Phoenix, Ariz.— Commissioner Nick Myers attended the Summer Policy Summit of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (“NARUC”) on July 14-17, 2024. At the Summit, Commissioner Myers had the opportunity to ask some poignant questions of one of the country’s largest tech companies. The company has data centers all over the world and is looking for power, a lot more power.  

“Given that your company has aggressive clean energy goals, the technical ability and project management capabilities, and a very large R&D budget, have you considered building the first Small Modular Reactors in a behind the meter or “bring your own energy” type of solution?,” asked Commissioner Myers of the company.  

Though the question was well received by several utility regulators in attendance, the company provided a quite disappointing response. In essence, the company responded that it was not interested in a behind the meter solution, but rather would like to partner with utilities and regulators to come up with “Clean Transition Tariffs (CTTs).”

“It is frustrating that these well-funded, cutting edge, multi-billion-dollar companies are unwilling to invest the capital to bring these new advanced nuclear technologies to the market when they are the ones with the aggressive clean energy goals,” commented Commissioner Myers, “they’d rather push the costs onto utility customers and taxpayers, and possibly even get discounted rates through special tariffs in order to achieve their own goals.”

“Because the demand for power in Arizona is anticipated to increase about 40% by the end of the decade and baseload generation is set to retire at roughly the same time, we will need to find ways to double our energy production very quickly,” concluded Commissioner Myers, “it’s unfortunate big tech companies appear unwilling at this time to put their money where their mouth is.”

For more information about Commissioner Myers pushing for ways to bring new technologies and generation to the grid, please contact Amanda Hasty at myers-web@azcc.gov.