PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has called for immediate federal intervention to resolve ongoing electric service reliability issues at the San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP), which serves approximately 13,000 customers. In a letter addressed to Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Darryl LaCounte, and BIA Regional Director Jessie Durham, Attorney General Mayes highlighted recent service disruptions, including a significant outage on August 13, 2024.
“The Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs must take immediate action to address these service interruptions,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Reliable electricity is critical, especially for the health and safety of SCIP’s customers during the extreme summer heat. The ongoing outages pose severe risks to the lives of those dependent on this service.”
The letter points to SCIP’s failure to provide consistent and affordable power, with frequent outages and elevated electricity bills impacting vulnerable customers, many of whom are exposed to extreme heat. The Attorney General expressed concern over SCIP’s management and urged the BIA to accelerate plans for potential asset transfers to other electric utilities.
Attorney General Mayes called for immediate relief measures, including funding for cooling centers and ice giveaways, bill credits to prevent service disconnections, and expedited funding for system improvements to enhance reliability.
The Attorney General has requested a formal response from the Bureau of Indian Affairs within two weeks, outlining their proposed actions to address the critical issues facing SCIP’s customers.
