Arizona Corporation Commission elects new chairwoman amid series of firsts

Following the November 2020 General Election, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) swore in three new commissioners this week, one of whom — Lea Márquez Peterson — was elected as the agency’s new chairwoman.

Márquez Peterson was elected in a 3-2 vote, adding to her groundbreaking honors, as she was already the first Latina to serve in public office in Arizona at a statewide level. She will lead the body’s first majority female Commission, alongside the newly elected Anna Tovar and Jim O’Connor, as well as sitting Commissioners Sandra Kennedy and Justin Olson. Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms.

“Thank you to my fellow Commissioners for your belief in me and for electing me to serve as your Chair,” Márquez Peterson said. “We faced intense challenges last year and have also made incredible progress. We’ve set the stage for short-term and long-term priorities and objectives we can accomplish together, moving forward.”

With her appointment, Márquez Peterson laid out priorities to be achieved in her first 100 days, including updating the direction and workload of Commission divisions, structure and staff; boosting transparency by identifying and addressing unwritten policies and procedures; pushing for permanent disconnection rules and high speed internet for rural areas; streamlining the rate review process for small water companies; creating rate case policies that reduce staff workload and costs for third parties; and supporting both forest biomass and a statewide approach to transitioning tribes and coal-impacted communities.

“As we continue to advance in technology and innovation in the energy and water sectors, I am hopeful that a number of these developments will result in efficiencies to businesses and passed through to customers in the form of cleaner and less costly water and power services in the future,” O’Connor said.

Chairwoman Márquez Peterson replaces outgoing Chairman Bob Burns. He wished her and her fellow commissioners well going forward and noted that Arizona is on the verge of national leadership in energy generation and distribution. Accordingly, Márquez Peterson has, for the long term, also set goals of reinforcing Clean and Affordable Energy Rules, implementing utility Performance Incentive Mechanisms, improving efficiency at small water companies, and developing programs for workforce and supplier diversity, as well as revamping the regulatory climate.