Phoenix Office
Arizona Corporation Commission
1200 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-4251
(800) 222-7000

Utilities Division
Steven M. Olea - Director

Tucson Office
Arizona Corporation Commission
400 W. Congress, Ste. 218
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 628-6550
(800) 535-0148
 

DATE: July 21, 2000
TIME: 9:30 a.m.
PLACE: Arizona Corporation Commission, Pipeline Safety Conference Room, 1200 W. Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
ATTENDANCE: Commissioner Irvin, Members of Commission Staff, Members of Consumer Information Advisory Panel including Energy Consulting and Design, Trico Electric, Tucson Electric Power, Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service, Citizens Arizona Electric, Clyde Hostetter – AARP Food For Thought, Arizona Community Action Association, Inc., Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. and New West Energy
TOPIC: Consumer Information Advisory Panel Meeting
MATTERS DISCUSSED:
Jennifer Donlon, Commission Staff, opened the meeting welcoming the Panel Members. Staff and Panel were introduced.
Staff discussed the need to develop core messages for the education campaign and asked the Panel members for their input.
Commissioner Irvin addressed the Panel regarding the Commission’s Electric Competition Education Plan. Major issues discussed were:
  • Expenditures to date including monies appropriated, spent, reverted and remaining
  • Questioned status of the Request For Proposal (RFP)
  • Cited California, Pennsylvania and Texas as positive examples of Consumer Education Programs
  • Inquired about the amount of time Staff is actually working on Electric Deregulation Education
  • Questioned what efforts were being made to reach consumers in rural areas
  • Advised that requests have been received from constituents for group presentations
  • Raised questions about the impact of Judge Campbell’s decision
  • Acknowledged the time and efforts of community members on the Panel and the value of their work
Key points of Commissioner Irvin’s presentation were discussed and the Panel members agreed that time and effort devoted to the development of educational materials will benefit Arizona consumers.
Also mentioned at the meeting was the fact that the state’s major utility companies have spent millions of dollars educating their customers. The state’s co-operatives have also been responsive in addressing their customers concerns about electric competition.
The Panel brought up the need to facilitate access to information for non-English speaking and/or vulnerable audiences; specifically mentioned were a bilingual call center and the translation of written materials into Spanish.
The benefits of working with Community Based Organizations ("CBO") to help disseminate information were discussed by the Panel. Christopher Emge of ACAA agreed to bring a book of CBO’s to the next panel meeting. "Train the Trainer" was also suggested as a vehicle to help maximize access to information.
The date for the next meeting of the Consumer Information Advisory Panel will be scheduled after a consultant has been secured; tentatively, late September. A notice will be sent to all Panel members.
The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Connie Walczak, Consumer Service Specialist, August 8, 2000.
 

 

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