Climate Change

Arizona’s largest electric utility will no longer disconnect customers’ power when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, following a settlement with the Attorney General’s Office.

Len Necefer’s piece starts with the following sentence: “The storm that killed Phoenix arrived on the evening of July 14, 2027, dragging a wall of dust 3,000 feet high.”

According to National Weather Service data, temperatures have averaged about 8.3 degrees above-normal so far this month – the third-hottest start to April on record in Phoenix.

Winter in Phoenix never looks like a snow playground. But that’s why so many of us head north up the I-17 to Flagstaff when the weather turns cold for some skiing, snow shoeing or sledding.

There are grassy fields, tree-covered mountains, desert scrub and riparian preserves. In fact, it’s one of the top biodiversity hot spots in the world, especially for birders.

Arizona labor groups are calling for state regulations to require specific protections from heat in workplaces. But actions from the state have so far fallen short of what workers have called for.

As the Industrial Commission of Arizona considers workplace heat safety recommendations, some employers say they would welcome new heat rules, but others worry about overregulation.

Arizona's outdoor workers endure extreme temperatures. But Arizona does not have any specific state regulations requiring their employers to provide them with water, shade or breaks from the heat.

Heat kills more people annually than any other type of weather-related event and outdoor workers face higher risks for heat illness. What makes working in the heat so dangerous?

Arizona has never had state regulations specifically to protect workers from heat. And as climate change drives more intense heat waves, heat-related worker deaths in Arizona appear to be increasing at a faster rate.