Arizona regulators move to repeal renewable energy mandate after nearly two decades
08/27/2025 / By Laura Harris
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted unanimously to begin dismantling the state’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST), a 2006 rule requiring utilities to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025.
Regulators argued that REST is no longer necessary since major utilities like APS and Tucson Electric Power have already surpassed the renewable energy goals originally set by the rule.
The ACC claimed REST has added $2.3 billion in costs to consumer bills and that eliminating the mandate will give utilities more flexibility to choose cost-effective, reliable energy sources.
As the repeal moves forward, APS and two other utilities have scaled back their clean energy pledges, shifting from a “carbon-free” target to a “carbon-neutral” goal by 2050, citing growing demand and cost concerns.
The ACC will hold three public comment sessions on the proposed repeal, on Nov. 10 (Tucson), Nov. 12 (phone) and Nov. 13 (Phoenix), to gather community input on Arizona’s renewable energy future.
https://www.climate.news/2025-08-27-arizona-regulators-to-repeal-renewable-energy-mandate.html
