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Arizona Commissioner Says Retail Competition A Solution To Challenges Customers Are Facing At APS
In a memo in advance of a June 18 meeting, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson said that, "I believe retail electric competition is an appropriate solution to the challenges ratepayers are facing
with APS [Arizona Public Service]," referencing issues related to educating APS customers about a menu of new tariff options (with various levels of flat monthly charges, demand charges etc.) that were previously implemented.
At the June 18 meeting, the Commission is scheduled to discuss APS's customer education plan, and the attendant customer experience, associated with the movement of customers to various new rate plans (tariffs) that were previously instituted.
A report prepared for ACC Staff by consultant Barbara Alexander found that, among other things, "... data suggests that APS's communications designed to educate
customers about their 'best' or 'most economical' plan have not been successful."
The report noted that only 22% of APS residential customers affirmatively chose a "best" plan during a transition period for which the APS education plan was developed
ACC Chairman Bob Burns called the report a, "scathing assessment," of the APS education plan, and noted the possibility that APS is overearning, due in part to APS's possibly inadequate education plan.
Burns has called for solutions to keep customers harmless due to the inadequate education plan.
Olson said in the memo, "I agree ... that Arizona Public Service's ('APS')
customer outreach and education program ('COEP') has not been successful. Barbara Alexander's
report prepared on behalf of the Arizona Corporation Commission's ('Commission') Utilities Division
Staff revealed not only a flawed COEP, but more fundamentally a flawed rate system."
Olson requested that retail electric competition be included as a possible topic of discussion
at the June 18 Open Meeting, and the retail competition docket was added to the agenda (RE-00000A-18-0405).
Olson said in the memo that, "I believe retail electric competition is an appropriate solution to the challenges ratepayers are facing
with APS. That is why I requested retail competition be added to the agenda. It is my hope that in
addition to discussing how to improve APS's COEP, the Commission also uses this opportunity to discuss
whether there is any justification for continuing the monopoly system -- to the detriment of
ratepayers -- at a time when technology allows for a healthy, robust, and reliable energy market for
retail customers."
"As I have expressed at previous open meetings and workshops, I believe it is time for the Commission to
move forward with retail electric competition rules. We should comply with A.R.S. §40-202(B) which
clearly states: 'It is the public policy of this state that a competitive market shall exist in the sale of
electric generation service,'" Olson said in the memo
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June 16, 2020
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Copyright 2010-20 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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