Sedona AZ (October 24, 2012) – In a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Warren Woodward of Sedona Arizona shares results of a question and answer survey that he asked of candidates for Arizona Corporation Commission:

Woodward writes:  Here’s the short story: If you do not want “smart” meters, “smart” meter opt-out fees or utility rate hikes, then vote for both of the two Green Party candidates, Thomas Meadows and Daniel Pout, and the one Libertarian Party candidate, Christopher Gohl. Forget the Republicans and Democrats.

For the long story, including my questions and their responses (and non-responses), read on.

Three people will be elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission. There are nine candidates running. All of them received the following questions. None of these questions were asked during the one hour long debate between all the candidates held on PBS television.

I like to make informed votes. So could you please answer the following questions?

• Do you think monopoly public utilities should be allowed to spend money on advertising?

• Do you think they should be allowed to make political donations?

• If elected, would you be for or against utility rate increases during your term?

APS recently sent this out to a customer:

APS is exploring an alternative option for customers who do not wish to have an automated meter and expects to file a plan for this option with the ACC. In this plan, customers who choose an alternative option would pay for any additional costs.

• What is your opinion on any plan that would add an extra charge to ratepayers not wanting a “smart” meter?

• What is your opinion on automated (AKA “smart”) metering in general?

The three Republicans and the three Democrats were emailed the questions twice – since none of them chose to answer the first time. That in itself is a very bad sign.

None of the Republicans ever bothered to answer. I guess they figure they do not need to be responsive to individual voters (just corporations LOL).

One of the Democrats, Marcia Busching, answered the second email with an apology for not answering the first email — but that was it. She apologized but never answered the questions!

Why would anyone want someone that inept to represent them for anything?

Democrat candidate Paul Newman’s campaign manager answered his questions for him.

As you’ll see, the answers are slippery and weaselly, like those of any career politician (Newman is an incumbent). I could not resist leaving some comments throughout Newman’s response. My comments will be [in brackets].

The Greens, Thomas Meadows & Daniel Pout, and the Libertarian, Christopher Gohl, gave forthright answers, no BS. They are against rate hikes, mandatory “smart” meters and any fees for opting out of “smart” meters.

Some people find it hard to vote for third party candidates because “they can’t win”. To that I say two things. 1)  Of course they “can’t win” if you will not vote for them! and 2)  Just how have you been “winning” by electing establishment Republicrat & Demopublican candidates that do happen to win?

I have been to both Arizona Corporation Commission meetings on “smart” meters.

I can assure you that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats on the Commission have done their homework on the issue of “smart” meters. Both parties are in the thrall of the monopoly utilities, and both seem incapable of critical thought.

Neither major party deserves to be returned to office at the Corporation Commission. And certainly they do not deserve a vote if they cannot even answer a few questions.

By the way, because I thought the Republicans and Democrats might remember me from the meetings and therefore not answer me, I had someone else who is unknown to them email my questions to them.

So I urge you, vote for the Greens, Meadows & Pout, and the Libertarian, Gohl.

Here are the answers, just as I received them:

From Libertarian candidate Gohl: 

Thanks for the questions!

• No- I don’t think monopolies such as APS, SRP, and Tucson Electric and Power should be allowed to allocate money towards advertising

• No- I don’t they should be allowed to make political donations

I’m adamantly opposed to utility rate increases to the consumer- I am against the transfer of wealth from the upper middle class to monopolies.

I am also opposed to anything with the word “Smart” before it – because it isn’t.

I have a huge problem with “Smart” meters because of the invasion of privacy issues, the radio frequency waves they emit, and the FACT that they are not mandated by the State along with a slew of other issues that I’m sure you’re aware of. Any charge levied to ratepayers not wanting “Smart” Meters is Unconstitutional and will be a major issue I will be addressing and ELIMINATING.

Warren, if you would like more on my background and platform you can log on to YouTube and watch the 2012 Arizona Corporation Commissioner debate. Again thank you for the questions, and thank you for your interest in my campaign!

From Green candidate Meadows:

Somebody needs to put some reigns of these utlitiy companies and make sure these so-called Monopolies get broken up. They should NOT be able to make political contribution and should NOT be considered people. I would be against increases in rate hikes and the new meters are just a new way to price gouge. I hope this answers your questions and if you have any more, I would be more than happy to answer then.

From Green candidate Pout:

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. I wish that the campaign was my full-time occupation but unfortunately it can’t be. Here I go with my answers:

1. Although I had not directly considered it, now that you mention it, advertising spending should probably be seriously curtailed. The only exception I would make is regarding campaigns to make their customers aware of programs that help them with costs of energy conservation (like insulation for example) and help with bills for low income people.

2. I would like to see all political donations from private companies end. If elected, I would work to introduce such rules for regulated utility monopolies.

3. I would oppose all rate hikes for companies who are currently running a positive operating cash flow. If they can do that in a recession as big as the one we are in, they don’t need any more of our money. APS made about $1bn dollars from operations in Arizona last year. At the same time, they executed about 60,000 service terminations. They also just had a rate hike approved. We need to redress the balance in favor of the Arizona resident.

4. I oppose any extra charges whatsoever from APS. They are making more than enough profit. They paid over $200m to their shareholders last year and that has not been unusual for them over the past few years.

5. I have only recently been made aware of the problems of ‘smart meters’. I would like to see a full inquiry into their costs and benefits. The final decision on whether the smart meters be installed or not should rest with the residents (and there should be no extra charge whatsoever for those who do not want them).

My main focus in this campaign has been to bring attention to the unacceptable number of service terminations in Arizona, the high levels of profit being made by the large monopolies, and the woefully low renewable energy standard. I would work to end service terminations completely, roll back the rate hikes, and increase our renewable energy targets to be more in line with our neighboring states. Thank you for your interest in my campaign and I hope you find my answers useful.

From Democrat candidate Busching:

For what reason, I did not receive your first email. I have tried to answer all the emails I have received from prospective voters, but sometimes I miss one. I will continue to try to do my best to respond.

From Democrat incumbent candidate Newman:

Do you think monopoly public utilities should be allowed to spend money on advertising?

Paul opposes large expenditures on advertising, although he supports some educational ads and ads that connect residents to energy efficiency and solar programs. [“Large” is subjective, unquantifiable and therefore meaningless. This answer could be used to justify APS’s current unjustifiable advertising expenditures. Utility advertising for anything buys the utility a compliant media and should not be allowed at all.]

Do you think they should be allowed to make political donations?

Paul and the Solar Team of Busching, Kennedy, Newman, are running as Clean Elections candidates meaning our campaigns cannot accept corporate checks. We’ve found this to be a huge advantage, as Paul has only the voters to answer to in this election. I do not know who Paul himself has contributed to during this election cycle. [Total failure to answer the question! The question was not whether Newman got any corporate checks but if he thought the utilities should be allowed to make political donations — which they currently can and do make.]

If elected, would you be for or against utility rate increases during your term?

Paul intends to keep rates as low as possible, while preparing our utilities for the next phase of Arizona’s energy future involving renewable energy such as solar. [“Intends”? The question was not about his intentions but about what he would actually do. This answer sounds like “Get ready for rate hikes because you’re gonna pay for “renewables”!]

APS recently sent this out to a customer:

APS is exploring an alternative option for customers who do not wish to have an automated meter and expects to file a plan for this option with the ACC. In this plan, customers who choose an alternative option would pay for any additional costs.

What is your opinion on any plan that would add an extra charge to ratepayers not wanting a “smart” meter?

In general, Paul opposes additional charges to ratepayers. [But this was a specific, not a “general”, question!]

What is your opinion on automated (AKA “smart”) metering in general?

Paul supports exploring creative energy efficiency solutions such as “smart” metering, which will put more power into the hands of the people to reduce their energy bills and lower their energy consumption. [“Exploring”?! With the entire Central Valley and many other locations in Arizona already “smart” metered, I’d say the “exploration” has been done and the only thing discovered has been failure. Energy bills have not been reduced as a result of “smart’ metering. In fact, some people’s bills have skyrocketed because the meters are inaccurate. I personally know one person whose bill went up 300% when her house was empty! Her bill went back to normal when she had her “smart” meter replaced with analog. APS touts reductions in “operational costs” (getting rid of meter readers, their vehicles and mechanics and others involved) but ratepayers’ “smart” meter bills still show a meter reading fee! One can only assume the cost savings go to shareholders and fat cats in management (APS’s CEO compensation is $5.66M/yr. – http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2011/04/11/donald-brandt-earns-566m-in-first.html ).

And “smart” meters do not “lower energy consumption”. If they did, people would gladly pay to have one. The utilities would not need to force them on us. People save energy. Meters do not. Poor incumbent Newman is an extremely slow learner. All this and more has been explained to him repeatedly by people testifying at ACC meetings and sending him information on the subject.]

Thank you for being an engaged citizen. You can read much more here: http://www.paulnewmanaz.com/solar   [But you will not find any answers to the questions I asked.]

Please help get the word out by forwarding this article. And remember, vote Libertarian and Green Party for the Corporation Commission.

Warren Woodward

Sedona AZ voter