Tucson, Ariz. – The City of Tucson and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) have reached a major milestone in efforts to advance Tucson’s clean energy and climate goals with the development of a proposed Energy Collaboration Agreement (ECA), the result of more than a year of partnership, community engagement, and leadership from Mayor and Council. This agreement is now ready for public review, and several engagement opportunities have been scheduled.
City staff and TEP have been working together for more than a year to develop the agreement, which is designed to support implementation of Tucson Resilient Together, the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
If approved, the ECA would be the first agreement of its kind in Arizona and among only a small number of similar city–utility climate collaboration agreements in the country. The agreement establishes a framework for how the City and TEP can work together to advance shared priorities including clean energy expansion, resilience hubs, energy efficiency, workforce development, and community engagement.
Importantly, the agreement would also create a dedicated funding source to help implement Tucson Resilient Together and other community-identified climate priorities. These investments are intended to support projects that strengthen community resilience, expand access to clean energy, and ensure Tucson’s energy future is more affordable and equitable.
City leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects the voices of Tucson residents. Over the past year, the City conducted multiple rounds of public engagement where residents, community organizations, and stakeholders shared recommendations about Tucson’s energy future. Many of those ideas helped shape the proposed agreement.
“After more than a year of engaging the community through energy townhalls, and virtual feedback, we are bringing forward a path that reflects the voices and priorities of Tucsonans.” Said Mayor Romero.
“Residents, businesses, and community advocates have helped shape this conversation. Their input has been essential in guiding how we think about our energy future and the role our city can play. Together, we are moving toward solutions that strengthen reliability, affordability, and sustainability for our community. The City of Tucson will be the first city in Arizona with a parallel Franchise Agreement and Energy Collaboration Agreement geared to move our climate goals forward.”
The ECA would take effect on the effective date of a new, voter-approved 25-year franchise agreement between the City and TEP. That agreement, which sets rules for TEP’s use of the city’s public rights of way, would update and extend the current franchise. Next month, the Mayor and Council will consider adding the proposed franchise agreement to the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
“These new agreements will extend TEP’s longtime partnership with the City of Tucson in service to our community,” said Susan Gray, TEP Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to working together in support of the city’s energy-related goals and TEP’s continuing role in providing affordable, reliable energy to city residents and businesses.”
As a final step before the agreement is considered by Mayor and Council, the City of Tucson and TEP will host three public meetings to review the proposed ECA and gather additional community feedback.
Public Meeting Schedule
- In-Person Meeting: Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., at TEP Headquarters, 88 E. Broadway. Those who wish to participate should RSVP online through a link at https://www.tep.com/energy-collaboration-agreement/
- Virtual Meeting #1: Wednesday, March 11, 12 p.m. Teams link here.
- Virtual Meeting #2: Wednesday, March 11, 5:30 p.m. Teams link here.
Each meeting will include an overview of the proposed agreement, how community feedback helped shape it, and what it could mean for Tucson’s energy future. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. Following these public meetings, the Tucson Mayor and Council have scheduled a Study Session to discuss these items for March 17, 2026.
The draft Energy Collaboration Agreement is available for public review on TEP’s website. The proposed franchise agreement also is available for review on TEP’s website. Both documents are also available on the City of Tucson’s website at tucsonaz.gov.
Together, the City of Tucson and TEP say the agreement represents an important step toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Tucson.
News Media Contact:Joseph Barrios(520) 884-3725jbarrios@tep.com
