Attorney General Mayes Granted Intervention to Oppose Outrageous APS Rate Hike Request

PHOENIX – Today, Attorney General Kris Mayes’ intervention into the application filed by the Arizona Public Services (APS) to increase electric rates by more than 14% was granted by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and allowed to move forward.

“Arizonans are already feeling squeezed by sky-high electric bills and now APS is trying to jack them up even further. Giving APS another rate increase, after making more than $600 million in net income last year, is outrageous and I will not stand for it.” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “APS has a monopoly and should not be allowed to exploit that monopoly on the backs of Arizona consumers.”

If APS’ ~14% rate hike request is approved, Arizona consumers will pay at least an extra $20 on monthly electric bills beginning next summer. A more than 14% rate hike would raise APS revenue by more than $580 million annually, directly from the pockets of Arizona consumers and businesses. APS claims that its rate hike request is in response to rising costs, but Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, the utility’s parent company, reported net income of $609 million last year.

Arizonans are already paying more for electricity. In 2024, APS increased rates by 8%, which raised the monthly cost of electricity by an average of $12 for Arizona consumers. Prior to that, APS hiked rates 8% in 2023 and 4.5% in 2017.  And those numbers are only going up. An analysis by Princeton University estimates that annual energy costs could increase by an average of $165 per household by 2030 and $280 by 2035 due to the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress this summer.

APS is Arizona’s largest electric service provider, supplying power to homes and businesses in 11 of the state's 15 counties. Their proposed rate hike would impact the majority of Arizona consumers. Arizonans already pay more for electricity than consumers in 38 other states.

Attorney General Mayes previously served on the ACC.

A copy of the rate case procedural order is available here.