Arizona Power Rate Board Seats Face November Vote
Businesses paying Arizona utility rates will see the outcome shape whether requested increases of roughly 14% move forward.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities
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Two open seats on the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission are contested in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. Republican Kevin Thompson is the only incumbent remaining in the race, and the commission has been fully Republican since Democrat Anna Tovar departed at the end of 2024.
Why it matters
The commission regulates the rates utilities can charge, so the outcome shapes what Arizona businesses pay for power as energy affordability, renewable energy and large-load customers like data centers become major election issues. Results may take days or weeks to confirm in close races, leaving operators without a clear read on the board's direction for some time.
Campaign finance reports show Thompson, Pratte and Hill each raising more than $385,000, while Heap, who returned his primary public funding, holds a little over $232,000 and Cease, a privately financed Green Party write-in, has raised $5,000. Clean Elections eligibility caps public funding at almost $148,000 for primaries and just under $222,000 for the general election.
The players
Arizona Corporation Commission
The five-member state body that regulates utility rates and services, setting what electric and other utilities may charge Arizona businesses and households.
Arizona Public Service (APS)
Arizona's largest electric utility, which has sought a roughly 14% rate increase from the commission.
Tucson Electric Power
A major Arizona electric utility that, like APS, has requested a roughly 14% rate increase from the commission.
Ralph Heap
A Republican state representative who defeated Commissioner Nick Myers in the Republican primary for a commission seat.
Kevin Thompson
The Republican incumbent and only remaining commissioner in the race for the two open seats.
The details
Arizona's commission sets the rates utilities such as APS and Tucson Electric Power may charge customers, and both utilities have sought a roughly 14% rate increase. The commission has permitted formula rates for utility rate adjustments since 2024, meaning rate changes can follow a set calculation rather than a fresh case each time. Because the board is currently all Republican, the two seats on the ballot determine whether that balance shifts and how much weight the board gives to affordability and renewable energy concerns.
Timeline
2024: Commission permitted formula rates for utility rate adjustments.
End of 2024: Democrat Anna Tovar departed, leaving the commission fully Republican.
2026: Nick Myers was first elected to the commission.
Nov. 3, 2026: General election for two open commission seats; unofficial results expected that evening.
Market Landscape
The 2024 decision to permit formula rates for utility rate adjustments established the framework the current board operates under. The November 2026 contest determines whether that framework holds as utilities such as APS and Tucson Electric Power pursue roughly 14% rate increases amid rising demand from data centers.
Operators in energy-intensive industries should track the commission's composition, since the board sets the rates utilities may charge. Businesses planning around power costs should factor in the pending rate requests from APS and Tucson Electric Power and watch how the new board treats them.
The takeaway
Electricity costs for Arizona operators will be shaped by who holds the two open commission seats, so monitor the results once certified. Review any pending utility rate filings for your facility and consult an energy or regulatory professional before adjusting long-term power budgets.
What happens next
Unofficial election results are expected the evening of Nov. 3, 2026, with official certification by Arizona state and local officials to follow.
Further reading
For broader background, see Utilities coverage of how state regulators set the power rates businesses pay.
Live Poll
Do you think your household's electricity bills will get better or worse?
