Chispa AZ announces six figure bilingual investment to raise awareness about the ACC

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Chispa, Arizona has announced $200,000 for a bilingual investment to raise awareness about the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and their actions within the last year.

A recent poll has just came out from over 500 Latino voters in Arizona stating:

"Clean, affordable energy is absolutely critical and these poll findings show that's especially true for Latiné voters. Every decision by the ACC directly impacts daily life in Arizona — from how much we pay for energy to whether the air we breathe is clean. Voters should know that they get to choose who oversees our public utilities and who gets to decide what rates we pay. The ACC is costing Latiné voters our health, our utility bills, and the chance to a future with clean energy."

Vianey Olivarria, Executive Director of Chispa AZ

According to study by Embold Research, it is predicted that about a quarter of this year's November voters will be Latino, and states that these voters are impacted by the rising heat, high costs of electricity and polluted air which is part of the ACC.

The Arizona Corporation Commission shared a statement with us:

The Arizona Corporation Commission works to vigorously ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services, as well as to ensure the safety of railroad and pipeline systems, grow Arizona’s economy by helping local entrepreneurs start businesses, and protect citizens by enforcing an ethical securities marketplace.

Our constitutional obligation is to protect the interest of all customers and ensure the electric grid is reliable. Our priority is to ensure that rates are equitable and fair among customers. The Commission has prudently protected the consumers and the electric grid during record high inflation. A recent study just released in July 2024 ranked Arizona as the second LEAST-expensive state for energy costs. Arizona was ranked 14th in the nation for having the most affordable electricity between 2022 and 2023.

Arizona's population and economy is growing at a rapid pace, and that means utilities must expand their infrastructure and service, as well. ACC decisions that result in rate increases are difficult and at times necessary to make, so that our utilities continue to meet the demands of our growing population. 

Additionally, the ACC continues to prioritize public participation, looking to learn and hear from Arizonans through the Commission's Open Meetings, public comment meetings, and consumer comment dockets. The ACC is committed to inclusion and is in the process of upgrading both its website, and Corporations Division computer system, so that the Commission is accessible in multiple languages.

Nicole Garcia, ACC Spokesperson