This article by Ryan Randazzo was originally published by The Arizona Republic on April 14, 2015.
Excerpt:
The Washington, D.C., area-based Checks and Balances Project specifically is interested in text messages that Stump might have sent to Arizona Public Service Co. lobbyists or other employees regarding solar policies.
(Photo: Joanna Allhands / The Republic)
Stump is one of five elected utility regulators in the state and served as commission chairman when APS asked to raise monthly fees on solar customers by $50 or more in 2013. APS was allowed to add a charge averaging $5 a month at the end of those hearings, and recently asked regulators to increase that to $21 a month.
In a March 11 records request, Checks and Balances Project Executive Director Scott Peterson asked to review any texts and e-mails between Stump and his staff and APS pertaining to solar issues being considered by the commission.
The regulators responded April 8 with a letter indicating there were no text messages that fit the request.
“We think they should look again,” Peterson said.
His organization has retained an Arizona attorney, Daniel Barr of Perkins Coie, to assist in the investigation.
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