The parent company of Arizona's largest electric utility is jumping into the state utility regulator election by creating a political committee and contributing $1 million to support three Republican Corporation Commission candidates.
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. issued a statement Monday saying the spending was needed to counter spending by a major solar company backing two candidates. Pinnacle West owns Arizona Public Service Co., a regulated utility.
Former Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes runs a group supported by SolarCity that is backing two candidates, a Republican incumbent and a Democrat. She says APS is working to make solar unaffordable so "SolarCity decided to back candidates it believed were pro-solar."
APS wants the Corporation Commission to cut the amount residents with rooftop solar panels are paid for excess power.
