State utility regulators have allowed Arizona’s largest utility to collect another $95 million a year from its customers.
The 4-1 vote by the Arizona Corporation Commission came after the majority rejected a bid by commissioner Bob Burns to delay the rate case until his lawsuit against Arizona Public Service and his fellow members is resolved.
As the lone dissenter, Burns argued that the utility was getting greedy.
"The CEO of APS makes about a million dollars a month," Burns said. "Salt River Project, running a company of almost equal size, CEO makes one million a year."
Customers who are currently paying a flat rate with APS will find their basic charges increase about $6 a month or 4.5 percent, starting this weekend.
APS Vice President Barbara Lockwood contended this is part of the company's need to move to "more modern rates'' that reflect the cost and availability of electricity.
In the meantime, Burns is suing the company to try to force it to reveal its political spending on current Corp Comm members. If a court finds in his favor, the rate hikes could be thrown out.