Arizona’s public utilities commission is poised to elect a new chairman on Tuesday.
The vote comes after former Corporation Commission Chairman Susan Bitter Smith announced earlier this month she would be stepping down from her post.
Arizona’s attorney general had asked the state supreme court to remove Bitter Smith from office on the grounds that her ties to the telecom industry violated conflict of interest laws.
Governor Ducey will appoint a replacement to serve out the last year of Bitter Smith’s term. In the meantime, one of the four remaining commissioners will be selected to take the helm in what is anticipated to be a critical year of decision-making for the commission. That includes an upcoming rate case for the state’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service, which will determine how much APS customers with rooftop solar installations will be charged for being hooked up to the grid.
