We are listening in on the @CorpCommAZ public comment session on the @apsFYI proposed rate hikes. We will be live-tweeting stories and comments shared to remind the ACC it's time for #APSForgetTheDebt & to say NO on a hike of any kind that will further burden our communities.
First caller is @Dulce4Justice: I am calling because I feel it is an extreme injustice for our community for @apsFYI to be asking for an increase while we live in a global pandemic & the hottest year we have ever had. I ask the commission to Vote NO. #APSForgetTheDebt
Prescott Valley @apsFYI ratepayer — I am too against the rate increase @CorpCommAZ! 2 years ago APS increased their rate & now they want to double it. APS is forgetting Arizonans live on a fixed income. This is unfair & unjust. #APSForgetTheDebt
Joyce Miller @apsFYI ratepayer — I am against this rate @CorpCommAZ. I just got home an hour ago (5:30 PM) & my house is 88 degrees. And it will stay at this temp. Because of peak hours that can cause $70 increase. So I sit at home sweating. #APSForgetTheDebt
Cherry Rattner @apsFYI ratepayer – I am against this rate increase @CorpCommAZ. Rate increases should NOT affect Arizonans who work hard for little money. I walk around with wet clothes to cool off because of how hot it is. I, too, am on a fixed income. #APSForgetTheDebt
Arcadie @apsFYI ratepayer – I would like to add APS is the only option. So as a consumer APS is able to increase their rate & the customer is unable to find somebody else. So I want @CorpCommAZ to know that in certain areas APS is essentially a monopoly. #APSForgetTheDebt
@apsFYI ratepayer & Buckeye resident – APS does not communicate with their customers. I was unaware about this increase until I watched this in the news last night. Idk where they get their numbers from. I am against the increase @CorpCommAZ. #APSForgetTheDebt
Lydia Aguilar @apsFYI ratepaey – APS me esta cobrando demaciadas altas tarifas. Las familias en Ariz. nos enfrentamos un calor y desempleo en record durante esta pandemia. [Cont'd] #APSForgetTheDebt
[Lydia Aguilar cont'd] Mientras nuestras familias tenemos que escoger entre llenar el refrigerador de comida, pagar renta y billes, y tener un hogar fresco. La recomendación de personas de familia es que @CorpCommAZ voten NO ah este aumento. #APSForgetTheDebt
Sam Rachester of Yavapai County & @apsFYI ratepayer – I am asking the commissioners to vote NO @CorpCommAZ. I would like the commissioners to put customers over rates. Ariz. is going to get dryer/hotter. APS will be responsible for further deaths. #APSForgetTheDebt
Carletta Lino @apsFYI ratepayer in Goodyear – I am 70 years old; I live on a fixed income. I can now NOT afford rent & an electric bill. We struggle to feed ourselves, to keep a roof over our heads, for some of us that roof has become a car. #APSForgetTheDebt
Grahan-O’h @apsFYI ratepayer – Electricity is a public service. Arizonans depend on electricity for basic necessities: cooking, education, protection from harsh temps. @CorpCommAZ stop rate hikes. APS forgive the debt accrued during the pandemic. #APSForgetTheDebt
Richard C. @apsFYI ratepayer – Over 3 years ago, my partner had been haunted by APS. It turns out APS would charge her over 500 dollars. This woman suffers dementia. I believe APS has been taken advantage of this customer. @CorpCommAZ#APSForgetTheDebt
Martha Villa @apsFYI ratepayer & Phoenix resident – Les pido a @CorpCommAZ que voten NO al aumento the tarifas the APS. Es el peor momento en el medio de esta pandemia. Ya es demaciado lo que estamos pagando. Y no nos podemos dar el lujo de apagar nuestro aire. #APSForgetTheDebt
Heartbreaking reality from Rosa Garcia @apsFYI ratepayer & Phoenix resident who reminds us of why we will continue to put pressure over the @CorpCommAZ & @apsFYI / #APSForgetTheDebt: Están muy altos los cobros de luz @CorpCommAZ. [Con't]
[Cont'd from Rosa] Esta pandemia nos esta afectando a mi familia. Y no solo eso, mi esposo tuvo un accidente, y se me ah echo muy dificil pagar la luz, la renta y el traer un plato de comida a mi casa. #APSForgetTheDebt [Con't]
[Con't from Rosa] El tuvo el accidente en April, y hasta ahora todavia permanece en el hospital. Somos mis 3 hijos y yo y permanecemos en solo un cuarto. Me gustaria decirle a @CorpCommAZ que voten NO al aumento de tarifa y perdonar la deuda. #APSForgetTheDebt
Brenda Brown @apsFYI & Glendale resident – Peak hours, manipulation and greed needs to stop. Please stop this rate increase @CorpCommAZ. #APSForgetTheDebt
Scottsdale resident & @apsFYI ratepayer – APS needs to show more humanity during this time and provide people free electricity. This month my bill was $180, and $92 dollars was actually for electricity. This is the worst time in the world. @CorpCommAZ#APSForgetTheDebt
Rosa Cross @apsFYI ratepayer & Glendale resident – I ask @CorpCommAZ to vote NO. My bill was $124.74 & only generated $28.58 – the rest was in other fees. They are taking advantage of people. It is unethical and immoral for all people and myself. #APSForgetTheDebt
Bonnie @apsFYI ratepayer & Phoenix resident – My electric use was $109 but the bill came up to $206 with misc. charges. You’re not making friends when you make things like this in times like these. So do the right thing and vote NO @CorpCommAZ. #APSForgetTheDebt
Howard Musser @apsFYI ratepayer – This is a monopoly. I agree everything on their bills should not be there. I blame @CorpCommAZ for allowing this to get this far. Remember this year is an election year. We know your names: You work for us, not APS. #APSForgetTheDebt
#Ambientalista señora Blanca Abarca & @apsFYI cliente comparte como su hermana le llego un bill de $800! @apsFYI how is this realistic and humane! #APSForgetTheDebt [Con't for direct quote]
[Con't from señora Blanca] Cada ano el calor va en aumento. Y con ese aumento de calor @apsFYI quiere aumentar los recibos de luz. Un gran ejemplo es que en este mes de Sept. a mi hermana le llego un recibo de $800. #APSForgetTheDebt [Con't]
[Con't from señora Blanca] Por favor repita eso para que los comisionados escuchen: $800. Me derijo a @CorpCommAZ: deben de votar NO al aumento de tarifas de @apsFYI. APS necesita eliminar la deuda ahora. #APSForgetTheDebt
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#ChispaAZPAC endorsed candidates who have taken a pledge to reject political donations from monopoly utilities. Endorsed candidates have earned a Clean Air, Clean Politics seal. 🍃✅
#ChispaAZPAC proudly endorses @KDKinAZ for House-21. They have earned the Clean Air, Clean Politics seal with their commitment to building a cleaner future for Arizona. 🍃✅
#ChispaAZPAC proudly endorses @MitziEpstein for House-18. They have earned the Clean Air, Clean Politics seal with their commitment to building a cleaner future for Arizona. 🍃✅
En las últimas semanas, nuestrxs hermanxs de las tribus Kumeyaay y O'odham han estado defendiendo tierra sagrada y el manantial Quitobaquito. O'odham, Kumeyaay and allies have been holding ceremony and prayer on unceded land near Quitobaquito Springs for weeks. #Kumeyaayprotest
Es nuestra obligación reconocer a nuestrxs hermanxs de las tribus O'odham y Kumeyaay que han defendido la tierra por más de 12,000 años, y la construcción del muro continua a perpetuar violencia a tierra y sitios sagrados. #Kumeyaayprotest#NoBORDERWall#NoMuro
Meet the APS Customers Calling on @apsFYI to Forget The Debt
On 10/15, AZ customers will face a massive electric shock when the payment moratorium comes to an end — Hear Josie's story here. Spanish speakers were denied access to the @CorpCommAZ public hearing earlier this month
“Hello, my name is Josie Ramirez and I am an APS customer and at the moment in this hot weather we are having many problems with electricity bills, the entire area here are APS and everyone is having a problem..."
"Right now in this time of pandemic it is very difficult to pay our bills, very difficult because of the jobs, there is not much work, many people are not working and that is the reason why we want our bills to go down a little bit or help us with our bills or delete them"
On 10/15 the utility summer shutoff moratorium will END. We know 71,254 APS customers are in arrears — 20,850 are at immediate risk of being disconnected
“I am Beatriz Beltran, I have been a client of APS for more than 20 years and in this time the electricity has been very expensive. But it has risen more in this time of pandemic, the bill is very high"
"I ask you, please, lower the bill or maybe eliminate it, do something because the bill if we don't pay a little, the door will grow and that will help us, but do something. Thank you." - Beatriz Beltran
.@Dulce4Justice tells @CorpCommAZ: This is outrageous, how could @apsFYI be asking to raise their rates? It’s an injustice to people all across the states. Don’t give an increase to APS, but also forget the debt! #APSForgetTheDebt
"This is the hottest summer in AZ and people have to stay indoors. This is the time for debt relief for families. Last year there were millions worth of debt. We’re asking for a 20-30 million this year. " - @Dulce4Justice#APSForgetTheDebt
"I'm also calling on behalf of Spanish speakers because @CorpCommAZ doesn't have the ability to take Spanish only comments. That's also an injustice! They can’t afford to pay their bills! This corruption needs to stop. " #APSForgetTheDebt
The #GreatAmericanOutdoorsAct has passed the House! This bill will FULLY fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protects public lands, local parks, and open spaces that are critical for our community’s health, wellbeing, and the conservation of our heritage. 1/4
For years, our public lands have been underfunded. This bill allows for opportunities of investment in communities of color that have historically lacked access to open and public spaces. 2/4
This is a huge win for conservation, & would not be possible without the leadership of indigenous communities who are the original caretakers of these lands. Their voice and leadership must continue to be centered in the fight to conserve and protect public lands. 3/4