Commissioner René Lopez began his first term on the Arizona Corporation Commission in January 2025. Before serving as a commissioner, he previously served on the Chandler City Council from 2015-2023 and was appointed as Vice Mayor twice during his terms.

René has lived and worked in Chandler for more than 18 years. He is a third generation Arizona native, graduating from the UofA with a BS in Nuclear Engineering and minor in Direct Energy Conversion. Commissioner Lopez also is a third generation U.S. Navy Veteran serving as a Naval Officer aboard submarines, honorably separating in 2000 as a Lieutenant.

René has an extensive 23-year career in Project Management working in Telecommunications, Energy, and Information Technology. He understands the importance of finding the balance of delivering energy and water to Arizona residents while managing the costs associated with maintenance and new infrastructure. His focus is finding stability and cost effectiveness for Arizona’s current and future needs. René believes in transparency and open communication.

In 2017, René co-founded Cece’s Hope Center. CeCe’s Hope Center improves the lives and futures of victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation by bridging the gap of services and support.

Commissioner Lopez currently serves on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues -Waste Disposal.

René and his wife Jessica of 28 years have two children: Brianna, 26, a Ph.d Candidate at John’s Hopkins and Andrew, graduating from UofA in 2024 with a BS in Criminal Justice and now a U.S. Naval Officer serving in San Diego, CA.