Members of the Arizona House last week voted down a bill that would shield the state’s utilities from liability if their equipment causes a wildfire.
The measure is getting a second chance.
The measure would strip homeowners and insurance companies of much of their current ability to recover damages from a utility found responsible for starting a wildfire.
Lawmakers who voted it down last week criticized the fact that it barred fire victims from filing class-action lawsuits, and would have prevented businesses and homeowners from recovering extra compensation, like lost wages.
Utilities like Arizona Public Service back the measure. As it stands, the bill would require power companies to identify and manage wildfire risk and consult with fire officials.
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Before public comment started, protesters gathered outside the Arizona Corporation Commission Office, speaking against APS's proposed rate hike. -
The start of the hearings will mark the last time the public will be able to provide comment to the Arizona Corporation Commission on the APS rate case. -
Poll shows a divide between what people want and the direction of the Trump Administration when it comes to addressing global warming -
Arizona Public Service’s parent company reported first-quarter sales growth that was well above average for the utility. The heat wave in March and February was a driving factor, but so was industry growth. -
Utilities across the West are launching a new regional energy market designed to help them buy and share power a full day before it's needed — an effort supporters say could lower costs, improve reliability and make it easier to move renewable energy across state lines.
