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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Clean, Efficient Energy Spotlighted as Commission Considers APS Rate Hike

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Monday, December 7, 2009   

PHOENIX - Hearings start today at the rate-setting state Corporation Commission on a different kind of rate hike for Arizona Public Service (APS). Electric rates will be going up, but will include a number of clean, efficient energy incentives for homes and businesses. Chuck Essigs, director of governmental relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, says APS would also provide off-peak rates to schools before classes let out around three in the afternoon.

"That's when they're running into their peak. People are coming home from work and turning on their air conditioners and cooking dinner and turning on their lights and stuff like that. So if schools could cut their power usage after that, that would help the utility companies manage their peak power demands."

Essigs says schools would also get help installing solar power systems and with making their buildings more energy-efficient. He says schools would save money on electric bills and APS might be able to avoid the expense of building a power plant or two.

Under the proposal, APS would cut its total energy load by nearly four percent. Essigs says that, if the energy-efficiency plan works as it should, all APS electric customers stand to benefit.

"That savings probably would be shared among all of the ratepayers, since, when a utility company goes to the Corporation Commission to request a rate increase because they have to build a new power plant, they pass that cost on to all of the customers of APS."

Arizona schools are dealing with an unrelated $100 million cut in utility funding as a result of the state's severe budget problems. Essigs says savings from the APS plan could help schools better deal with the situation.

"That means they could maybe not have to lay off as many people during this down time. When the economy recovers, it might help them maybe pay teachers more, to have lower class sizes."

Following three days of hearings, corporation commissioners are expected to vote on the APS rate hike package later this week.


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