Regulators approve Tucson Electric rate increase
Tucson Electric Power rate hike OK'd; Will boost average residential bill by up to $4 a month
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona regulators have approved a rate increase for Tucson Electric Power Co. that will boost the average residential bill by up to $4 per month beginning on July 1.
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve an amended version of a settlement reached among TEP, commission staff and other parties.
Amendments offered by commissioners removed from the rate settlement TEP's latest plan to meet a state energy-efficiency mandate.
That included a new mechanism to allow the utility to recover its costs for energy-conservation programs in later rates.
The commission instead decided to keep only those energy-conservation programs previously approved while suspending consideration of nine new programs until new hearings on the cost-recovery issue.
TEP's rates have been frozen since the last rate settlement in December 2008.
