Bill > SB1508

This bill requires utilities, starting May 1, 2027, to annually report detailed information to the commission, which is the regulatory body overseeing public service corporations. This includes an itemized list of various expenses such as membership dues to industry associations (even if they support political activities), charitable giving, political influence activities, institutional and promotional advertising, payments to outside attorneys and experts, political contributions, costs associated with unregulated products or services, penalties and fines, liability insurance and travel expenses for directors and officers, aircraft costs, investor relations costs, and litigation expenses related to regulations. Additionally, utilities must provide employee information for each "covered business unit" (a division or department involved in these activities), including their name, job title, description, total annual compensation, and how much of that compensation is booked to an "above-the-line account," which refers to expenses that utilities can recover from ratepayers. The bill also mandates that utilities disclose whether the costs of their public messages are paid by shareholders or ratepayers and requires them to identify the funding source for public messages recorded to an above-the-line account. The commission will monitor compliance and can assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for failures to report. The bill defines terms like "affiliate of the utility," "compensation," "expense," "institutional advertising," "political influence activity," and "promotional advertising" to clarify the scope of these reporting requirements.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85105