The Rotary Club of Scottsdale welcomed Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Chairman Bob Burns as key note speaker at the Club's 2020 opening meeting held at Scottsdale's McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Pavilion.  When introducing Mr. Burns, Rotarian Jolene Hale, noted that Mr. Burns, a former Rotarian, currently serves as one of five state-wide ACC elected members. Mr. Burns first term began in January 2013 and he was recently re-elected to a second four-year term that started in January 2017. 

As a Corporation Commissioner, Mr. Burns  oversees the regulation of Arizona’s private water, wastewater, electric, gas and telecommunications companies, as well as, civil enforcement of the Arizona Securities Act, safety inspection of railroads and pipelines and the incorporation of businesses.  During his time at the Commission, Bob has been actively engaged in issues pertaining to emerging technologies in energy. 

For the past 54 years, Mr. Burns has played an role in making Arizona a better place to live, work and play. In 1989, Mr. Burns began his career in public service as an elected State Representative. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Burns was Chairman of Appropriations and served on many committees, including, Health, Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation, and Insurance.

In 2001, Mr. Burns was elected a member of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for overseeing the management of the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile long system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping plants and pipelines, and is the largest single resource of renewable water supplies in the state of Arizona. It is also the largest user of electrical power in Arizona.

In 2003, Mr. Burns was elected to the Arizona State Senate where he served as Chairman of Appropriations (served fourteen years) and on a number of committees, including Rules and Finance.  In 2009, Mr. Burns was elected as President of the Arizona Senate, and served as such until 2010. While serving in the Legislature, Mr. Burns has received many recognitions and awards.  Mr. Burn’s public and community service extends beyond his substantial time in the Legislature. 

During his talk, Mr. Burns addressed a plethora of topics: utility rate setting cases; complaint due processes; utility rate setting tools; individual roles and rights of ACC members; corporation registry and security processes; railroad crossing (i.e. hazard materials); and pipeline safety (i.e. gas leaks); master meter complexities (i.e. apartments and trailer parks); ACC member election perspectives; national organization for regulatory commissions; pending court cases; ACC led studies and reports; various ACC and APS matters; and more.