Bob Burns (Photo by Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services)
A judge won’t help Bob Burns force Arizona Public Service to disclose the money it has spent — and may spend in the future — to elect candidates of its choice.
In an extensive ruling Friday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Kiley concluded that Burns, as a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, has an individual right to look at the books of not only APS but Pinnacle West Capital Corp., its parent company. He said Burns does not need the backing of the majority of the regulatory panel.
And the judge also said that individual right of commissioners extends to the ability to subpoena corporate executives to testify.
But Kiley said none of that matters because the other four members of the commission have refused to enforce the subpoenas. And the judge said he lacks the legal authority to overrule that.
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