Arizona Republicans concede utility board seats as 14% APS rate hike vote looms

Arizona's Republican candidates for the state's utility regulator have conceded. That puts Democrats on track to win seats on a board that sets power, water and gas rates for millions of Arizonans ¹³. Incumbent Commissioner Kevin Thompson conceded on Thursday, a day after fellow Republican Ralph Heap, according to the Yellow Sheet Report ¹.

The race has not been officially called. As of Thursday evening, Democrat Clara Pratte had 27.1% of the vote and Democrat Jonathon Hill had 26%. Thompson had 23.5% and Heap had 22% ¹.

The Arizona Corporation Commission is a five-member elected board. It regulates and sets rates for the state's electric, water and gas utilities ³. Republicans hold all five seats ¹. The board has had no Democrat since Commissioner Anna Tovar left at the end of 2024, The Arizona Republic reported ⁴.

A big rate decision before the new members arrive

The timing is the catch. Arizona Public Service, known as APS, is the state's largest utility, and it has asked for a rate increase of about 14% ⁵. The commission is likely to decide that case in December, after the election but before any new commissioner takes office, The Copper Courier reported ⁵.

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The commission's own timeline backs that up. An administrative law judge is due to issue a recommended decision by late November 2026. Commissioners must vote on it by Dec. 31, 2026, and any new rates would likely take effect in early 2027 ⁶. If their leads hold, Pratte and Hill would join the board in January ³.

When APS filed the request in June 2025, it asked for a net increase of 13.99%. That works out to about $20 more a month for a typical customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours ⁷. Tucson Electric Power, known as TEP, is also near the end of its own case seeking about 14% ⁴.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, came out against the APS request when it was filed. She said customers were already paying $12 more a month for electricity than a year before ⁷. APS President and CEO Ted Geisler defended the request, saying, "Reliability isn't optional —it's essential, especially in Arizona." ⁷

What the Republican commission did

Thompson is a former gas industry lobbyist. He helped the commission repeal rules that Republicans said were costing consumers too much, including renewable energy requirements ¹. The commission also repealed the state's energy efficiency standards in July ⁵.

Bills have kept rising. In 2024 the commission approved an APS increase of about $10.50 a month. Regulators also extended an APS fuel charge instead of letting it end. Altogether, the average APS bill rose nearly 20% from 2020 to 2024 ⁵.

In a September debate, Thompson said "We'll cut the fat" and promised the commission would hold utilities accountable. He also noted that Arizona law lets utilities recover their costs from customers ⁸. In his concession, he defended his time on the board ¹.

Heap largely stopped campaigning while he faced a Clean Elections Commission complaint about campaign finance rules ¹. Former Commissioner Nick Myers, a Republican who lost to Heap in the primary, called the result "beyond embarrassing" ³.

What the Democrats say they will do

Pratte co-founded Navajo Power, which partners with tribal communities on renewable energy projects. Hill is a spacecraft engineer and geologist at Arizona State University ¹. Both say the current commission defers too much to utilities. They favor an energy mix led by renewables, which they argue are the cheapest and fastest to bring online ¹. Pratte, a member of the Navajo Nation, would be the first Indigenous woman elected to statewide office in Arizona ³.

Pratte has framed the job around household budgets. "I grew up without running water and electricity, so I know firsthand how hard that is to make those decisions between having access to something and paying for your groceries or your prescription medications," she told KOLD in September ⁹.

Two new members can't outvote three Republicans. Hill has said they would still have tools: "We might not be able to initially change a vote, but we can subpoena all sorts of documents." ⁵ He has also asked voters to keep paying attention.

Why this matters for older Arizonans

In Arizona, power bills can be a matter of safety. In 2024, an 82-year-old woman died after her power was shut off in mid-May, when temperatures hit 99 degrees. APS did not admit wrongdoing but settled a lawsuit with the state for $7 million ⁵. APS now pauses shutoffs on days that reach 95 degrees or higher. Pratte has pointed out that the rule "does not stop the bill" ⁵.

On the same ballot, early results showed Tucson voters rejecting a 25-year franchise deal with Tucson Electric Power. Inside Climate News tied that vote to TEP's request for a big rate increase ¹⁰.

That matters because the change on the commission is coming late. The outgoing Republican majority still controls the December vote on APS rates. Customers will start to see what the new members can do only after that decision is made ⁵⁶.

The Record

1. Jun 17, 2025APS's request for a net 13.99% rate increase, about $20 more a month for a typical customer, is reported ⁷.
2. Jul 7, 2026The 31-day hearing in the APS rate case ends; the commission must vote on it by Dec. 31, 2026 ⁶.
3. Nov 3, 2026Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill lead Republicans for two Corporation Commission seats on election night ³.
4. Nov 5, 2026Incumbent Republican Kevin Thompson concedes, a day after Republican Ralph Heap ¹.
5. Dec 31, 2026Deadline for the commission to vote on the APS rate case ⁶.

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<h2>Arizona Republicans concede utility board seats as 14% APS rate hike vote looms</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/arizona-republicans-concede-utility-board-seats-as-14-aps-rate-hike-vote-looms">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 6, 2026.</em></p> <p>Arizona&#39;s Republican candidates for the state&#39;s utility regulator have conceded. That puts Democrats on track to win seats on a board that sets power, water and gas rates for millions of Arizonans . Incumbent Commissioner Kevin Thompson conceded on Thursday, a day after fellow Republican Ralph Heap, according to the Yellow Sheet Report .</p> <p>The race has not been officially called. As of Thursday evening, Democrat Clara Pratte had 27.1% of the vote and Democrat Jonathon Hill had 26%. Thompson had 23.5% and Heap had 22% .</p> <p>The Arizona Corporation Commission is a five-member elected board. It regulates and sets rates for the state&#39;s electric, water and gas utilities . Republicans hold all five seats . The board has had no Democrat since Commissioner Anna Tovar left at the end of 2024, The Arizona Republic reported .</p> <h2>A big rate decision before the new members arrive</h2> <p>The timing is the catch. Arizona Public Service, known as APS, is the state&#39;s largest utility, and it has asked for a rate increase of about 14% . The commission is likely to decide that case in December, after the election but before any new commissioner takes office, The Copper Courier reported .</p> <p>The commission&#39;s own timeline backs that up. An administrative law judge is due to issue a recommended decision by late November 2026. Commissioners must vote on it by Dec. 31, 2026, and any new rates would likely take effect in early 2027 . If their leads hold, Pratte and Hill would join the board in January .</p> <p>When APS filed the request in June 2025, it asked for a net increase of 13.99%. That works out to about $20 more a month for a typical customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours . Tucson Electric Power, known as TEP, is also near the end of its own case seeking about 14% .</p> <p>Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, came out against the APS request when it was filed. She said customers were already paying $12 more a month for electricity than a year before . APS President and CEO Ted Geisler defended the request, saying, &quot;Reliability isn&#39;t optional —it&#39;s essential, especially in Arizona.&quot;</p> <h2>What the Republican commission did</h2> <p>Thompson is a former gas industry lobbyist. He helped the commission repeal rules that Republicans said were costing consumers too much, including renewable energy requirements . The commission also repealed the state&#39;s energy efficiency standards in July .</p> <p>Bills have kept rising. In 2024 the commission approved an APS increase of about $10.50 a month. Regulators also extended an APS fuel charge instead of letting it end. Altogether, the average APS bill rose nearly 20% from 2020 to 2024 .</p> <p>In a September debate, Thompson said &quot;We&#39;ll cut the fat&quot; and promised the commission would hold utilities accountable. He also noted that Arizona law lets utilities recover their costs from customers . In his concession, he defended his time on the board .</p> <p>Heap largely stopped campaigning while he faced a Clean Elections Commission complaint about campaign finance rules . Former Commissioner Nick Myers, a Republican who lost to Heap in the primary, called the result &quot;beyond embarrassing&quot; .</p> <h2>What the Democrats say they will do</h2> <p>Pratte co-founded Navajo Power, which partners with tribal communities on renewable energy projects. Hill is a spacecraft engineer and geologist at Arizona State University . Both say the current commission defers too much to utilities. They favor an energy mix led by renewables, which they argue are the cheapest and fastest to bring online . Pratte, a member of the Navajo Nation, would be the first Indigenous woman elected to statewide office in Arizona .</p> <p>Pratte has framed the job around household budgets. &quot;I grew up without running water and electricity, so I know firsthand how hard that is to make those decisions between having access to something and paying for your groceries or your prescription medications,&quot; she told KOLD in September .</p> <p>Two new members can&#39;t outvote three Republicans. Hill has said they would still have tools: &quot;We might not be able to initially change a vote, but we can subpoena all sorts of documents.&quot; He has also asked voters to keep paying attention.</p> <h2>Why this matters for older Arizonans</h2> <p>In Arizona, power bills can be a matter of safety. In 2024, an 82-year-old woman died after her power was shut off in mid-May, when temperatures hit 99 degrees. APS did not admit wrongdoing but settled a lawsuit with the state for $7 million . APS now pauses shutoffs on days that reach 95 degrees or higher. Pratte has pointed out that the rule &quot;does not stop the bill&quot; .</p> <p>On the same ballot, early results showed Tucson voters rejecting a 25-year franchise deal with Tucson Electric Power. Inside Climate News tied that vote to TEP&#39;s request for a big rate increase .</p> <p>That matters because the change on the commission is coming late. The outgoing Republican majority still controls the December vote on APS rates. Customers will start to see what the new members can do only after that decision is made .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/arizona-republicans-concede-utility-board-seats-as-14-aps-rate-hike-vote-looms">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/arizona-republicans-concede-utility-board-seats-as-14-aps-rate-hike-vote-looms.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. KJZZ, “AZ Corporation Commission race too close to call, but Republican candidates have already conceded” (2026-11-05). kjzz.org/elections/2026-11-05/az-corporation-commission-race
2. KJZZ, “Democrats continue to lead in Arizona Corporation Commission election” (2026-11-05). kjzz.org/elections/2026-11-03/arizona-corporation-commission
3. Arizona Capitol Times, “Democrats lead in Corporation Commission race” (2026-11-03). azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/11/03/democrats-lead-in-corpora
4. Arizona Republic (via Arizona Daily Star), “Democrats lead in race for 2 seats on Arizona Corporation Commission” (2026-11-04). tucson.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections
5. The Copper Courier, “The under-the-radar commission setting Arizona's utility rates” (2026-09-21). coppercourier.com/news/elections/arizona-corp-commission-can
6. Arizona Corporation Commission, “What's next in the APS rate case” (2026-07-10). azcc.gov/news/home/2026/07/10/what-s-next-in-the-aps-rate-ca
7. Arizona's Family (KTVK/KPHO), “APS applies to raise Arizona electricity rates by 14% beginning next year” (2025-06-17). azfamily.com/2025/06/17/aps-applies-raise-arizona-electricit
8. KJZZ, “Corporation Commission candidates talk utility rates as energy prices climb for Arizonans” (2026-09-10). kjzz.org/politics/2026-09-10/corporation-commission-candidat
9. KOLD, “Tucson Now: Clara Pratte's plan for Arizona Corporation Commission” (2026-09-28). kold.com/2026/09/29/tucson-now-clara-prattes-plan-arizona-co
10. Inside Climate News, “Voters Reject Industry-Backed Ballot Measures With Big Environmental Stakes” (2026-11-04). insideclimatenews.org/news/04112026/california-voters-reject

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