'I’m convinced that affordable and fair access to utilities isn't just about financial stability – it's a basic right.'
As a University of Arizona scholar, I moved to Arizona to study climate change impacts on vulnerable communities in dry-land ecosystems like Tucson. My fieldwork and heartfelt conversations with locals have shown me the devastating effects of lacking affordable access to energy, which can be exacerbated with continuous rate hikes such as those imposed by for-profit utility companies like Southwest Gas.
People are also reading… Through my work, I’ve visited the homes of families in Tucson, seeing firsthand how unpredictable utility rates, especially among low-income families, make their lives harder. In January, Southwest Gas received approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission to raise rates on Arizona residential customers by 7.6% on average, one of several in the last few years.
As the summer months roll in, and Arizona temperatures skyrocket into the triple digits and reach nearly “unlivable” limits, this problem is magnified. Staying cool isn’t just about comfort but health and safety. The rising rates make it harder, sometimes impossible, for many families to afford this basic need.
It’s clear to me that we need to call for greater transparency and accountability from the company and its stakeholders to make sure that rate increases and the continued reliance on volatile methane gas don’t unfairly burden those with lower incomes, especially at a time when 1 in 5 Americans are already grappling with exorbitant energy bills.
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