Arizona Corporation Commissioners Demand Answers From APS CEO

By Bridget Dowd
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 10:26am
Updated: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 11:27am

sandra kennedy
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Sandra Kennedy on July 11, 2019, at a meeting of the Arizona Corporation Commission called to discuss demanding information from APS CEO Don Brandt.

State utility regulators are putting the pressure on Arizona Public Service CEO Don Brandt, inviting him to answer questions at next month’s Corporation Commission meeting.

This comes after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in her home last year when APS cut off her power. Commissioner Sandra Kennedy said hearing from lower level executives isn’t going to cut it.

"The person who really needs to come in here is Don Brandt," Kennedy said. "He is the CEO of the company. That's who we really need to hear from."

A company spokesperson, however, said they will be sending a senior official, not Brandt. This may push commissioners to exercise their legal power to subpoena the CEO.

Commission staffers said there’s no independent proof or documentation that APS told Pullman about available assistance from the government or charities — when she only paid part of her bill.

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