Arizona regulators approve sale of beleaguered utility
December 23, 2020 GMT
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona utility regulators approved a deal for EPCOR USA to purchase the beleaguered Johnson Utilities company and for customers to pay for part of the transaction with hikes in their monthly bills.
The decision Tuesday split the Arizona Corporation Commissioners 3-2.
EPCOR USA, a subsidiary of a Canadian company, will purchase Johnson Utilities, which has roughly 30,000 water customers and about 40,000 wastewater customers across the state, the Arizona Republic reported. Its territory encompasses about 160 square miles (414 square kilometers) of land, a size bigger than the city of Denver.
ADVERTISEMENT
The deal would mean customers will pay about $45 million more over 15 years. According to documents filed with the commission, in the final 15th year, customers can expect to pay anywhere between $5 to $12 a month more in fees.