Critical Time to Get Active for Energy Standards

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is the elected arm of government that regulates how utilities manage their billing, their projects and their support for transition to a renewable energy environment and more energy efficiency in both production and use. Arizona has had some of the most aggressive standards in our nation for energy efficiency, the EES, (22% improvement by 2020) and for renewable energy goals, the RES (15% increase by 2025). We can be proud of these standards. But they are under siege.

The current, conservative Republican dominated, commission has allowed considerable slippage in the requirements of the utilities to meet these standards. The standards are achieved by creating incentives to consumers to become more efficient and to install renewable energy sources, like solar power, on our homes. Our utilities have proposals in the works to significantly lower their rebate rates for solar installations and to decrease their efforts in promoting energy efficiency. This is a travesty. These are the major things that we can do as individuals to help redress climate change within our communities. Our future and our childrens' futures are at stake.

So here are some things that you can do this week:

1.   Participate in a workshop at the ACC this Friday, January 6, 2012, hosted by
Commissioner Paul Newman, on "Presentations and discussions regarding deregulating
the Electricity Market - Understanding the Full Economic Perspective and Consequences,
Including Externalities".
START TIME: 10:00 a.m., Hearing Room, Arizona Corporation Commission,
at 1200 West Washington, 1st Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, or watch in on line.

2.  Attend the next public hearing of the ACC on January 10, 2012 at the same location & speak in
favor of no changes or greater efforts on behalf of the utilities to promote renewable energy and
energy efficiency. If you can't go, you can call in your comments during the meeting.
Call Shaylin Bernal at (602) 542-3931 for instructions on calling.

3.  Write a letter to each of the 5 commissioners at the ACC and ask them to support and expand
funded efforts in support of energy efficiency. Address is above.

This is a great and very important opportunity for us as citizens to participate very directly in government decision making. Let's make the most of it!