Neighbors

Hello Neighbor!

HI, MY NAME IS... Amy Hughes.

I’VE LIVED IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE FOR 25 YEARS AND I LOVE IT

BECAUSE... Of the beauty of the mountains, and the ability to hike, bike, and walk right out the front door. We are so fortunate to live here and raise our children in this beautiful part of the world.

A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE INCLUDES... Working from home gives me the opportunity to have a flexible day so I can design my day anyway I want. I am a Director of Regional Sales for a data center services company based in Dallas, Texas. I am responsible for developing brand new accounts and driving expansion across existing accounts. I travel around the West visiting clients and prospects.

MY FAMILY... My husband Randy and I enjoy outdoor adventures: skiing, hiking, biking, camping and offroading in our Jeep. We will be growing our family soon with the addition of a yellow lab that we plan on naming Dakota. Our children are all grown up and living their best lives.

ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IS... The outdoors and nature and the ability to access so many different terrains here in Arizona, without the long drive. Hiking, biking, and off-roading give us a way to connect that feels authentic and familiar and is an incredibly special gift that our Mother Earth gives us.

MY FAVORITE MOVIE I COULD NEVER GET TIRED OF

WATCHING AND WHY… Pretty Women because it is a great love story and proof that it does not matter where you came from, it is where you are going.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO BE… A vet because I love all animals, especially horses. I hope to own my own horse in the short-term future and enjoy riding and horse camping with my “horse girls.”

THE SONG I WOULD SING AT KARAOKE NIGHT IS…

I would sing “Country Roads,” by John Denver, as it reminds me of my home in Michigan. John Denver is one of my all-time favorite storytellers.

THE ONE PERSON WHO MOTIVATES ME IS… My husband Randy motivates me every day to smile, be nice, and reach for more. He reminds me that I don’t have anything to prove to anyone else other than myself. It all starts with you. Stop searching for validation from other sources and focus inward on yourself. Approval from others isn’t needed, but true love of self is an absolute necessity. Accept and love yourself unconditionally.

THE LAST THING THAT MADE ME LAUGH OUT

LOUD WAS… Watching animals “talk” on Tik Tok. It is addicting and so fun but a big waste of time. THE PERFECT DAY WOULD BE… Sailing on a 42-foot sailboat in the British Virgin Islands. We sailed three times there and it is beautiful. The snorkeling, diving and local fare is so colorful and relaxing.

MY FAVORITE LOCAL NONPROFIT IS… Foothills Animal Rescue Boutique in North Scottsdale as all the items that are donated help to save and support animals in need. The thrift store takes in all donations and sells them to the public so the monies can be put toward animals that need medical attention or adopted.

MY LIFE… Is good, full of joy, hope, and positivity. Nature gives us a large perspective; large enough where all our own versions look small. The version that nature provides helps wipe our worries. Find your nature and find your new perspective.

THE BEST GIFT I’VE EVER RECEIVED WAS… I received a cross necklace from my husband that reminds me to always smile, be grateful, and count your blessings.

MY DREAM VACATION WOULD BE TO… Maui, Hawaii. We are saving up to go there for our 20th anniversary and plan on snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, jumping off waterfalls, and island hopping.

THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED...

Make peace with your broken pieces.

UTILITY COSTS AND BARRIERS TO GOING SOLAR REMOVED BY REGULATORS

Going Solar Is Now Easier and Less Expensive

Whoever said that all good things must come to an end never saw anything like the Arizona solar industry. With generous government subsidies, rapidly improving technology, and plenty of Arizona sunshine, the past decade has been a great time for homeowners to invest in solar power, and the reasons to go solar are about to get even better after some recent policy victories for energy customers go into effect this month. Arizona’s utility regulator, on November 9, issued a litany of ruleshredding orders to one of the state’s largest power companies, resolving a number of longstanding disputes over burdensome restrictions on solar energy. A few of these orders make solar power even more economically beneficial than it already is. Most importantly, the Arizona Corporation Commission ordered

APS to eliminate the “grid-access charge” that it had imposed on owners of home solar systems. This fee, which totaled about $100 a year per household on average, was based on a supposed need to recoup a shortfall in what solar customers contributed to grid maintenance. But after a long debate, the commission found this need to be unsubstantiated and ordered it revoked. Solar-industry companies and their customers are celebrating the removal of this arbitrary financial burden, which promises to enhance the financial returns to an investment in solar. “Arizona got rid of an unjustified and outdated charge that has been a drag on the Arizona solar economy,” said Sara Birmingham, a senior policy director at the Solar Energy Industries Association, in a statement. “We are at a point in our country where we need to focus on deploying more clean energy, and unnecessary utility charges and SSS Horizontal.qxp_Layout 1 11/19/21 3:57 PM Page 1 fees can be a major deterrent to potential solar customers. This change will more fairly recognize the benefits of local solar adoption and we hope we can expand solar accessibility to even more Arizonans. We commend the commission for reversing course on this harmful and discriminatory charge for residential solar customers in Arizona.”

Two other rule revocations lift arbitrary restrictions on the size of customers’ solar systems. APS had previously capped the productive capacity of residents’ systems at 1.5 times their greatest energy demand, which APS calculated on the basis of one hour of peak usage in a year. Another scrapped rule had required customers with systems above a certain KW threshold to buy an expensive new electrical control panel, a mandate with no basis in either technological necessity or the electrical code. This will have the effect of reducing the cost to homeowners of larger system installations by up to $3000.

These rule changes, which are effective this month, promise to make a good deal even better. By creating substantial cost savings, increasing home equity, and insulating homeowners from unpredictable fossilfuel prices, solar power has already proven its ability to enhance Arizonans’ financial security and independence. Now APS customers can maximize their energy freedom with fewer arbitrary restrictions on how much solar energy they can harness or how much financial benefit they can derive from it.

Solar pioneers are winning the fight for forward-thinking energy policy in Arizona. Have you considered taking advantage of the new opportunities that are opening up? If so, contact SunSolar Solutions today at 623-562-9009 to have a design prepared for your home free of charge.

NEW REGULATIONS LOWER SOLAR COST BY UP TO $3000