The Arizona Corporation Commission may issue revised resource planning rules for electric utilities. These rules were previously suspended, but the Commission (the state agency responsible for regulating utilities in Arizona) is considering reinstating the resource planning process. In addition, Arizona Public Service Company has conducted public workshops to gather input for its resource planning process and may voluntarily file a resource plan for Commission review in early 2009.

This brief describes how community leaders can help accelerate solar energy deployment in Arizona. Leaders, perhaps through existing business and community organizations, could develop a visionary solar energy plan and use that plan to influence both the utilities’ and the Arizona Corporation Commission’s resource planning processes.