Arizona regulators find APS didn’t violate rules in power shut-off case

PHOENIX — Arizona utility regulators say there is no evidence APS violated policies when a Sun City West woman’s power was shut off last May, contributing to her death.

Kate Korman, 82, died in her home in May 2024 when the temperatures outside hovered around 100 degrees.

APS shut off her power after she fell behind more than $500 on her bill.

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A spokesperson for the Arizona Corporation Commission said Thursday the commission’s staff thoroughly evaluated the events that led up to Korman’s power being shut off and 1.) APS followed the rules for termination of service 2.) no violations of the Commission’s rules occurred

The Commission has not released records showing why its staff came to those conclusions. 12News has requested those records.

Korman’s family members, who have questioned both APS’ actions and the Commission’s handling of the matter, want to know if the Commission’s inquiry into the shut-off evaluated the autopay system Korman had with APS.

They published a timeline of their mother’s death that shows there was a problem with the autopay system the previous year and appeared to be the same problem in 2024.

“She had the money to pay and we believe she simply did not know,” Jonathan Korman said. “We believe the messages APS sent were inadequate. They did not reach her. Which is why they cut her off.”

APS told 12News they communicated to Korman ten times through various ways about nonpayment, including through notices on her bills, by phone, and a flyer on her doorstep.

Jonathan Korman shared those bills. The February and March bills did not include a “past due notice” like the April bill. Korman said the Commission told him APS made a phone call using an automated phone system on May 1st.

“Our mother’s APS account shows two phone numbers to her with 202 and 703 area codes. Those are old numbers she must have used when first getting set up,” he said.

Korman’s death also highlights what heat victim advocates say is a flaw in state policy. It prevents APS from shutting off someone’s power based on dates, not based on the temperature outside.

The shut off moratorium starts June 1. Korman’s power was shut off in mid-May when the temperature was 99 and reached over a hundred in the days that followed.

“If they obeyed the rules that killed my mother then the rules are wrong. That’s not the end, that’s the beginning,” Korman said.

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