Corporation Commission

The Corporation Commission is often referred as the fourth branch of government in Arizona. The Framers of Arizona's constitution created the Commission in 1912 as an agency free from the control of the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Then, as now, the goal was to have an independent agency that could balance the economic power of large corporations with the basic needs of ordinary citizens.

In most states, the Commission is known as the Public Service Commission or Public Utilities Commission. Arizona's Commission, however, has responsibilities that go beyond traditional public utilities regulation.

The Commission:

1. Regulates over 500 public service corporations (publicly-traded electric, gas, or telephone companies and privately-owned water and sewer companies). These companies include Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Tucson Electric Power (TEP), Unisource Electric Company, Southwest Gas Corporation, Unisource Gas Company, Qwest Communications, Cox Telephone, Arizona Water Company, and Arizona-American Water Company.

2. Governs the sale of securities and investments in Arizona; licenses brokers, dealers and investment brokers; prosecutes violators of the Arizona's securities laws.

3. Registers corporations and limited liability companies doing business in Arizona.

4. Enforces railroad and pipeline safety regulations.

The Commission does not regulate utilities owned by municipalities. Nor does the Commission have any jurisdiction over long distances rates, fax machines, voicemail services, internet service, cable or satellite TV.

The Commission's overarching responsibility is to ensure that all Arizonans have safe, reliable and adequate utility services at an affordable cost.