Our View: Let Bob Burns Continue his APS Fight

Editorial board, The Republic | azcentral.com 6:02 a.m. MST August 9, 2016

Endorsement: No other Arizona Corporation Commissioner is standing up to Arizona Public Service and other interests.

The Arizona Corporation Commission has turned into a political free-fire zone as new players in energy generation, namely solar, attack the market share of traditional-power generators such as Arizona Public Service.

In the Republican Primary to elect the next three commissioners to regulate public utilities, The Arizona Republic wholeheartedly endorses one candidate who has been caught in the crossfire, Bob Burns.

Burns has the strength of character, the vast experience and the courage to take on moneyed interests that make him the best choice in this GOP field.

Because primary voters must decide on two other Republicans, we are also endorsing former Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn and sitting commissioner and former House Speaker Andy Tobin.

Someone is standing up to APS

We enthusiastically support Burns because he alone among commissioners is standing up to APS, demanding the utility open its books and reveal how much it spends to help elect commissioners.

In recent years, the Corporation Commission’s reputation has been badly dented in the clash of competing energy interests. The aggressive roof-top solar lobby has pushed hard for a greater piece of the action and subsidies. Recognizing a predator at its door, APS has hardened its tactics to include what appears to be a multi-million push to elect regulators friendly to the utility.

In 2014, non-profits Save Our Future Now and Arizona Free Enterprise Club spent more than $3 million on the Corporation Commission race. That money helped elect Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little. And it is widely believed APS put up large amounts of that so-called “dark money.”

APS is not the only one playing hardball. In several states, the solar lobby has worked to marginalize commissioners they see as hostile to renewables. The industry raised suspicions that Commissioner Susan Bitter Smith had conflicts of interest and helped push her out the door.

Burns is working to repair damage

All of these salvos and counter-salvos have dented the commission’s reputation. And Burns has worked to repair the damage, trying to build public confidence that commissioners can act responsibly in their quasi-judicial role as regulator.

As an acting commissioner, and with years of public service under his belt, Burns is a principled man who built a reputation as a straight shooter in the Arizona Legislature.

He served in the House beginning in 1989, and became chairman of the appropriations committee. In 2001, he was elected to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors. And in 2003 he gained a seat in the Arizona State Senate, where he was later made Senate president and once again chairman of appropriations.

Burns was elected to the Corporation Commission in 2013, whereupon he launched an examination of future technologies that are likely to shape energy production and use into the future.

On a commission so highly responsive to APS, Burns stands out for his willingness to challenge the energy giant. He argues that if the utilities are going to fund independent expenditures to elect candidates friendly to the commission, they must be transparent.

Dunn and Tobin complete the set

Among the three candidates The Republic is endorsing, Boyd Dunn’s distinction comes as a would-be peacemaker in the APS-solar wars. The retired Superior Court judge served as Chandler Mayor from 2002 to 2011 and would draw on his years as judge to be “an impartial decision-maker.”

Dunn has already met with both sides trying to persuade them to settle their differences, he wrote in a Republic candidate questionnaire.

Tobin, who was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to complete the term of resigning Commissioner Bitter Smith, served in the Arizona House from 2006 to 2014 and was named Speaker of the House in 2011.

One of his chief goals is to reduce system peak costs, created by the enormous draw on electricity during the most demanding times of day. As a Ducey appointment, Tobin is expected to be sympathetic to APS, which has been a strong supporter of the governor.

There are large challenges before the Corporation Commission. Arizona Public Service Co. is seeking an $11 monthly rate hike on residential customers and a new billing structure. The rate case is expected to last a year.

The warring interests of solar and traditional power will have to be managed deftly.

And the public will be eyeing commissioners to see if they’ve sold out to the utilities and can be depended upon to exercise independence on behalf of ratepayers.

In the Republican Primary for Corporation Commission, Bob Burns represents the best choice to manage these challenges. Boyd Dunn and Andy Tobin are the best of the remaining GOP candidates for three open seats.