Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill have won the two open seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, The Associated Press announced Nov. 6. The commission, which regulates electricity rates among other things, had until now consisted solely of Republicans.
The AP called the race on Friday, when Pratte had 27.1% of the vote and Hill had 26%. They defeated incumbent Commissioner Kevin Thompson and Ralph Heap, the Republican Party’s candidates. Results in Arizona remain unofficial until all votes are counted and certified by local and state authorities.
The commission is one of the most influential bodies in the state and regulates utility rates. Republicans will still hold three of the five seats. The new commissioners will take office in January and will join Republicans Lea Márquez Peterson, Rachel Walden and René Lopez.
Pratte is a co-founder of Navajo Power, a company that builds renewable energy projects with local tribal communities. Hill is a spacecraft engineer and a geologist at Arizona State University who has worked on NASA missions. Pratte, a member of the Navajo Nation, is the first Native American woman to win a statewide election in Arizona.
Both accused the current commission of being too deferential to energy companies. They named affordability, accountability and transparency as their priorities. Hill noted that although he and Pratte will be in the minority, two commissioners can make a significant difference.
The commission is currently considering rate increase requests from Arizona Public Service (APS) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP), as well as mechanisms that would allow rates to be raised every year with less involvement from stakeholders. It will also take up the two companies’ long-term resource plans.
Source: KJZZ
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