Solar organizations call for APS investigation

October 28, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Last week, an Arizona Republic investigation revealed that Arizona Public Service (APS) repeatedly lied about funneling money to political organizations to attack solar customers. Now, two Arizona solar organizations, the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) and The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), are calling for a thorough investigation by the Arizona Corporation Commission and Arizona Attorney General's Office, including an immediate review of APS's political spending and whether ratepayers have been, or will be asked to pay for such efforts.

Credit: Wing-Chi Poon/Wikimedia Commons

In addition, APS may have violated state law if they ever lied to a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission about funneling money to political organizations that are attacking solar energy based on Arizona Revised Statutes 41-1235 which states: "Whoever shall transmit, utter or publish to the legislature, or to any member or members of the legislature, or any committee, officer or employee of either house of the legislature, or to any state officer, agency, board, commission or council any communication materially related to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislature, or be a party to the preparation thereof, knowing such communication or signature thereto is false, forged, counterfeit or fictitious shall be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor."

"Arizonans deserve to know whether ratepayer money is being used by APS to kill rooftop solar. As a monopoly entrusted to serve all Phoenix area residents, APS owes the public better," said Bryan Miller, president of TASC.

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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/solar-organizations-call-aps-investigation/2013-10-28