The Arizona Corporation Commission Part V: ACC Election Important for AZ Public Health

The Arizona Corporation Commission plays a crucial role in influencing public health through its regulatory decisions on utilities like electricity, gas, and water. These decisions have far-reaching impacts on the social determinants of health, affecting everything from air quality to the economic well-being of Arizonans.

One significant area of impact is utility rates. The ACC’s approval of rate increases for utilities such as Arizona Public Service and Southwest Gas directly affects household finances, particularly for low-income families.

For instance, recent approvals of rate hikes have led to increased annual revenues for these utilities, but also higher utility bills for consumers. Higher utility costs can strain household budgets, reducing funds available for essentials like food, healthcare, and education, which are all critical components of overall health​.

The ACC’s energy policies significantly impact air quality and, consequently, public health. When the ACC supports renewable energy initiatives, it promotes cleaner air by reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind help cut down on harmful emissions, leading to fewer respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems associated with air pollution​​.

Conversely, decisions that favor traditional energy sources can lead to poorer air quality and higher healthcare costs due to increased rates of pollution-related illnesses. This underscores the importance of regulatory decisions and the commissioners elected to the ACC, as their policies can either enhance or hinder public health outcomes​.

We recently wrote a four-part series describing the ways in which the decisions Arizona Corporation Commissioners influence public health.

• In Part I we discussed how the Commissioners’ rubber stamping of APS rate increases over the last couple of years is harming the social determinants of health. 
• Part II covered how recent Commissioner decisions are disincentivizing rooftop solar.
• In Part III we covered how the AZ Corp Commission’s rubber stamping of methane gas rate increases are damaging public health. 
• Part IV tackled how the Commission’s decisions can have a direct impact on the air we breathe.

Overall, the ACC’s regulatory choices ripple out into the broader social determinants of health, highlighting the need for informed voting and advocacy to ensure that the Commission prioritizes the well-being of all Arizonans.

The November Election

The 2024 Arizona Corporation Commission election will be held on November 5, 2024. Three of the five seats on the Commission are up for election in November – so this year presents a real opportunity to shift the commission away from protecting utilities and other businesses – focusing it more on their public health role.

Republicans currently hold 4 seats on the board, while Democrats hold just 1. Lea Márquez Peterson (Republican) is running for re-election, while James O’Connor ( R) and Anna Tovar (D) are not.

While a primary election will be held this summer, it won’t really matter, because each party is nominating just 3 candidates.

On the Republican side, we will see Rene Lopez, Lea Marquez Petersen and Rachel Walden on the November ballot. Democrats on the November ballot will be Ylenia Aguilar, Jonathon Hill and Joshua Polachek.

The 3 vote getters among the six candidates on the Nov ballot will earn a 4-year term on this important public health body.

In the coming weeks we’ll dive into the details of each candidate’s priorities to see how each matches up with public health priorities.