If you are a member of the media, please email ngarcia@azcc.gov or call (602) 542-0728.
If you are a member of the media, please email ngarcia@azcc.gov or call (602) 542-0728.
Phoenix, Ariz. — The Arizona Corporation Commission voted on 15 matters, including water, securities and electric items. Highlights from the meeting include:
Utilities
Securities
Tyler Brent Lyman (S-21386A-26-0029)- The Commission ordered Tyler Brent Lyman to pay restitution of $2,433,000, an administrative penalty of $50,000, and to permanently cease and desist from violating the Securities Act. Between at least January 2020 and January 2023, Lyman held himself out as the founder, CEO, president, and director of a startup solar company and raised at least $2,433,000 from at least 27 investors through various securities instruments, including convertible notes, Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE) contracts, and loan agreements. Although Lyman represented that investor funds would be used solely for company operations, he misappropriated at least $984,696 for personal expenses including luxury travel, fine dining, luxury clothing, and family medical costs. This was all concealed from investors. Lyman also opened a secret bank account in the company’s name, undisclosed to other officers, to facilitate his misappropriation. Additionally, Lyman failed to disclose that he was a defendant in at least three civil lawsuits that resulted in default judgments totaling at least $343,177.
Arizona Corporation Commission – Electric Rules (RE-00000A-24-0026) - The Commission voted unanimously to approve the recommendations of the Assistant Chief Administrative Law Judge to modify Decision No. 81677 under A.R.S. 40-252. The Commission’s exclusive and plenary constitutional ratemaking authority wholly authorizes the Commission to repeal the REST Rules (as it wholly authorized the Commission to adopt them originally, as recognized by the Arizona Court of Appeals). The Commission’s ratemaking rules need not be submitted to the Attorney General for certification under A.R.S. 41-1044. Thus, the modified decision directs that the Notice of Final Rulemaking package on the repeal the of REST Rules be filed directly with the Office of the Secretary of State for publication.
CG Apache County Solar LLC and CG Apache County Wind LLC (L-21365A-25-0198-00250 & L-21364A-25-0198-00250)- The Commission voted unanimously to approve CG Apache County Wind LLC and CG Apache County Solar LLC’s application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for the Lava Run Interconnection Project. The project is a 27-mile, 345-kilovolt (kV) single-circuit generation-tie transmission line in Apache County, that connects a 500 MW wind facility, a 450 MW solar facility, and a 450 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to Tucson Electric Power's (TEP) Springerville Substation. In December 2025, the Commission voted to remand this item back to the Line Siting Committee for another hearing to receive additional public, county, and municipal input into the record. The Committee again approved the CEC application, 8-2. The Line Siting Committee Chairman emphasized that the ACC only granted CEC approval for the transmission line; the ACC does not have jurisdiction over solar and wind projects. The projects require local zoning and conditional use permit approvals, which fall under the jurisdiction of Apache County.
Mariposa Energy Park, LLC (L-21418A-26-0282-00265)-The Commission voted unanimously to approve Mariposa Energy Park, LLC’s application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC). The transmission interconnection project includes an approximately 3.6-mile, 500 kilovolt line that will originate at the Mariposa Solar Energy Park, a proposed 412 MW photovoltaic solar and 125 MW battery energy storage facility located in Maricopa County, and would serve customers in the Gila River Valley. The interconnection project will deliver power from Mariposa Energy Park to the regional transmission grid, operated by Salt River Project.
Wild Stallion Energy Storage LLC (L-21411A-26-0260-00264)- The Commission voted unanimously to approve RWE Renewable Development, LLC’s application to amend its Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC). The Project consists of an up to 2-mile, single-circuit 230-kilovolt alternating current transmission line that will run west to east from the proposed 200-megawatt Wild Stallion Battery Energy Storage System ("BESS") Facility to the regional transmission grid operated by existing Arizona Public Service Company in Surprise, Arizona. The project is expected to be completed in 2030.
Global Water - Santa Cruz Water Company, Inc. and Global Water – Palo Verde Utilities Company, Inc. (W-20446A-25-0022 and SW-20445A-25-0023)– The Commission approved a settlement agreement that establishes new water rates for Global Water – Santa Cruz Water Company, Inc. (GW-Santa Cruz), which serves Pinal County, including the City of Maricopa, Red Rock, and Inland Port Arizona. The new rates will take effect on December 1, 2026. The rate increase is expected to increase GW-Santa Cruz's annual revenue by approximately $2.3 million, based on a 2024 test year with updates for post-test-year plant. The approved settlement provides for a rate base of $63.6 million (the value of utility investment recognized for calculating an authorized return through customer rates), a capital structure of 55% common equity and 45% debt, and a return on equity of 9.6%. For the average GW-Santa Cruz water customer consuming 5,500 gallons per month, the new rates are estimated to result in a monthly bill increase of $2.68.
Arivaca Townsite Cooperative Water Co. (W-01546A-26-0250) - Arivaca is a non-profit water utility providing service to approximately 120 customers in Green Valley in Pima County. Arivaca’s current rates were established in 2011, which was the last time the utility completed a rate case. The newly approved rates will increase the typical monthly bill for the average residential customer from $14.23 a month to $53.51 a month, an estimated increase of $39.28. Utilities Staff assisted the utility’s board members with the rate case and stated that the board is looking to obtain outside services to manage the utility in the future. Staff indicated that customers generally understand the large rate increase, given that their monthly bills remained under $15 a month for the past 15 years. The Commission passed Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson’s amendment requiring the utility to file a rate case every five years to compel the utility to regularly revise its rates accordingly. An Arivaca Water Company board member commented during the meeting, “This increase will definitely make it more viable to serve our small community… this rate increase I know is very extreme, but very well needed, with everything going up in costs.”