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Arizona would benefit a lot from good securitization; we have aging coal and gas plants + unbelievable, insufficiently tapped solar potential. But our utilities have not acted in nearly good faith enough for the giveaway that HB2679 would be -- and Arizona families shouldn't have to foot the bill.

3. We agree with the Arizona Corporation Commission (a rare opportunity these days!) that they need a role in determining how freed up capital is spent. That's a major concern with sellable securitized assets -- shareholders cannot be allowed extra revenues by loopholing the ratemaking process.

We're asking for pretty direct changes to the bill:
1. Utilities cannot sell securitized assets. If a plant is deemed so overly expensive it's in the public interest to securitize it, it needs to be retired.
2. Unrecovered fuel costs need to be handled much more carefully, not basically unlimited.

And if you want my slightly more realistic and cynical take on how this session is going to go, I think E.J. Montini, as usual, laid it out well here www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...

If you want to catch Opening Day Ceremony at 12pm MT (11am PT) and Gov. Hobbs' State of the State at 2pm MT (1pm PT), you can watch live at www.azleg.gov/liveproceedi...

With @climateaf.bsky.social champs Senator Priya Sundareshan and Rep. Oscar De Los Santos as leaders of their respective caucuses, I am confident that Democrats will stand strong against rollbacks on climate action and support for expensive fossil fuels.

With anti-climate majorities in charge, pro-climate leadership is going to be an uphill battle. I'm hoping to hear in Governor Hobbs' speech a discussion on how water and affordability crises ARE the climate crisis that we can solve through cleaner, less water-conscious, affordable energy.