What we learned from Arizona attorney general's town hall on data center concerns
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes hosted a town hall in Mesa about data center growth and concerns that Arizona Public Service customers may be paying for infrastructure and power costs associated with new data centers. Mayes said her office could issue consumer fraud subpoenas if APS and regulators do not provide answers, while the Arizona Corporation Commission is seeking communications related to the issue.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes held a data center town hall in Mesa attended by about 100 people, where residents raised concerns about noise, construction impacts and the broader effects of rapid data center expansion. Mayes said there should be no cost shifting from data centers to homeowners and small businesses and indicated that her office could issue consumer fraud subpoenas to Arizona Public Service if regulators do not obtain satisfactory answers.
12 News reporter Joe Dana described an analysis suggesting that the 117 largest customers account for about 84% of growth-related power costs while paying roughly 17% of those costs. APS disputes the station's analysis and says it relies on flawed theories and speculation. Commissioner Kevin Thompson has ordered APS to provide written communications with 12 News since Jan. 1 and threatened a subpoena if the utility does not comply. Consumer advocates and the attorney general's office are also opposing a proposed rate structure that could increase charges for all APS ratepayers by 14%, arguing that it could subsidize data center development.