Arizona Court of Appeals Decision Once Again Rejects Unfair “Solar Tax” on Arizona Solar Customers

The Arizona Court of Appeals yesterday, October 29, denied requests from Arizona Public Service (APS) and the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to reconsider its ruling that due process violations require the Grid Access Charge to be overturned. The decision marks a positive step forward in the ongoing legal challenge to the discriminatory charge, which requires APS customers with rooftop solar panels to pay an additional and unnecessary fee, making it harder for those customers to save money on their utility bills by using solar energy. 

The Grid Access Charge was introduced at the conclusion of APS’s 2024 rate case, with the ACC approving a monthly charge that penalizes households that have invested in rooftop solar. The Court of Appeals previously found that due process violations required the charge to be vacated. 

Vote Solar’s West Senior Regulatory Director, Kate Bowman, issued the following statement:

“With yesterday’s decision, the Court has brought Arizona solar customers one step closer to relief from an unfair charge. The Court of Appeals has now twice rejected efforts to preserve this charge, reinforcing the need for fair play and accountability when it comes to decisions that affect Arizona ratepayers.

As Arizona faces growing energy needs and rising bills, we should be encouraging more families to invest in solar to save money on bills and relieve stress on the grid, not creating unnecessary barriers that make it harder to do so. We remain committed to fighting for the rights of Arizona families to choose solar to lower their energy bills without being unfairly penalized.”