Jim O'Connor
Chairman

As Arizona grapples with record temperatures, Chairman Jim O'Connor is pleased to address the public on how the state has successfully managed to meet electricity demands during these challenging times. He emphasizes, “It's a collaborative effort, showing the diligence, foresight, and resilience of Arizonans. We've proven time and again that we're all in this together."

With a population of approximately 7.4 million people, Arizona boasts a significant number of residents served by major electricity producing utilities. About half of the state's residents rely on these utilities, while the remainder are supported by municipal or tribal utilities. In the last year alone, Arizona produced over 8 thousand gigawatt hours of electricity, demonstrating the capacity and preparedness of our utilities.

To provide a clearer picture of our utilities' performance over the last week:

Here are the 5 factors that distinguish Arizona from other states facing similar temperature extremes:

1. Resource Diversification: Arizona relies on a mix of generation sources, from nuclear and coal to gas, renewables, and battery storage.
   

2. Self-sufficiency: Arizona is not solely dependent on imported power, unlike some states like California which imports 30% of its power. We tap into the market if needed, but our primary focus remains on reviewing utility Integrated Resource Plans to guarantee future readiness. The Commission oversees utility upgrades and build outs diligently.
   

3. Proactive Maintenance: Our success also attributes to the readiness work conducted during the shoulder months leading up to summer. We also prioritize daily maintenance and line work carried out by our utilities' field personnel.
   

4. Demand Response Programs & Energy Efficiency: With a combination of residential and industrial consumer efforts, we've been able to tap into an extra 45-50 MWs of interruptible power agreements during peak demands. This unity showcases the Arizonan spirit of collaboration and teamwork.
   

5. Transmission Grid Interconnectivity: A seamless connection between utilities and cooperatives is essential. Our utilities engage in at least two daily communications during the summer to ensure every utility is aware of resource needs, potential line issues, and other challenges. The Corporation Commission remains informed of any outages and estimated repair times.

As Arizona looks ahead, the Commission remains committed to rigorously regulating resource planning to make sure that our energy landscape remains affordable, reliable, and responsive to the needs of its residents.