Corporation Commission
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Corporation Commission
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Find out where your convictions stand on the political map..... |
RICK FOWLKES - LIBERTARIAN FOR CORPORATION COMMISSION
Rick Fowlkes is a professional structural engineer. He has over 38 years experience with commercial, residential, and industrial engineering designs, including projects for the electric power industry. A former vice president with two prominent engineering firms in Phoenix. Rick has owned and operated his own consulting engineering business in Mesa since 1983.
Rick was an Eagle Scout. He attended the US Air Force Academy for two years where he met the love of his life, Linda Lee. He resigned from the Academy so that they could be married. Rick and Linda have now been married for 40 years with three children and five grand children.
Rick earned his Civil Engineering degree at Tennessee Technological University, where he graduated first in his class in 1969. After moving his family to Arizona in 1977, he earned an MBA in Management at ASU in 1986.
Rick loves renewable and solar energy, but he doesn’t think this should be used as an excuse to raise your electric rates. He is opposed to the Renewable Energy Tariff.
Rick wants to follow through on legislation that gives the ACC the authority to end the monopoly system in the electric power industry in this state. He wants to give every customer two or three or more choices for their electric service provider. He believes competition is the best way to hold down electric rates.
Rick stands for small government and personal freedoms.
Rick clearly has the qualifications to serve on the Corporation Commission. He will bring an engineering background
Public Utilities Regulation The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is responsible for regulating companies in the electric power, natural gas, and telecommunications industries. The commission also regulates private water companies. Renewable Energy The ACC has recently voted to require that electric utility companies generate at least 15% of their energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar, or geothermal by the year 2025 - the so-called "Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff." I believe this will have a disastrous effect on the cost of electricity for Arizonans in the future. The mandate for a specific amount of "alternate fuel" generation will cause an un-natural increase in demand for these systems and will likely result in much higher costs than would have occurred in a normal market without government intervention. The mandate will also require additional costs for the utility companies to demonstrate compliance, and more manpower will be required by the ACC to verify compliance. Electrical power generated by these alternate methods is already more costly than the more conventional methods currently being used. With the government influence in the market place this discrepancy is likely to escalate. The result of all of this nonsense will be dramatically higher electrical costs for the average rate payer. The current commissioners have betrayed the ratepayers that they claim to be protecting. If elected, one of my highest priorities will be to call for a vote to eliminate this "Alternate Fuels" regulation. I would work toward replacing the current regulation with a schedule of tax reduction incentives for the utility companies, tied to the level of alternate fuels generation they are able to achieve. I believe this to be a more sensible approach in encouraging an increase in the utilization of alternate fuels, while at the same time protecting rate payer's best interests. Electrical Power Competition - end the monopoly system If elected I will also work to see that the ACC expand the boundaries for every electric utility company in the state so that they overlap. We need to assure that every customer has at least three or more options for an electrical service provider. This is the best way to assure a reliable supply of electrical power at the most efficient prices. The primary responsibility for maintaining the distribution network in each area would remain with the company that currently has the "monopoly" status in that area. The other utility companies sharing the network would have over sight on network serviceability issues and share in maintenance costs based on usage and customer loads. As an incentive to get the electric utilities to cooperate in this new arrangement, I would propose legislation providing that as long as their customers have three or more legitimate choices for electrical services, the companies would not have to come before the commission in order to raise rates. Rates for electrical service should be controlled by free market competition rather than regulators on the Corporation Commission. Corporations The ACC regulates all corporations in the state. It is responsible for granting corporate status for companies that want to start up new businesses in Arizona. It also approves articles of organization for new limited liability companies. In Arizona these processes routinely take months, from submittal of the necessary documents until the ACC grants approval. These same approvals take only days in some other states. It is vital that the ACC find ways to expedite the licensing process for new businesses. I have an MBA in business management and experience in the private sector as a manager. If elected, I will use this experience to look for ways to eliminate unnecessary licensing procedures and to streamline the process so that it will be easier for new businesses to do business in Arizona. Securities The ACC serves to ensure the integrity of the securities marketplace in Arizona, protecting the public from investment scams and securities fraud. Although I do not have a Securities License, I do have some training in this field. With my MBA training, my experience as a vice president for engineering firms, my experience as president of my own company, and my experience as an investor in various types of securities, I am the best qualified candidate to carry out these Corporation Commission responsibilities. Railroad and Pipeline Safety The ACC ensures safe operations of railroads and gas pipelines in Arizona. I have personal experience as a structural engineer, designing railroad and pipeline structures and facilities, including rail spur lines and oil storage structures for the electrical power industry. I have a "nuts and bolts" understanding of these industries that my opponents in this election cannot match. This experience and knowledge makes me the best qualified candidate to fulfill these ACC duties and responsibilities. Candidate Qualifications I have personal experience as a consulting structural engineer in the electric power, water resources, and telecommunications industries. I believe I am the best qualified candidate to make the proper decisions necessary for helping the ACC to carry out it's responsibility in regulating public utility companies.
Vote for RICK FOWLKES for Corporation Commission. |
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Paid for by the Rick Fowlkes 4 ACC Committee |
and business experience that others cannot. But more important than his knowledge and experience, Rick will add his Libertarian Libertarian convictions that THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS LESS GOVERNMENT. Rick will work to eliminate government waste and to make it easier for businesses to do business in Arizona.
