At Wednesday’s Debate, Listen for the Part When Biggs and Schweikert Promise to Lower Arizonans’ Electricity Bills

PHOENIX — On Wednesday night, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert will debate and make their case to be governor of Arizona. At some point, they will say something about energy costs and affordability and fighting for Arizona families.

When they do, remember that they already had their chance. Twice.

In August 2022, both members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation voted no on the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest clean energy investment in American history. The law expanded solar and wind development, cut electricity costs, and created more than 18,000 jobs and nearly $12 billion in investments across Arizona.

Then, in 2025, Biggs voted for HR1 — the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) — which gutted what remained of those clean energy investments to pay for tax cuts. (Schweikert missed the vote, but later said he would’ve voted for it.) This summer, Arizona families are paying for those choices (and missed votes). 

Arizona, in fact, is now one of the 10 states most impacted by Trump’s war on clean energy, with seven clean energy projects canceled or delayed, more than 8,900 clean energy jobs lost, and more than $3.6 billion in lost or stalled clean energy investment. 

What does this mean in practical terms for Arizona families? A new analysis from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects Arizona households will spend $1,060 on electricity between June and September — up nearly 14 percent from last year, the highest of any state in the nation.

And when they try to blame the sitting governor, remember that utility rates are up 16% nationwide since they took power — every state in the country is coping with what Schweikert, Biggs and Congressional Republicans inflicted on them.

“When Biggs and Schweikert talk about affordable energy in this debate, voters should ask themselves why it took them running for governor to suddenly care,” said Diali Avila, Climate Power Arizona Director. “They had the power to act and they made everything worse. They chose Trump over Arizona families.”

Because Trump’s OBBBA repealed clean energy tax credits and key pollution protections, Arizonans’ annual total energy bills are now expected to increase by another $140 by 2030. Meanwhile, roughly 1 in 6 U.S. households is behind on energy bills. When the cost of staying cool rises faster than wages, that stops being a policy debate. It becomes a matter of survival.

The GOP gubernatorial debate streams live Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. on the Arizona Clean Elections YouTube channel. The Republican primary is July 21, 2026.

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