SCALE MORATORIUM ON DISCONNECTIONS DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND RECENTLY APPROVED A $200 MILLION RATE CUT FOR A.P.S.

CUSTOMERS DURING THE RECENT RATE CASE.

I APPRECIATE AND WANT YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS UPCOMING RE-ELECTION.

YOU CAN GO TO VOTEFORLEAH.COM TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR VOTING RECORD.

>> WE WRAP UP OUR OPENING STATEMENTS WITH RACHEL WALLEDDEN.

>> HI, I'M RACHEL WALDEN I'M RUNNING FOR THE COMMISSION TO UPHOLD THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION AND PROTECT THE RATEPAYER AND ENSURE WE HAVE RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE UTILITIES NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I LOVE ARIZONA, I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 39 YEARS.

I WENT TO ASU FOR YOUR UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE WORK AND I WORKED ASU AS A TEACHING AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT.

THEN HE A CAREER IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE.

MY CLIENTS WERE LARGE MARKET CORPORATIONS AND I WORKED WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, COMPLIANCE AND AUDITS AND I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE MESA SCHOOL BOARD.

I AM A PROVEN FIGHTER IT'S THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE AND I HAVE PRIORITIZED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND PARENTAL RIGHTS.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ME AT ELECTRACHELWALDEN.COM.

>> ALL RIGHT, CANDIDATES THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GET THINGS STARTED MS. KELLY WE'LL START WITH YOU AND START WITH THE BASICS HERE.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION?

>> GREAT, TED.

SO, THE ROLE AS EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, USUALLY SAYS IS FAIR AND JUST AND REASONABLE RATES.

THAT IS OUR DUTY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE FLIP THE LIGHT SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS COME ON, THAT OUR RATES STAY LOW, THAT WE STAY ON THE GRID.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LIKE OUR NEIGHBOR, CALIFORNIA, AND FALLING OFF THE GRID.

BUT THERE IS AN AND IN THERE THAT PEOPLE FORGET AND THAT AND DOES ALLOW US TO CREATE REASONABLE AND JUST POLICIES TO FURTHER CHEAP RATES, AFFORDABLE RATES FOR THE RATEPAYERS.

SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO LEAN INTO THAT ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE ARE PAYING 27% MORE IN UTILITIES ACROSS THE BOARD IN ARIZONA THAN WE NEED TO.

>> MR. LOPES AGAIN, IF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION FLIES UNDER THE RADAR IN A LOT OF ELECTIONS WITH A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS AND SUCH BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT POSITION WHAT IS THE ROPE -- ROLE OF THE COMMISSION?

>> ESPECIALLY AS DESIGNED BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHED IN 1912.

IT'S THE RELIABILITY OF THE GRID YOU HIT ON IT AFFORDABILITY, AND ALSO THE SAFETY PIPELINE SAFETY, RAILROAD SAFETY WE CORPORATIONS.

SO IT'S A LOT TO IT, ESPECIALLY THE EQUITY AND SECURITIES A LOT OF PEOPLE TEND TO FORGET ABOUT THAT.

LINE SIGHTING ANY TIME POWER LINES ARE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE OVERSIGHT ON THAT.

SO IT AFFECTS A LOT OF THE ARIZONANS EVERY DAY.

I THINK WHERE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IS THAT RATE SETTING.

THAT'S REALLY THE OHIOEST VISIBILITY THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SEES WHEN THAT BILL COMES IN.

THAT WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LOT MORE TODAY.

THERE WILL BE IS A MYRIAD AND A SPECTRUM OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE CORPORATION DOES HAVE.

>> MARQUEZ PETERSON FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE CORPORATION COMMISSION NOT SURE WHAT IT DOES OTHER THAN THEY SEE IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IN A RATE CASE, WHAT IS THE ROLE?

>> IT'S AN IMPORTANT BOARD FOR THE STATE AND IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY'S WALLET WHETHER IT'S THE FAMILY BUDGET OR THEIR BUSINESS WE PROVIDE JUST AND REASONABLE RATES.

WE ENSURE THE UTILITIES ARE PROVIDING THE CORRECT CAPITAL INVESTMENT NECESSARY THAT THE GRID IS STABLE AND THAT WE HAVE ENERGY RELIABILITY.

SO IT'S A REAL BALANCE WE PLAY WITH THE COMMISSION ENSURING THAT RATES ARE AFFORDABLE WHILE WE'RE ALSO ENSURING ENERGY RELIABILITY.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ROLLING BLACKOUTS LIKE CALIFORNIA.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IMPACTS TO FOLKS AT THEIR HOMES BY HAVING ENERGY OUTAGES OR ANY KIND OF SPIKES AND SO ON.

SO THE COMMISSION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

I'M ALSO FORMER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT AND WE INCORPORATE EVERY BUSINESS IN THIS STATE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE STATE ALSO AND FOR OUR FUTURE ECONOMY.

>> MS. WALDEN THE ROLE OF THE A.C.C.

SNOOP IT'S SO PROTECT THE -- SNOOP IT'S TO PROTECT THE RATEPAY SORRY IT IS A GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION THAT THE RATES ARE JUST AND REASONABLE WE DO THAT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE DOING AND CURRENTLY IS, IS OFFERS R.F.P.

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT ALL GENERATIONS ARE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION BALANCE OUT WHAT'S MOST AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE.

THAT'S THE BULK OF THE ENERGY POLICY OF THE COMMISSION.

WE SHOULD ONLY ALLOW THOSE BASES, THOSE THINGS TO BE DETERMINE FOR WHAT OUR ENERGY SHOULD BE.

SO IT'S NOT ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A POLITICAL AGENDA, OR A CLIMATE AGENDA IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT IS AFFORDABLE AND WHAT IS RELIABLE FOR THE GRID.

THAT SHOULD DRIVE ALL THE DECISIONS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENERGY.

>> STICKING WITH YOU, PROTECTING RATEPAYERS VERSUS PROTECTING UTILITIES.

WHERE DO YOU FALL?

>> WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE A RESPONSIVE AND EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION FOR THE UTILITIES TO WORK.

WITH THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO COME TO THE COMMISSION.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOWER IN THE COUNTRY FOR APPROVING RATE CASES.

IT TAKES US 18 MONTHS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NINE MONTHS.

THAT COST OF THE REGULATORY LAG GETS PASSED DOWN TO THE RATEPAYERS.

SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE EFFICIENT SO THAT OUR UTILITIES DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY WORKING WITH US BUT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE IS TO PUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RATEPAYER FIRST.

WHOEVER BENEFITS PAYS IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE RATEPAYER THEN THE RATEPAYER CAN REIMBURSEMENT -- REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE RATES.

>> THE RATEPAYERS OVER UTILITY IS THAT WHERE THE BALANCE LIES YOU THINK ON THE CORPORATION COMMISSION?

>> IT DOES.

WE SEE ABOUT 40 TO 50 RATE CASES A YEAR.

WE REGULATE ABOUT 400 UTILITIES.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY WATER UTILITIES ACTUALLY WE SERVE ALSO.

THEY KNOW US MOSTLY FOR ELECTRIC.

BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT BALANCE WE PLAY.

WE NEED TO ENSURE AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT THEY'RE MAKING THE RIGHT CAPITAL INVESTMENT SO RATEPAYERS ARE PROTECTED.

THAT THEY HAVE ENERGY RELIABILITY, THEY HAVE WATER SUSTAINABILITY AND IT'S ALL DONE AT AFFORDABLE RATES.

>> WHERE DO YOU FIND THE BALANCE MR. LOPEZ?

>> AGAIN WITH MY HISTORY ON THE CITY COUNCIL WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR WHEN WE HAD TO DO SERVICES EVALUATIONS SO I'M NO STRANGER TO REVIEWING RATE CASES.

BUT AS THE KEY WORD HERE AS YOU ARE HEARING IT'S BALANCED.

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING IF WE DON'T HAVE UTILITIES THAT ARE ABLE TO GROW AND KEEP RELIABLE ENERGY POWERED TO OUR GRID.

BUT WHICH DO NEED TO BALANCE THAT THE BACK BREAKING RATES THAT ARE COMING IN DUE TO INFLATION AND OTHER REASONINGS DRIVEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT ARE DRIVING OUR RATES UP.

SO AGAIN WE DO MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE WE NEED TO ENSURE THE UTILITIES ARE MAKING PROVE INVESTMENTS BY DIVING DEEP INTO THOSE RATE CASES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

AGAIN COMPENSATING FOR THE PROPER RIGHT MOVES THAT THEY'RE DOING AND INVESTING IN OUR GRID SO MAKE SURE THAT ARIZONA IS COMMISSIONER PETERSON, I'LL MENTION, THAT -- THE ONLY WAY WE GET TO GROW THIS STATE IS BY MAKING SURE WE HAVE A STABLE GRID THAT IS RELIABLE FOR COMPANIES TO GROW AND PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE THAT KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SAFE WATER AND A STABLE GRID.

>> MS. KELLY.

THE IDEA OF MARKET PRINCIPLES.

>> CAN I JUST CHIME IN ON THAT.

>> PLEASE DO.

PLEASE DO.

>> I'M A MEDIATOR AND WE BALANCE EQUITIES IN MEDIATION AND IN LAW.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE PARTY THAT DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS THE OTHER, HERE THE RATEPAYER YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT.

LET'S BE HONEST, OUR RATEPAYERS DO NOT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN CONTROL RIGHT NOW.

THEY FEEL, LETS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE PREVIOUS YOU KNOW, A.C.C.

HAS BEEN TOO HEAVILY ON THE SIDE OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES SO RATEPAYERS THINK WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT THAT'S DEBATABLE.

BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOO FAR ON THE SIDE OF THE CORPORATIONS.

SO WE NEED TO BALANCE THE EQUITY, BRING THEM TO THE TABLE, EVEN WHEN WE RAISE THEIR RATES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHY.

>> PETERSON WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> I WOULD.

WHEN WE HAVE A RATE CASE WE HAVE MONTHS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

WE TELL PEOPLE THEY CAN EITHER E-MAIL IN INFORMATION, THEY CAN ZOOM INTO THE MEETINGS THEY CAN COME PERSONALLY DOWN TO OUR SESSIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.

THOSE OF US SERVING ON THE COMMISSION NOW ARE NOT UTILITY INDUSTRY EXPERTS WE ARE COMING FROM A RATEPAYER PERSPECTIVE.

I HAVE NOT WORKED FOR A UTILITY, I COME FROM A SMALL BUSINESS BACKGROUND.

I LIVE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, MAKING SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RATEPAYER VOICES ARE HEARD THAT'S REALLY THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION.

WE ARE LIAISONS.

>> MS. WELDEN DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES THAT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION IS ON THE RATEPAYERS SIDE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK -- I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR A MIXED BAG.

AS WE ALREADY ADDRESSED A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMISSION DOES.

WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE AND I EXPLAIN SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE COMMISSION THEN THEY REALLY SEE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE ROLE.

IN FACT, A LOT OF COMMISSION ROLES HAVE HURT UTILITIES COMPANIES LIKE THE RENEWABLE STANDARD AND TARIFF THAT WAS PASSED THAT SAID THAT 15% OF ALL ENERGY HAD TO COME FROM RENEWABLES AND THE COMMISSION FORCED OUR UTILITY CALLS INTO RENEWABLES WHEN THEY WEREN'T READY.

THAT DROVE UP COST BAUD THEY HAD TO START GENERATING AN EENERGYING TECHNOLOGY AND ANY TIME THE COMMISSION DOES A MANDATE THERE'S A RATE OF RETURN.

SO THAT COMMISSION DECISION COSTS THE RATEPAYER MORE MONEY.

IT WASN'T IN FAVOR OF THE UTILITIES.

>> AS FAR AS THE PERCEPTION, MR. LOPEZ, REGARDING THE CORPORATION COMMISSION DO YOU AGREE THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE SIDE OF THE RATEPAYERS?

>> THAT IS A PERCEPTION, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> IS THAT AN ACCURATE PERCEPTION?

>> I DON'T AGREE.

LIKE I SAID WE'VE HAD TO RAISE RATES IN CHANDLER EVERYTHING GOES UP.

THERE IS A THING OUT, IT'S PAINFUL.

WE ALL EXPERIENCE IT.

WE'RE ALL RATEPAYERS HERE.

WE'RE ALL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY THIS.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE AGAIN WE'RE NOT AWARE OF THE PLIGHT OF PEOPLE SEEING THE RATES GOING UP.

BUT THERE IS A COMMISSIONER THROUGHOUT THAT STARTS ADVERTISING THERE IS NO WAY THEY EVER RAISE RATES AGAIN THEY'RE DELUDING THEMSELVES.

THE COST OF CHLORINE IS UP OVER 300% OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THE COST OF NATURAL GAS IS UP AS PART OF THE FEDERAL STATUTE.

COAL IS BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO ALL THESE HAVE TO BE CONTRIBUTED AND AGAIN EVALUATED FOR HOW THE RATES ARE AFFECTED.

BUT IT BECOMES THE COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND.

>> IF I CAN JUST CHIME IN I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THOUGHT THAT, OF COURSE, OUR JOB IS RATEPAYERS, WE HAVE TO RAISE RATES.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME N IT'S KIND OF HARD WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW THE CORPORATION EXISTS.

SO I JUST SPENT THREE DAYS IN RURAL MOJAVE COUNTY WHAT THEY SAY IS THE ONLY TIME THEY SEE THE COMMISSIONERS IS WHEN THEY COME TO ASK FOR THEIR VOTES THOSE THAT EVEN KNOW OF THE COMMISSION.

WHERE WE NEED TO BE WHEN WE RAISE RATES OR HAVE REALLY TOUGH RATE CASES WE NEED TO GO BACK IN THE COMMUNITY, HOLD TOWN HALLS, LET THEM KNOW WHY WE HAD TO VOTE HOW WE DID AND ACTUALLY BE MORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

>> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT.

>> PLEASE.

>> WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY QUITE OFTEN.

WE HAVE HELD COLD TRANSITION MEETINGS IN NAVAJO COUNTIARY, APACHE COUNTY TONIGHT WE ARE HAVING A TOWN HALL IN PRESCOTT LED BY COMMISSIONER MEYERS.

WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY QUITE A BIT AND SPEAKING TO FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK MS. WEDDEN TO YOU AND THE IDEA OF EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE STANDARDS.

THE PROCESS OF GETTING RID OF THOSE STANDARDS WHICH IS UNDERWAY, THE IDEA OF GETTING RID OF THOSE STANDARDS HAS MET WITH A LOT OF BACKLASH FROM FOLKS WHO ARE SAYING IT JUST SIMPLY SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE INDUSTRY, TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY, TO THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THE COMMISSIONER SHOULDN'T BE ENERGY BIASED WE NEED TO LET THE FREE MARKET DETERMINE WHAT CAN WE GET OUR ENERGY FOR AT THE BEST COST THAT WILL PROTECT THE RELIABILITY OF THE GRID.

THOSE ARE THE TWO FACTORS THAT WE WEIGH IN ON THE COMMISSION.

SO IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT WE SEE IN ENERGY WHAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE A STATE LIKE TEXAS OR CALIFORNIA THEY'RE OVER INVESTED IN SOLAR THEY HAVE RELIABILITY ISSUES ALONG WITH WIND.

WE HAVE IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW, SORT OF AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

WE HAVE A MIXED ENERGY PORTFOLIO.

AND THAT WORKS BEST BECAUSE WE CAN HEDGE AGAINST DIFFERENT MARKET CONDITIONS.

ENERGY PRICES FLUX EIGHT AS MR. LOPEZ ALREADY BROUGHT UP AND RELIABILITY FLUCTUATES.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE INVESTING YOU DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET YOU HAVE TO HEDGE AGAINST DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

>> HAD THE STANDARDS NOT RESULTED IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS, OF CUTTING DANGEROUS POLLUTION, THAT'S WHAT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE STANDARDS SAY ARE THEY WRONG?

>> NO, WE HAVE THE CLEANEST AIR IN AMERICA.

OUR CORPORATIONS ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

AMERICA IS ALREADY DOING IT OUR UTILITIES IN ARIZONA ARE ALREADY DOING IT, THEY'RE ALREADY GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY PUT SCRUBBERS ON ALL OF THE COAL PLANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR IS CLEAN THAT THERE'S NO HAZE COMING OFF OF THE COAL PLANTS.

OUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EMITS WATER INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ALREADY.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES ALREADY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR LIKE THE WIND FARM THAT WENT UP IN WINSLOW IT WAS A PRIVATE INVESTMENT ON PRIVATE LAND.

THE FACILITIES DIDN'T HAVE TO BUILD IT.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALREADY DOING IT.

>> WE HAVE THE CLEANEST AIR IN AMERICA, MR. LOAPS.

>> YEAH, -- MR. LOPEZ.

>> THE AIR IS VERY ARIZONA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE AIR IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY THE E.P.A.

AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST REALIZE THAT WE'RE A DIFFERENT STATE AND AND THE AIR IN NORTHERN ARIZONA IS DIFFERENT THAN AIR IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

SO A LOT OF THESE MANDATES THAT'S WHERE I HAVE ISSUE WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.

>> YES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE MANDATES THAT'S WHERE AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WIND UP HAPPENING.

WE DO THE MAN MANDATE AND WHAT SNEAKS IS COST THE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY MARIA DOESN'T GET TALKED ABOUT MORE AS A RENEWABLE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE NEED TO DROP THE MANDATE BECAUSE WE NEED TO OPEN THIS UP FULL SPECTRUM.

SOLAR HAS BEEN MAKING IT WAY INTO OUR GRID AND WIND NOW IT'S TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ON THE EQUAL FIELD ALLOW US TO PLAY THE LOWEST RATE AND HAVE A VARIED PORTFOLIO.

WE NEED TO FLUCTUATE WITH THIS.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOLAR WIND, NUCLEAR, COAL, GAS, WE NEED IT ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE AND ONE OF THOSE MAY GO AWAY ONE MAY BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NEXT YEAR OR DECADE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PULL ON THOSE EACH LEVER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP ARIZONA GROWING.

>> AND TO KEEP ARIZONA GROWING, GOOD IDEA TO GET RID OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS?

>> , I'LL SPEAK TO THAT.

THAT'S WHY THIS RACE IS SO CRITICAL RELEASE A LOT AT STAKE.

IN 2006 RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS WERE PUT BY THE COMMISSION UNNATURALLY SO IT CAUSED A ZE THAT A.P.S.

CUSTOMERS HAVE PAID MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION SINCE THAT TIME IN 2006 FOR THAT SUBSIDY THAT OCCURRED.

I'M VERY FOR THE SO I THINK RENEWABLE ENERGY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

ARIZONA IS STILL ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

WE WILL SEE RENEWABLE ENERGIES GROW BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BUN OF THE BASKET OF ENERGY RE-- ONE OF THE BASKET OF ENERGY RENEWABLES.

>> LIKE MOST OF US REVIEWING THE PREVIOUS DEBATES AND I SAW WHERE COMMISSIONER PETERSON SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO GO NET ZERO BY 2050 AND HOW YOU WANTED TO GO 100% RENEWABLES.

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

THAT SO IN 2020, I STEPPED IN AS APPOINTED COMMISSIONER WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEBATE.

WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE WITH YOU, TED, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THIS STATE.

I DO THINK THAT FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES MS. WALDEN HAS SPOKEN ABOUT HAS DRIVEN THINGS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

WE HAVE LARGE COMPANIES COMING INTO THE STATE ASKING FOR CLEAN ENERGY PORTFOLIOS.

I DO NOT SUPPORT A MANDATE FOR CLEAN ENERGY BUT I THINK WE DO NEED AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

>> DID YOU MISSPEAK IN THAT DEBATE?

>> NO I THINK AS COMMISSIONERS WE LEARN AND GROW AND EDUCATE OURSELVES AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS POSITION.

SO SINCE 2020, WHEN I HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT A YEAR OR SO WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THAT DEBATE THAT WAS MY POSITION AT THE TIME.

SINCE THEN I HAVE GROWN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT HAVE A MANDATE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> MS. KELLY, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THAT PARTICULAR MANDATE IN ARIZONA?

>> NO, I DON'T.

I ACTUALLY WOULD GO ONE STEP FURTHER BECAUSE BESIDES THE MANDATES WHAT'S REALLY COSTING THE RATEPAYERS MONEY IS THE E.S.G.

AND D.E.I.

THAT'S ALLOWED TO BE PERVASIVE IN THE UTILITIES THAT WE REGULATE.

SO UNLESS WE GET RID OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE WE WHICH IS THE CATALYST FOR ALL OF THESE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS THE RESOURCE PLANS ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE LADENED WITH THESE POLICIES THAT ARE COSTING US MORE MONEY IN THE END.

>> ARE THEY COSTING US MORE MONEY IN THE END OR IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT A SMART MOVE?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

NO.

SO RIGHT NOW WE PAY, AGAIN, IT WAS JUST TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS THAT WE PAY 27% TO 30% MORE THAN WE SHOULD FOR OUR ENERGY.

WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT HERE IN ARIZONA.

I WAS LISTENING DURING THE APS RATE CASE IT REALLY STRUCK ME THIS POOR WOMAN THAT LIVED IN A MOTOR HOME TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE HAD TO PUT STUCCO AND PUT DIFFERENT THINGS ON HER WINDOWS TO SHADE THE SUN.

WE'RE ALREADY PAYING TOO MUCH.

ARIZONA CANNOT AFFORD THESE COSTLY POLICIES.

WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET TO NET ZERO BY 2050 BUT IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO MAKE US GET THERE THEY'RE WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> MS. WALDEN, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM THE ORIGINAL STANDARDS, INDUSTRY LEADERS, AND SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S BEEN A POSITIVE AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

ARE THEY WRONG?

>> WELL, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD AND CARE THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED I MEAN ANY TIME THERE'S A MANDATE BY THE COMMISSION IT COSTS THE RATEPAYER MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY GET A RATE OF RETURN ON COMMISSION MANDATES.

THE ENTERPRISE CLUB IS ESTIMATED BECAUSE OF THAT INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY, WHEN IT WAS STILL AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND THE UTILITIES WERE FORCED TO INVEST IT IN, THAT IT COST ARIZONA $2.3 BILLION.

SO WE SHOULDN'T BE FORCING ANY KIND OF GENERATION ON OUR UTILITY COMPANIES.

>> MR. LOPEZ LAST QUESTION ON, THIS I BELIEVE AS OF 2022, WE HAD LIKE 10% OF ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY SOLAR ACCORDING TO U.S. ENERGY ADMINISTRATION, 10%, THIS IS ARIZONA.

SOMETHING SEEMS OUT OF WHACK IS IT OUT OF WHACK?

>> NO, IT'S, IT'S WHERE THE DESIRES ARE IN NEED.

YOU HAVE TO PARSE THIS IS DEVIL IN THE DETAILS WHAT MS. KELLY SAID ABOUT ESG AND NUMBERS THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS AND VARIABLES IT'S NOT JUST THE COST OF PRODUCTION IT'S THE COST OF CAPITAL, IT'S COT COST OF THE LAND, GRID, IT'S THE COST OF RUNNING ALL THE LINES WHEN WE TALK SOME OF THE OTHER VARIABLES SOLAR A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS, IF YOU PARSE THEM DOWN DON'T SEPARATE AFFORDABLE VERSUS THE MOLTEN SALT.

THE GENERATION OF THESE SOLAR PANEL THAT SOLAR HEATING IS THAT ALSO ACCOUNTED?

>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO THESE THAT DO NOT WIND UP GETTING CONSIDERED.

AGAIN THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PARSE THESE INTO DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.

>> PLEASE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD-ON SOLAR, TOO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO STORE THE POWER SO IT'S GREAT DURING THE DAY BUT NOBODY IS AT HOME DURING THE DAY SO WE GET ALL THIS EXCESS BATTERY THE BATTERIES ONLY STORE IT FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS.

WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT WHEN EVERYONE COMES HOME FROM WORK WE'RE USING A WHOLE BUNCH OF NATURAL GAS WHICH IS A FLUCTUATING PRICE WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE FACT THAT GAS WENT UP 300% A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE'RE STILL PAYING THAT OFF.

SO I'M A FAN OF SOLAR FOR PART OF THE MIXED PORTFOLIO.

THERE'S A PLACE FOR SOLAR IN A DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE, OF FARMING AND DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN USE IT.

BUT WE CAN'T BE OVERRELIANT ON IT BECAUSE IT JUST INCREASES OUR RELIANCE ON NATURAL GAS.

>> MS. KELLY.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE AS WELL BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PANEL, AND REPUBLICANS HE SOMEONE SAY HEY, I CAN'T VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE SOLAR.

NO, THAT'S NOT IT.

WE DO BELIEVE OR I SHOULD SPEAK FOR MYSELF, NATURAL ENERGY RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE THE CHEAPEST FORM OF ENERGY.

LET THE MARKET DICTATE WHEN SOLAR CATCHES UP.

>> DOES THE MARKET NEED HELP AT TIMES?

>> NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT DOES, TED.

>> CAN I ADD, TED.

TO SAY AFTER THE VULNERABLE ENERGY STANDARD DISCUSSION OCCURRED AT THE COMMISSION I ASKED APS AND I WAS TOLD 17% BY EACH COMPANY.

THE RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD WAS SET FOR 15% OF RETAIL SALES SO WE HAD ALREADY GRADUATED BEYOND.

THAT ANOTHER REASON FOR ELIMINATING THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> MS. PETERSON LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RECENT A.P.S.

RATE HIKE.

REPORTEDLY IN GREAT PART BY PINNACLE WEST TO REASSURE LENDERS, REASSURE LENDERS THAT THEY HAVE VIABLE AND THAT THE PROFIT STREAMS ARE GOOD AND CREDIT RATING ARE ALL STRONG.

IS THAT A STRONG ENOUGH REASON FOR A RATE HIKE?

>> SO, I NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN THAT THE RATE CASE HAS BEEN APPEALED AND I'M A SITTING COMMISSIONER SO CAN'T PREJUDGE.

BUT NO, I THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT DIRECTION WE GO IN WE'RE DETERMINING WHAT ARE THE RIGHT RATES AND WHAT IS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT'S REQUIRED IN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENTS I'M NOT CONSIDERING HOW THE MARKETS ARE RESPONDING I'M LOOKING AT RATEPAYER IMPACT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> MR. LOPEZ WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THE IDEA THAT PROFITABILITY AND CREDIT RATINGS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS ARE THE PARENT COMPANY NEED TO BE FACTORS IN RATE CASES?

>> NOT IN THE RATE CASE BUT THEY'RE A FACTOR IN THE FUTURE RELIABILITY AND THE FUTURE INVESTMENT OF THESE CORPORATIONS.

SO, AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO IF A.P.S.

IS NO LONGER A VIABLE COMPANY AND THEY HAVE TO PULL AND LEAVE ARIZONA, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE IN ARIZONA.

SO WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE VIABLE.

THEY DO HAVE A PROFITABILITY.

BUT, AGAIN, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S NOT IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE RATE CASE.

THAT'S MORE OF A MANAGEMENT ISSUE THAT A.P.S.

AND ANY OTHER UTILITY THAT DOES WIND UP COMING FORWARD THAT'S PART OF THEIR MANAGEMENT AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO EVALUATE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE RATE.

>> WOULD HAVE YOU VOTED TO APPROVE THIS RATE INCREASE?

>> MINUS THE STUFF THAT A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONERS ALREADY AMENDED AND REMOVED, YES.

>> MS. WALDEN WOULD YOU HAVE APPROVED THIS LATEST A.P.S.

RATE INCREASE?

>> SO I HAVEN'T REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION.

THERE WAS 500 PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION OF THINGS THAT A.P.S.

HAD TO BILL.

OUR RATES ARE HISTORICAL.

THE UTILITY HAS TO PAY FOR THE ENERGY GENERATION FIRST AND THEN THEY GET REIMBURSED IN THE RATES.

SO WE ARE BACK PAYING THE UTILITY COMPANIES.

THEY PRESENT A DOCUMENTATION OF NATURAL GAS EXPANSION, TRANSMISSION LINES, TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENTS ALL THAT STUFF THAT GOES INTO INFRASTRUCTURE AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, KEEPING THINGS RELIABLE.

SO I WOULD -- I THINK BASED ON THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD TO APPROVE BY THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS THOSE THINGS CAN BE REIMBURSED, A RATE INCREASE.

I DON'T KNOW BY HOW MUCH I ABSOLUTELY APPROVE THEY CUT 200 MILLION OF PROGRAMS OUT OF THE RATES.

WE SHOULD HAVE NOT ANY DECEASE WE SHOULD NOT -- SUBSIDIES THE RATES SHOULD BE PURE AND THAT'S IT.

>> MS. KELLY WHAT WOULD HAVE YOU DONE?

>> I WOULD HAVE SLOWED IT DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.

GENERATE CASE WAS LARGELY BASED ON HAVING TO ENSURE -- INSURE INVESTORS.

I JUST WATCHED WITH YOU SHORTLY AFTER THAT'S WHAT HE SAID THE REASON WAS.

SO THAT IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON AS HAS BEEN SAID.

ALSO, I KNOW IT WAS LIKE 11 HOURS, BUT IT WAS STILL RUSHED BY THE NEXT DAY WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT PERCENTAGE WAS GOING TO BE.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY WHEN THEY APPROVED WHAT THE RATE CASE, THAT RATE CASE.

ANOTHER REASON THAT I WOULD HAVE STALLED IT SOME, OR PUT IT OFF IS BECAUSE FIVE DAYS LATER WE LEARNED THAT THEY WERE, I THINK, $500 MILLION, ACTUALLY UP THE COMPANY VERSUS WHAT WE WERE TOLD.

>> RIGHT.

THE R.O.I.

THERE FOR PINNACLE WENT WENT FROM 8.5 TO 9.5 JUST BECAUSE OF THE RATE INCREASE.

I KNOW YOU CAN ONLY SAY SO MUCH HERE.

WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN WISER.

>> WE TOOK 18 MONTHS ON THE A.P.S.

THAT'S LOTS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LOTS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.

A JUDGE THAT ASSISTED WITH THAT CASE DID A LOT OF WORK TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.

I DON'T THINK ADDITIONAL DELAY WAS NEEDED.

IN EVERY RATE CASE THAT WE SEE WE HAVE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR.

WE HEAR FROM PUBLIC, WE CHANGE AND TWEAK WHAT WE'RE DOING AND ULTIMATELY COME OUT WITH A VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDED ORDER.

I DON'T THINK A FURTHER DELAY WOULD HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING.

>> IN THE 2017 RATE CASE, BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT A.P.S.

RATE CASE, THE RATE CAME OUT IT ENDED UP WE THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT.

>> I THINK THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FACTS DURING THAT A.P.S.

RATE CASE.

>> AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING PEOPLE WOKE UP IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE CONSUMER THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING 12% MORE JUST BECAUSE OF THE MARKET JUST BECAUSE OF LINE ITEMS ADJUSTMENT.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN 8% INCREASE THAT WAS DETERMINED IN THIS A.P.S.

RATE CASE.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED.

WE OFTEN TALK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ABOUT EFFICIENCIES AND DOING THINGS TO SERVE THE RATEPAYER BETTER.

AND I THINK PUSHING THIS OUT EVEN FURTHER WOULD NOT HAVE SERVEDDED THE RATEPAYER.

>> PUSHING IT OUT BUT DAYS LATER IN THE END I'LL ADDRESS THAT IT WAS TALKED ABOUT IT WAS ORIGINALLY ASKED OF A 10% THEY BELIEVE WILL BE 8.55.

WHEN A FEW DAYS, WEEKS LATER EVALUATED THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE IMPACT TO THE ACTUAL RATEPAYER IT WAS 7.8 SOMETHING I THINK IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

SO IT CAME OUT AGAIN BETTER.

WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE, TOO THAT THE RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT A.P.S.

IN THEIR EFFICIENCY AND THEIR ABILITY TO BE FUNDED AND THEIR INVESTOR CREDIT RATINGS, WHAT IF THEY HAD BEEN MISMANAGED?

>> WHAT IF THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WERE IN THE HOLE.

DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO PUT THE MISMANAGEMENT BACK TO THE RATEPAYERS THIS GOES BOTH WAYS THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS AND LOOK AS MS. WALDEN SAID WE LOOK AT THE HISTORIC PRICES THAT THEY INVESTED IN AND REIMBURSE THEM FOR THAT.

BUT REAL QUICKLY YOU SAY WHAT IF, X, Y OR Z WHY NOT FIND OUT X, Y OR DIS.

>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WEIGHED IN DECISION MAKING.

GREAT FOR A.P.S.

PINNACLE WEST THEY'RE MANAGING THEIR COMPANY VERY WELL AND THEIR CREDIT RATINGS WENT UP.

GREAT FOR THEM.

BUT IN THE END, THE RATE DECISION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE FACTS ARE PRESENTED IN THE RATE CASE NOT HOW THEY'RE BEING MANAGED.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO WE PAY HISTORICAL RATES THAT THE UTILITIES GET INVESTORS BUT THEY ALSO TAKE OUT LOANS.

SO IF THEY HAVE A POOR CREDIT RATING WHEN THEY TAKE OUT LOANS FOR THEIR PROJECTS THEY PAY HIGH INTEREST RATES.

THAT CAN EQUATE TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT GETS PUT ON THE BACK OF THE RATEPAYERS.

HAVING A HEALTHY UTILITY IS ACTUALLY CHEAP ARE FOR THE RATEPAYER BECAUSE THE UTILITY COMPANY CAN GET LOANS.

>> I'M GOING BACK TO THE TIMING AND WAITING A COUPLE DAYS MORE?

DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?

>> BECAUSE THEY ALREADY REDUCED IT SO THE REGULATORY LAW JUDGE APPROVED THE ROAD TO BE A 100 BASIS POINTS HIGHER THAN WHAT THE COMMISSION APPROVED.

NOT ONLY DID THEY GIVE THEM A LOWER ROW THAN THE REGULATORY LAW JUDGE SAID THEN CUT $200 MILLION PROGRAMS OUT OF THE RATES THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD DONE THEIR JOB.

SAYING COULD THEY HAVE WAITED THE NEXT MORNING AND VOTED THE NEXT MORNING, SURE THEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ERRED IN VOTING ON IT THAT NIGHT.

MS. KELLY, THIS ONE, USING RATEPAYER FUNDS TO HELP COAL COMMUNITIES TRANSITION AWAY FROM COAL.

SHOULD THOSE FUNDS BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT HELPING TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM COAL OR TO A RENEWABLE SOURCE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON THE BACKS OF A RATEPAYERS.

AGAIN LET THE MARKET DETERMINE WHEN WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

WHEN WE PULLED OUT PREMATURELY FROM COAL, WE LEFT THESE COMMUNITIES DECIMATED.

WE PULLED OUT TOO EARLY.

IN CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE GOING BACK TO SOME OF THEIR NATURAL ENERGY SOURCES BECAUSE THEY PULLED OUT PREMATURELY.

NOW I'M ALSO GOING TO GO BACK TO WHY ARE WE PULLING OUT PREMATURELY?

IT'S BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE, RIGHT?

IF WE TAKE AWAY THE REASON WHY THEY'RE DOING THIS, THEN WE WILL LET THE MARKET DICTATE WHEN WE MAKE THESE CHANGES.

NOT SOME ARBITRARY SOCIAL CREDIT SCORE.

>> MS. PETERSON WHAT IS A FAIR SHARE OF COAL COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.

>> IT'S A DEBATE WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR YEARS.

DIFFERENT ENTITIES HAVE COME FORWARD ASKING FOR FUNDING TO HELP THAT COAL-IMPACTED COMMUNITY.

AFTER A LOT OF DEBATE AND LEARNING AND EDUCATING I WROTE A LETTER TO THE DOCKET WHICH ARE LIKE ON-LINE FOLDERS YOU CAN SEE OUR POSITION WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN OUR COAL-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES WE NEED TO BE WORKING NOW THAT A.P.S.

HAVE SAID THEY WILL EXIT COAL IN 2031, 2032 WHAT I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TO WRITING A CHECK TO SOMEHOW MAKE THEM WHOLE.

I THOUGHT THAT WASN'T THE RIGHT SETTING FOR ALL OF RATEPAYERS TO BE BEHOLDEN TO THAT.

>> MR.

HOLD -- MR. LOPEZ, SHOULD RATEPAYERS BE BEHOLDEN.

>> NO.

ABOUT THE COAL TRANSITION THAT'S NOT POLICY THAT WE ARE DICTATING THAT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES.

AGAIN THE LAWSUITS THAT HAPPEN WITH OUR COAL MINES.

E.P.A.

IS FORCING THEM TO SHUT DOWN.

THAT'S NOT POLICY THAT WE CAN CONTROL.

SO THIS IS, THAT'S ALSO A FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT AND AGAIN OVER MY OPINION OVERSTEPPING THEIR BOUNDS INTO OUR STATE AND HOW WE CAN SET UP OUR PROFILE WITHIN STATE OF ARIZONA FOR THEM TO LEAVE US ALONE.

WE'RE NOT A MOM ONLIOUS UNITED STATES WE -- MOM ONLY NOW UNITED STATES.

>> MS. WELDEN.

>> I AGREE THE E.P.A.

SUING UTILITIES TO SHUT COAL PLANTS DOWN.

THEY ARE NOT BEING SHUT DOWN OVER INVESTMENT SCORE THEY ARE SHUTTING THEM BECAUSE THE E.P.A.

SUED THEM TO SHUT THEM DOWN.

IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BACK OF THE RATEPAYER I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT KEEPING OUR COAL PLANTS OPEN AS LONG AS AT POSSIBLE AND LOOK AT THE COST OF THAT.

EVENTUALLY IF WE CAN'T STOP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE UNAFFORDABLE.

NOW THEY'RE REGULATING THE WATER THAT COAL PLANTS USE.

>> I DO AGREE THAT THIS HAS A FEDERAL COMPONENTS BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU SAY IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF SOME, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL CREDIT SCORE MANY AGAIN LET ME DEFINE WHAT E.S.G.

IS.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY WANT THESE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES OR THEY WANT D.E.I.

NOT BECAUSE THEY NECESSARILY WANT TO SAVE THE PLANET OR HIRE MORE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, IF THEY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THESE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS THEN THEY WILL GET A BETTER CREDIT RATING.

SO IT WILL IMPROVE THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

IT'S THE BLACK STREET, IT'S THAT MODEL.

UNLESS WE GET THAT OUT OF THE UTILITIES THAT WE GOVERN, ALL OF THE RESOURCE PLANS ARE GOING TO BE LADEN TO IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH TO DIVEST FROM COAL, DIVEST FROM NATURAL RESOURCES THIS IS WHAT IS CAUSING US TO PAY MORE MONEY HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> MR. LOPEZ, RATEPAYERS BENEFITED FROM THESE PLANTS FOR YEARS.

SHOULD THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THESE COMMUNITIES TRANSITION?

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS BENEFITED ALSO, RIGHT?

I MEAN, EVERYBODY DID IT.

IT'S A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, RIGHT.

THOSE COMMUNITIES KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING.

THEY WERE GOING TO GET EMPLOYMENT AND THEY WERE GOING TO GET A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AGAIN, TAXPAYER FUNDS AND SALES TAX AND SO ON.

SO, THE COMMUNITIES DO IT'S A RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE UTILITIES.

SO THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING.

INTO NOT ONLY SAY THEY WILL BE CHANGING OVER AND LIKE, COMMISSIONER PETERSON SAID WE DO NEED NEW ECONOMIC PLANNING WITH THEM.

BUT THAT'S MORE OUTSIDE OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION.

WE NEED TO STAY IN OUR WHEELHOUSE WE'RE HERE TO DO RATES.

WE'RE HERE TO DRIVE ECONOMIC PLANS FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> THE IDEA THAT RATEPAYERS BENEFITED FROM WHAT THESE COMMUNITIES OFFERED AND WHAT THEY WORK FOR AND WHAT IN SOME CASES THEY BENEFITED FROM AS WELL TIME TO HELP THEM TRANSITION.

>> I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT MR. LOPEZ MADE.

I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE ALSO.

HE MENTIONED NUCLEAR, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

I ACTUALLY CHAIR A NATIONAL NUCLEAR TASK FORCE IN OUR INDUSTRY THAT TALKS ABOUT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS.

I MENTION THAT BECAUSE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COAL PLANTS IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD SAVE JOBS AND PROVIDE INDUSTRY GROWTH FOR THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND INNOVATIONS THAT COULD BE OCCURRING BEFORE THOSE COAL PLANTS CLOSE.

>> DID YOU WANT TO REBUT?

>> JUST CHEERING ON NUCLEAR.

I THINK THAT DOES AGAIN ADDRESS ENOUGH IN THE DAY AND AGE.

THE PLANT WAS APPROVED IN '79 IT TOOK WHAT ALMOST 50 YEARS TO FINALLY GET APPROVAL TO GO ON-LINE.

SO THERE'S, AGAIN NUCLEAR IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE MANY OPTIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE IN OUR PORTFOLIO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD STABLE BASELINE.

THAT'S WHERE I REALLY AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA WE ARE LOSING OUR BASELINE POWER WITH COAL PLANTS WE'RE NOT REPLACING IT WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN MORE EXPENSIVE GAS.

>> FOR EACH OF YOU DO A 45 SECOND REBUTTAL QUESTION HERE.

SHOULD ARIZONA FOCUS MORE ON, WE'LL START WITH YOU MS. PETERSON, NATURAL GAS, COAL AND WHAT MOST PEOPLE SEE AS TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR.

>> I WOULD SAY NO WE SHOULDN'T -- NEW YEAR.

>> I WOULD NO WE SHOULDN'T FOCUS 20 NECK CLEAR AND ABOUT THE -- NUCLEAR WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE UTILITIES TO DO THAT R.F.P.

THAT MS. WALDEN SPOKE ABOUT AND FIND THE LOWEST COST.

>> NEEDED MORE OF A FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL METHODS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR RIGHT NOW THE MARKET IS DICTATING THAT THIS IS OUR MOST RELIABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY.

IT'S THE CHEAPEST MOST AFFORDABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY.

AGAIN IF YOU GO BACK TO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ARIZONA RATEPAYER.

OUR ELECTRICITY, OUR ENERGY IS TOO HIGH.

WE'RE PAYING 30% MORE ACROSS THE BOARD THAN WE SHOULD IN ARIZONA FOR OUR UTILITIES.

WE CAN'T AFFORD THESE POLICIES, THESE GREEN NEW DEAL POLICIES.

THE MARKET JUST IS NOT THERE FOR THEM THEY SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO ARTIFICIALLY HAVE TO BUY INTO THEM.

>> THIS IS, OBVIOUSLY A TRADITION A REPUBLICAN PANEL HERE.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT TRADITIONAL ENERGY SOURCES AGAIN, MS. WALDEN, FOCUS ON THOSE I WOULDN'T SAY AT THE EXPENSE OF RENEWABLE, BUT AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE SO THAN RENEWABLE?

>> NO, IT'S NOT OUR PLACE TO BE ENERGY BIASED THAT'S WHY WE DO THE R.F.P.

SO WE LOOK AT ALL SOURCES OF GENERATION.

THESE INTEGRATIVE RESOURCE PLANS THE COMMISSION REVIEWS THEM EVERY COUPLE OF YEAR.

THEIR BLUEPRINT BUT THEN THEY'RE REVIEWING IT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO KEEP IT CURRENT.

LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEST FOR THE RATEPAYER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STATUTORYALLY PASSED WITH PROTECTING THE RATEPAY PAYER.

WE SHOULDN'T BE WRITING POLICIES AND LAW WE CAN LET THE LEGISLATURE DO THAT THERE'S 90 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN THAT DO THAT.

YOU HAVE FIVE PEOPLE YOU ONLY NEED THREE PEOPLE TO PASS SOMETHING THREE PEOPLE IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH VOICE SO WE SHOULD DO WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS IT IS FOCUSING ON KEEPING THE RATES DOWN AND THE UTILITIES RELIABLE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE JOHNSTON UTILITY CASE, AND ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION, WE ARE ALLOWED TO CREATE POLICY IN FURTHERANCE OF KEEPING THE RATES RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

>> SO WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

>> HOLD ON.

PART OF THE POLICY THAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ENERGY PLANS ARE NOT -- THE RESOURCE PLANS ARE NOT LEANING SO HEAVILY INTO GREEN NEW DEAL THAT WE ARE CAUSING MORE THE RATEPAYERS TO HAVE TO MAY MORE MONEY LONG-TERM.

>> MS. WALLEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BALANCE OUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE GRID.

ANYTHING THE COMMISSION DOES IN MANDATE IT'S PASSED DOWN AT THE RATE OF RETURN SOIMENT COSTS MORE MONEY FOR THE COMMISSION TO DICTATE POLICY THAN FOR THE UTILITIES TO DO IT THEMSELVES.

>> EXCEPT WHEN JUSTIN OLSON WAS A RATEPAYER AND HE STEPPED IN AND HE CREATED POLICY THAT SAID NO VACCINE MANDATES, AND NO MASK MANDATES.

WITH NO PUSHBACK.

>> WE ARE KIND OF -- I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU, AND THE IDEA OF FOCUSING ON TRADITIONAL ENERGY SOURCES.

>> SO AGAIN WHAT MS. WALDEN SAID IS 100% I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH.

IT'S BASED ON THE RATE CASES THEMSELVES IT'S BASED ON THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR ROLE.

WE STAY WITHIN OUR WHEELHOUSE WHAT JUSTIN OLSON DID HE'S A GREAT GUY I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED AND STARTS DOING THINGS THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT'S NOT IN THEIR WHEELHOUSE THERE'S A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT HAPPENED.

THAT'S THE SAME THING WITH DICTATING ANY E.S.U.

POLICIES THERE'S A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE FINANCIAL LIABILITY AND ALSO THE ENERGY PORTFOLIO BECAUSE GOD FORBID THERE'S A BREAK THROUGH IN SOLAR NOW THERE ISN'T BE ANY SOLAR IN ARIZONA EVEN THOUGH IT'S BECOME VERY EFFICIENT.

THAT'S WHERE, AGAIN, WE NEED TO BE FACT-BASED AND ON HISTORICAL BASE ON THE RATES.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ENERGY CONCERNS, UTILITIES, AND SUCH.

WHAT IS THE ONE NONENERGY AND NONUTILITY ISSUE OF MOST CONCERN TO THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION AND TO YOU AS A POSSIBLE COMMISSIONER?

>> MS. WALDEN WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> NONUTILITIES NOT TALKING ABOUT WATER COMPANIES?

>> WE CAN GO WATER IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUT I COMMISSION DOES SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF.

>> WELL, THE COMMISSION DOES A GREAT JOB.

WE'RE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY FOR RAILROAD SAFETY AND THE COMMISSION DOES A RAILROAD SAFETY.

WE HAVE A FRAUD DIVISION FOR SECURITIES FRAUD THERE'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT PROACTIVELY WILL FIND FRAUDULENT CASES BEFORE CONSUMERS EVEN HARMED BY THEM.

THEY'RE BOTH THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL.

WE HEAR ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE UTILITIES BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT 90% OF IT.

I BROUGHT UP THE WATER COMPANIES BECAUSE THAT DOES GET FORGOTTEN WE DON'T DO WATER RATES BUT THE WATER RATES AND THE PLEASURE IS REALLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL MOM AND POP WATER COMPANIES THAT ARE BROKE THAT DON'T HAVE INVESTORS THAT HAVE BAD INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONS TIME IN 2025 AND GOING FORWARD.

>> INTERESTING.

MS. KELLY AGAIN NONUTILITY, ELECTRIC AND SOLAR EVERYTHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T NOT EVEN AWARE OF THAT THE COMMISSION IS INVOLVED.

IN WHAT'S THE MOST CONCERN DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE MOST CONCERN IS THEY'RE NOT AWARE THAT THE COMMISSION EXISTS.

I MEAN WHEN I'M JUST OUT KNOCKING DOORS, THEY'RE LIKE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU EXIST MUCH LESS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL OFFICES IN ARIZONA.

SO I THINK JUST HAVING MORE AWARENESS THAT WE'RE HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO START A BUSINESS, THIS IS THE ONE STOP SHOP.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE UTILITY, OR IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE MOM AND POP WATER COMPANIES WE'RE HERE, SECURITIES, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT COME FILE A COMPLAINT.

THAT IS A THING THAT THE COMMISSION DOES WELL IF YOU FILE A COMPLAINT F YOU FILE AN INQUIRY THEY WILL CALL YOU BACK.

BUT IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN I WOULD SAY, 50% OF ARIZONANS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE CORPORATION COMMISSION.

THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> MS. PETERSON YOU ARE ON THE THE COMMISSION YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT HAPPENING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> YOU WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SMALL WATER UTILITIES.

WE HAVE ABOUT 350 OF THEM IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND AGAIN WE DON'T DETERMINE THE QUANTITY OF WATER, OR THE QUALITY OF WATER DIFFERENT AGENCIES DO THAT BUT WE HANDLE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OF WATER.

WHEN I WAS A FIRST APPOINTED COMMISSIONER I HOSTED A WORKSHOP ON SMALL WATER UTILITIES BECAUSE WE HAD 70 WATER UTILITIES THAT HAD NOT HAD A RATE CASE IN MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY GREAT, NO RATE CASE BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD, THAT'S AN AREA WE NEED IMPROVEMENT.

WE SEE SOME DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS DURING THAT TIME WE HAVE SEEN SOMING A ZIGS AND SOME -- SOME ACQUISITIONS AND CONSOLIDATIONS TO OCCUR.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE REGULATED TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF WATER, CERTAINLY, SOMETHING THAT WE REGULATE THAT WE INGEST BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORK ON SMALL WATER UTILITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. LOPEZ.

>> SAME, WATER WAS A BIG SUBJECT BECAUSE THAT IS VERY CRITICAL.

>> WELL, GO AHEAD YOU GOT THE TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT I GOT 30 MINUTES, RIGHT.

SO AGAIN THE COMPLEXITY OF WATER IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WE HAVE THE SOURCE OF THE COLORADO RIVER WE ALSO HAVE THE SALT RIVERS.

WE HAVE WELL WATER AGAIN THERE'S A LOT A MYRIAD THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND ON HOW THE AQUIFERS WORK WITHIN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CITY.

ONE CITY IS DEPEND ON COLORADO WHERE ONE OTHER MAY NOT BE.

WE DO TALK ABOUT THE WATER CRISES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING WE SEEM TO BE MAYBE SKIRTED A LITTLE BIT THIS CYCLE BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS OF IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

WE GO TO THE SMALL AND PRIVATE UTILITIES MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING THOSE PROPER INVESTMENTS.

BUT AGAIN THAT'S WHERE I THINK THAT IS THE MOST CONCERNING POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE.

AGAIN WITH THE FEDERAL REVIEW THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH THE COLORADO COMPACT COMING UP THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT I THINK IN HOW THE WATER ALLOTMENTS HAPPEN WITH THE COLORADO RIVER.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR UNDERTAKING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK OF UNDERSTANDING ON HOW WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT IN THE FUTURE.

AND I ALSO THINK WANTED TO TALK MORE NUCLEAR BUT IT'S A REAL PASSION OF MINE.

MY FIRST LOVE LANGUAGE WAS NUCLEAR POWER SO I THINK THAT IS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY WITH S.M.R.s AND REACTORS THAT REALLY WE IN ARIZONA CAN BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT TIME LEFT BEFORE CLOSING STATEMENTS.

LET'S MAKE BY THE 30 SECONDS EACH FOR ALL OF YOU ON THIS ONE.

A SOON TO BE FORMER COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THE COMMISSION NEEDS A SHAKE-UP TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO RATEPAYERS.

MS. KELLY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

DOES THE COMMISSION NEED A SHAKE-UP?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

IN THE SENSE OF IT'S STILL REPUBLICANS DO A GOOD JOB ON THE COMMISSION.

IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, MY OPPONENTS ON THE STAGE ARE ALL RUNNING TO THIS SLATE I'M RUNNING BY MYSELF.

IF YOU COULDN'T TELL THEY'RE OWE SIGNING TO EACH OTHER A LOT.

IT NEEDS A SHAKE-UP BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT ARIZONA FIRST.

WE NEED TO PUT ARIZONANS FIRST WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AND MAKE IT RELATABLE TO THEM AS FAR AS AS FAR AS THEIR ENERGY CONCERN.

>> MS. WALLEDDEN.

>> I THINK A SHAKE-UP HAS BEEN GOING ON ALREADY WHEN WE ELECTED NICK MEYER ANDS KEVIN THOMPSON AND A NEW DYNAMIC ON THE COMMISSION.

THEY FOUND RULES GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1998 THAT THEY VOTED TO REPEAL.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ABOUT THE SOLAR BUYBACK PROGRAM.

THEY CLOSED IN THE FIRST MONTH HUNDREDS OF THINGS THAT WERE JUST OPEN THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE OPEN THAT WERE JUST SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED IN CONSENT AGENDA.

THEY GOT A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

THEY ARE GETTING NEW STAFF IN THERE SO WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT SHAKE-UP.

>> MS. PETERSON SHAKE-UP NEEDED?

>> I AGREE WITH MS. WALDEN WE HAVE SEEN A SHAKE-UP.

WE ARE SEEING LOTS OF ACTIVITY THAT SHE SPOKE TO.

I DID WANT TO MENTION WE DID PASS A CODE OF ETHICS AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT KEEPING UTILITIES OUT OF THESE RACES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

THREE OF US ON THE STAGE ARE RUNNING AS CLEAN ELECTION CANDIDATES AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

THAT'S PART OF SHAKE-UP OF THE COMMISSION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. LOPEZ A SHAKE-UP NEEDED.

>> AGAIN, COMMISSIONER MEYERS AND THOMPSON HAVE STARTED THAT SHAKE-UP.

WHAT I THINK I CAN BRING TO THAT TABLE IS HAVING RUN THE FOURTH LARGEST WATER UTILITY IN THE STATE.

HAVING A BLACK BELT IN PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND RUNNING MULTIPLE HUNDRED MILLION PROJECTS AND LOOKING AT BUDGETS BEING ABLE TO EVALUATE WHAT NEEDS TO STAY AND GO WHAT HOW CAN WE SHARPEN THE SAW.

>> SO REALLY QUICKLY, BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED CLEAN ELECTIONS, I HOSPITAL IN THIS RACE IN NOVEMBER WHICH -- I HOPPED IN THIS RACE IN NOVEMBER THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE CLEAN ELECTION THRESHOLD.

BUT WHAT I AM DOING IS I AM NOT TAKING MONEY FROM ANYONE THAT WE REGULATE.

I'M NOT EVEN TAKING MONEY FROM FULLER.

SO -- FROM SO WELL SOLAR SO I DON'T HAVE ANY REGULATIONS SO I AM ABIDING BY THE CLEAN ELECTIONS MACHINE DATE.

>> THAT IDEA OF -- MANDATE.

>> THAT IDEA OF.

>> I'M RUNNING CLEAN ELECTIONS.

>> THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

>> THAT'S THE SEASONS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE INTERFERING WITH ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO.

THEY RATE POLITICIANS ON ALL SORTS OF SCALES AND THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN VETTED.

SO I MEAN WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOICES THAT TRY TO INFLUENCE HOW PEOPLE VOTE.

BUT FOR SURE IF WE'RE REGULATING AN INDUSTRY ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM THEM.

>> EVEN WITH PLAIN ELECTIONS.

>> HOLD ON.

>> A LOT OF YOUR BIG DONOR COSTS IN ARIZONA IT'S SURPRISING HOW MANY DONORS HAVE TIES TO UTILITIES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE THE CORPORATION COMMISSION EVERY COMPANY HAS TO FILE THROUGH THE COMMISSION.

SO IT'S A HUGE REGULATORY ARM AND I DO RESPECT THE CLEAN ELECTIONS PROCESS AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

>> MR. LOPEZ THE IDEA OF THE UTILITIES HELPING CAMPAIGNS THAT ELECT UTILITY REGULATORS?

>> NO, I MEAN, THAT'S A COMPLETE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

100%.

THAT'S WHY I'M HAPPY THAT THE COMMISSION PASSED THE ETHICS REQUIREMENT THAT NOT NECESSARILY A REQUIREMENT BUT THE ETHICS POLICY I GUESS THAT IF YOU ARE TAKING MONEY FROM UTILITY YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE ON THOSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING AS WE TALKED ABOUT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE AFFECTING THEIR BOTTOM LINE THAT'S A LOT OF INFLUENCE THAT NEEDS TO STAY OUT.

>> LAST WORD ON THIS MS. PETERSON.

>> I'M PROUD TO BE A CLEAN ELECTIONS CANDIDATE THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE SOLICITING $5 DONATIONS THAT YOU CAN MAKE RIGHT TO OUR WEBSITE OR IN MY CASE VOTEFORLEAH.COM.

>> THANK YOU CANDIDATES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

AND AGAIN GOING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WE START WITH CHRISTA KELLY.

>> GREAT, WELL TONIGHT I THINK HAVE YOU HEARD A CLEAR DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS A SLATE RUNNING AND I RESPECT EVERYONE ON THIS STAGE BUT I AM STANDING ALONE IN CALLING FOR AN END TO SURVIVAL -- ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE AND THE UTILITIES THAT WE GOVERN THESE ARE COSTING US MORE MONEY.

I AM ALSO CALLING FOR THE COMMISSION TO PUT ARIZONANS FIRST.

TO BRING THE COMMISSION DOWN TO ARIZONA'S LEVEL BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO.

NOW, I DID HEAR OUR COMMISSIONER, OUR SEATED COMMISSIONER SAY IT WAS ONLY AN 8% RATE HIKE FOR THE A.P.S.

BUT I THINK WHAT MOST ARIZONANS WILL SAY IS THAT WAS ON TOP OF 12% THAT WE ALREADY PAID MORE AND ON TOP OF A BRUTAL SUMMER THAT WE HAVE COMING.

SO, AGAIN, CHRISTY KELLY, YOU CAN GO TO CHRISTYKELLY.ORG I AM ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM RENE LOPEZ.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TONIGHT AND ALSO HOPEFULLY HAVE YOU LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT EACH OF US.

I HOPE TO TO HAVE EARNED YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DO WANT TO LEARN MORE GO TO VOTERENE LOPEZ.COM.

AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND FOR OUR NEXT CLOSING STATEMENT WE TURN TO LEAH MARQUEZ PETERSON.

>> I'M LEAH MARQUEZ PETERSON I'M RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE COMMISSION I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO SERVE THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE SERVING AND FOCUSING ON ENERGY RELIABILITY AT THE LOWEST COST POSSIBLE.

THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE IN THIS RACE YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT ISSUES TONIGHT.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WATCHING AND FOR PARTICIPATING WITH US HERE.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IN 2020, I WAS THE TOP REPUBLICAN VOTE GETTER IN THAT RACE.

WAS ABLE TO SERVE NEW THAT REGARD AND I KNOW HOW TO WIN IN THIS STATE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.

I WOWLG GREESH YOUR SUPPORT AT -- IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I WOULD SUPPORT FOR THIS ELECTION.

>> TIME FOR OUR FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT WE TURN TO RACHEL WALDEN.

>> RACHEL WALDEN I WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR VOTE IN THE PRIMARY THEN IN THE GENERAL IN NOVEMBER.

I AM RUNNING TO PUT ARIZONA FIRST.

I FEEL GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE UP AGAINST SO MANY HARDSHIPS RIGHT NOW I WANT TO ENSURE THAT MY DAUGHTER GETS TO GROW UP IN THE SAME KIND OF COUNTRY THAT I GOT TO GROW UP IN AND I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT ARIZONA REMAINS AFFORDABLE, AND RELIABLE AND WE HAVE OUTLINED VARIOUS WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

THERE'S EVEN MORE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT MY WEBSITE ATELECTRACHELWALDEN.COM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

OUR NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON DEBATE WILL BE APRIL 16ING AS WE HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3.

THAT'S TUESDAY, APRIL 16th AT 5:00 P.M. ON "AIRNZ ARE -- "ARIZONA HORIZON" AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.