In November, Arizonans will elect two commissioners to the five‑member Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), the body that regulates electricity, water, gas, pipelines, railroads and other essential services. The ACC’s decisions directly affect how much families pay for power and water, making this race especially important for households concerned about rising utility bills.
What the ACC Does
The ACC was created by the state constitution and is one of the few elected utility regulators in the nation. Its five partisan members serve four‑year terms and oversee both privately‑owned, for‑profit utilities and investor‑owned utilities, as well as customer‑owned cooperatives such as Graham County Electric Cooperative and Mohave Electric Cooperative. The commission does not regulate city‑owned utilities.
Why This Election Matters
Recent scrutiny of the ACC stems from growing frustration over utility rate increases. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has challenged several ACC decisions this year, including a 14% residential rate hike proposed by Tucson Electric Power (TEP). Mayes argues that a 4% increase would be sufficient if utilities aligned customer charges with actual costs.
Candidate Overview
Clara Pratte (Democrat) – Co‑founder of Navajo Power and former tribal consultant for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Pratte would be the first Indigenous commissioner if elected. She says Arizonans are “in the midst of an affordability crisis” and urges utilities to justify every request, stopping what she calls “record profits on the backs of Arizonans trying to survive the summer.”
Jonathon Hill (Democrat) – Scientist and engineer who has worked on NASA missions at Arizona State University. Hill calls the commission a “lap dog for utility interests” and pledges to scrutinize every rate case, asking whether requests are driven by inflation or needed infrastructure improvements. He vows never to approve a rate increase that merely lines the pockets of utility investors.
Kevin Thompson (Republican, incumbent) – Veteran, small‑business owner and former Mesa City Council member seeking a second term. Thompson emphasizes “protecting ratepayers and grid stability,” and promises to eliminate Green New Deal‑style policies that he says have added billions in unnecessary surcharges for customers. He supports an “all‑of‑the‑above” energy approach that includes fossil fuels, nuclear power and responsible renewable development.
Michael Cease (Green Party) – Chemical engineer and owner of Database Consulting Services. Cease wants the commission to expand business accountability beyond rate issues, sanction companies he says profit from human suffering, and support universal healthcare and public power. He also calls for sanctions against firms he alleges are complicit in the Israel‑Palestine conflict and against mining operations harming sacred Native American sites.
Ralph Heap (Republican) – Former physician and state representative. Heap’s platform focuses on defending rural communities, fighting ESG mandates, and opposing “California‑style” energy experiments. He pledges to back the Trump Energy Agenda, emphasizing fossil fuels and nuclear power, protect water access, and demand transparency to keep special interests out of rate decisions.
Key Issues for Voters
All candidates agree that utility rates impact families, seniors and small businesses, but they differ sharply on how to balance ratepayer protection with the need for reliable, modern infrastructure. The ACC will soon consider TEP’s request for a 14% residential rate increase, a proposal the utility says is needed for a reasonable return on investment. Voters should weigh each candidate’s approach to ensuring utilities are accountable without imposing undue financial burdens on Arizonans.
How to Vote
The two candidates receiving the most votes will fill the open seats. Commissioners may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Voter registration deadlines and polling locations are available on the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. For more detailed information on each candidate’s platform, visit the Arizona Luminaria voter guide or contact the candidates directly.
Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.
