🌵 ARIZONA UNSCRIPTED — WHO CONTROLS YOUR UTILITY BILLS?

Welcome to 🌵 Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else.

In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Diane, Jim, and Carol for a conversation about an Arizona government agency that affects nearly everyone in the state — but that many Arizonans know surprisingly little about: the Arizona Corporation Commission. Their guests are Jonathon Hill and Clara Pratte, candidates for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission.

So what exactly does the Corporation Commission do — and why should Arizonans care?

The conversation explores the Commission’s role in regulating investor-owned utilities and reviewing the rates customers pay for electricity, gas, and water. The group also discusses some of the other responsibilities of the Commission, including business registrations, securities regulation, and railroad and pipeline safety.

⚡ UTILITY BILLS & AFFORDABILITY

Jonathon and Clara explain how utility rate increases are reviewed by the Commission and why decisions made by five statewide elected commissioners can ultimately affect household budgets across Arizona.

💻 DATA CENTERS & ARIZONA’S GROWTH

With data centers expanding across Arizona, the group discusses who should pay for the new electrical infrastructure needed to serve these enormous energy users — and the concern that ordinary ratepayers could ultimately bear some of those costs.

☀️ SOLAR & ARIZONA’S ENERGY FUTURE

The conversation turns to rooftop solar, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and what homeowners receive when the electricity they generate flows back onto the grid.

💧 WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE

Water also enters the discussion as Jonathon explains how his background in geology could inform decisions involving groundwater and water utilities, while Clara discusses her experience working on energy and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities.

🚀 TWO VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS

Jonathon is an engineer and geologist who has spent years at Arizona State University working on NASA missions involving Mars, Jupiter, and asteroids.

Clara, a member of the Navajo Nation, brings a background in public policy, economic development, infrastructure, and renewable energy. She also discusses her work helping bring electricity to hundreds of homes on tribal lands.

Together, the guests explain why they believe the Arizona Corporation Commission deserves far more attention from voters — and why issues involving electricity, water, infrastructure, and affordability reach across political and geographic lines.

It’s another wide-ranging Arizona Unscripted conversation about an often-overlooked part of Arizona government and the decisions that can directly affect our homes, communities, and monthly bills.

More information about the candidates:

Jonathon Hill: https://www.votehillaz.com

Clare Pratte: https://www.claraforaz.com

🌵 Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one conversation at a time.