by Maggie Winchell, LD18 Precinct Committee Person
Chair, LD18 Democrats
What is the ACC?
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is a part of Arizona state government created to oversee privately owned
utility companies (electric, gas, water, phones) and business incorporations. It is responsible for:
- Setting rates and rules for private utility companies in Arizona.
- Approving utilities’ long-term plans for new power plants and transmission grid reliability.
The ACC has five elected Commissioners. Currently, all five Commissioners are Republicans.
The ACC could and should have an important role in moving Arizona toward a more sustainable and climate-friendly future through the use of renewable energy.
Sadly, under the auspices of the current Commissioners, this is not happening.
- In 2025, the all-Republican ACC voted to eliminate a mandate established in 2006 that required Arizona’s regulated utilities to generate at least 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. The Commissioners could have considered new, higher mandates, but instead turned against the idea of mandates altogether.
- The Commissioners gave no apparent consideration to climate impact or studies that have shown renewable energy is cheaper to generate than the lowest-cost fossil fuel alternative. (Source: International Renewable Energy Agency 2025.)
- Arizona’s actions reflect a wider Republican-led push in other states to scale back climate and energy regulations in favor of coal, oil and gas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Arizonans deserve utility regulators who have consumer, not corporate, interests in mind and who recognize that renewable energy is the least-cost power source of the future.
Help get TWO Democratic ACC candidates elected in 2026:
- Right now, go online to the E-Qual site
- Sign two ACC candidate petitions.
- Contribute $5 to every Democratic ACC candidate’s campaign.
- In November, vote for TWO DEMOCRATS for the ACC.
Help get a Democrat elected as Arizona Attorney General in 2026:
- Right now, go online to the E-Qual site
- Sign one Arizona Attorney General candidate’s petition.
- Contribute now to a Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General.
- In November, vote for a DEMOCRAT for Arizona Attorney General.