News Release

From the Office of Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson

For Immediate Release | 8-21-20
Media Contact | Daniel Schwiebert
Direct |  602-542-3625
E-Mail | DPSchwiebert@azcc.gov

Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson is Hosting an Emergency Meeting on Arizona’s Risk Following Rolling Energy Blackouts in California, Friday, August 21, 2020, 6:00 PM

REMOTELY FROM TUCSON - Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson is hosting an emergency virtual meeting Friday night to receive updates from Arizona’s electric utilities and ask questions following rolling energy blackouts in California and recent requests to conserve energy in Arizona.

Information regarding joining the meeting can be found below.

On August 14 and 15 California experienced rolling blackouts and power outages as record heat baked the state and leaders “failed to predict and plan for energy shortages” as acknowledged by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

On August 17, Commissioner Márquez Peterson issued a letter calling for an emergency meeting of Arizona’s public utility commissioners to respond to the crisis and seek assurances from Arizona’s electric utilities that similar measures would not be required in Arizona. Arizona Public Service Company, Tucson Electric Power Company, and Arizona Electric Power Cooperatives provided general assurances that supplies would be sufficient to meet demand. Salt River Project is not regulated by the Commission.

On August 18 and 19, Arizona utilities issued notices requesting customers voluntarily conserve energy to ease regional stress on the grid due to extreme energy demand that is driving higher usage throughout the region. According to preliminary updates, some customers may have responded to the notice.

While temperatures in the desert southwest may have dropped temporarily, temperatures in Arizona are forecasted to increase again next week, starting Sunday.

Source: Weather.com

Due to the seriousness of the issue, previous requests to conserve, and potential impact on public health and safety, Commissioner Márquez Peterson coordinated the emergency meeting she requested and has invited her fellow commissioners to join her.

Commissioner Márquez Peterson said: “The potential of getting disconnected in this excessive heat is not an option and the risk is far too great to waste more time. While I appreciate and welcome preparedness plans from our utilities, we need to hear from them directly. The public deserves to know what's being done by our utilities to keep us safe, especially our most vulnerable populations.”

For a copy of Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson’s Letter, click here.

Information regarding how to join is below:

Virtual Meeting through Microsoft Teams:

Friday, August 21, 2020

6:00 p.m.

Join Online: Link

Join by Phone: 602-609-7522

Conference ID: 777 882 580#

If you join via the LINK:

• Your name will appear to the admin and others.
• Please submit comments via chat to ask questions. Questions will be selected by the Commissioners to ask of the utilities as time allows.
• Members of the public will be muted during the meeting but may submit comments and questions to the Chat. Questions will be selected by the Commissioners to ask of the utilities as time allows.

If you join via the DIAL-IN NUMBER:

• Please join 5-10 minutes before the meeting.
• Your name will not appear to the admin and others.
• An admin will ask for your name and affiliation.
• Members of the public may email questions or comments to Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Office at mdoyle@azcc.gov during or in advance of the meeting.

Please contact Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Office at mdoyle@azcc.gov for technical questions regarding the meeting.