Sixteen Community Organizations Submit Letter To The Arizona Corporation Commission Opposing Demand Charges

PHOENIX, June 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A collective group of concerned community organizations have jointly signed and submitted a letter addressed to the Arizona Corporation Commission urging the Commission to reject all mandatory demand charges put forth by Arizona utilities.

Signatories of the letter join a growing number of organizations nationwide that have publically voiced opposition for demand charges for a number of reasons, including that they negatively impact the elderly and families on a fixed income.

Groups who have signed onto the letter include:

Recreation Centers of Sun City
Arizona Utility Ratepayer Alliance (AURA)
Conservative Alliance for Solar Energy (CASE) Arizona
CHISPA AZ
Arizona League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Physicians for Social Responsibility Arizona
Conservatives for Energy Freedom
Green Tea Coalition
Sierra Club Arizona           
Environment Arizona
Puente Movement
Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)
Latino Victory Project
Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project
William C. Velazquez Institute
GreenLatinos

The letter reads, "Mandatory demand charges dramatically undercut customers' ability to manage their energy costs.  This is why they have been rejected by state legislatures and utility commissions across the country and should be rejected here in Arizona."

"It is imperative the Commission reject the use of mandatory demand charges for customers.  There are better ways to promote energy efficiency and reduce demand on the utility.  Demand charges effectively operate as a means for the utility to make more money without providing any clear benefit to consume less."

Pat Quinn, the President of the Arizona Utility Ratepayer Alliance said the letter represents a significant cross-section of Arizona's community groups, and called on the Commission to listen to its message.

"Community members from across our state are expressing their opposition to mandatory demand charges," Quinn said. "We are hopeful that the Commission will put the needs of consumers first when deciding upcoming rate cases." Persuasive

Barbara Warren, from Physicians for Social Responsibility Arizona said all Arizonans should be concerned about demand charges, "Demand charges have the ability to negatively impact all customers in a variety of ways.  Aside from the groups signed onto this letter, all Arizonans should have concerns with them."

The letter is in response to proposals put forth by multiple state-regulated utilities seeking to impose demand charges onto customers.

Demand charges allow utilities to bill customers based on their peak energy usage over the course of a month during a small period of time, typically between 15-60 minutes.  Common household activities such as cooking dinner and washing clothes simultaneously can initiate a demand charge. Customers have no way to tell how a demand charge is set off, therefore, no way of managing their energy costs.

No regulated utility in the country has approved mandatory demand charges for customers. 

About EFCA
Energy Freedom Coalition of America is a national advocacy organization that seeks to promote public awareness of the benefits of solar and alternative energy through public advocacy.

SOURCE Energy Freedom Coalition of America

Related Links

http://www.energyfreedomcoalition.com