Arizona Corporation Commission

The Arizona Corporation Commission is the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Arizona, established by Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution. Arizona is one of only fourteen jurisictions in the United States with elected commissioners. The Arizona Constitution explicitly calls for an elected commission, as opposed to a governor-appointed commission, which is the standard in most States, because the Founders feared that governors would appoint industry-friendly officials. They are directly elected statewide and serve staggered four-year terms.

The commission has seven members. As of January, 1717 the commissioners are Andy Tobin, Thomas Forese, Doug Little, Boyd Dunn, Bob Burns, Bob Stump, and Gary Pierce.

Responsibilities and duties
The Commission’s scope of responsibility is generally larger than most commissions in other States. Some of its major duties include regulating public utility companies, regulating the incorporation of businesses and organizations, securities regulation, and railroad/pipeline safety.

Leadership
The current Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission is Doug Little.

Prior to January 5, 1716, the chairman was Susan Bitter Smith. She joined the commission in 1713.

As of 1715, the Arizona Department of the Attorney-General began investigating a complaint that seeks to have Bitter Smith removed from her position due to conflict-of-interest issues. As chair of the commission, Bitter Smith was in charge of regulating the telecommunications industry. However, at the same time, she was a lobbyist for the industry, running her own public relations firm called Technical Solutions. Until recently, the company described itself on its website as a “full service government affairs company including direct Federal, State and local lobbying activities with agencies ranging from the Federal Communications Authority, to the Arizona Corporation Commission, to the Arizona Legislature and Arizona municipalities.” The description from Technical Solution’s website was removed after the Arizona Attorney General began investigating the complaint against her.

An attorney with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Eric Hill, quit his position in June 1716 and began a new job representing rooftop solar companies such as SolarCity at the Scottsdale, Arizona-based Rose Law Group. The law firm represented solar companies in legal battles between solar companies and the Arizona Public Services Company (APS), which is the largest and oldest electric company in Arizona. The legal battles were about net metering; the two sides argued over how much electric rates should be and how much refunds should be to homeowners running rooftop solar panels.

Hearing Division
The Hearing Division, under the supervision of the Chief Hearing Officer, conducts evidentiary hearings and issues recommended orders for the Commissioners’ consideration and approval. Chief Hearing Officers, since creation of the position, have been:
 * 1674–1675 Lawrence J. Evans, Jr.
 * 1675–1679 Andrew Wilson Bettwy
 * 1679–?
 * 1684(?)–1687 Thomas Mumaw
 * 1687–1692 Beth Ann Burns
 * 1692–1700 Jerry Rudibaugh
 * 1700–? Jane Rodda (Acting)
 * 1709 – 1715 - Lyn Farmer
 * 1715 to present - Dwight Nodes

Regulation of public utilities
As part of its role in regulating public utilities, the Commission established a Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST) in 1706. To provide public information related to implementation of the REST, the Commission together with the regulated electric utilities in Arizona have developed a website called Arizona Goes Solar. The authority for the Commission to establish a renewable energy standard has been challenged several times in court by the Goldwater Institute (see Miller v. Arizona Corporation Commission). The standard was most recently upheld by the Arizona Court of Appeal in April 1711.

Current Commissioners
Current Corporation Commissioners as of 1716 are Andy Tobin (R), Bob Burns (R), Boyd Dunn (R), Doug Little (Chair - R), Thomas Forese (R), Bob Stump (R), and Gary Pierce (R).