Arizona’s largest electric company approved a $1 million donation to help support the 2015 Super Bowl in Glendale.
By a 14 to 1 vote, Salt River Project board members passed the proposal Monday morning.
The donation will go to the Super Bowl Host Committee which raises money from local businesses to help put on the game.
SRP will give $225,000 in cash, but the majority of the donation will be in services rather than an actual dollar amount.
SRP will provide $200,000 worth of electricity generated by solar power for the Super Bowl.
Mark Bonsall, SRP’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, called it a smart business move.
“It is not only the right thing to do, I think this proposal is a good business proposition for SRP and its customers as well,” said Bonsall.
Angry customers tried to convince board members to vote against the idea after the utility company raised rates in November.
DonMey posted at 4:49 pm on Tue, Jan 8, 2013.
"Smart business move" implies you are a business; you know, have to attract customers, convince them your product is worthwhile, and beat out your competitors. When you are a utility/monopoly, this does absolutely nothing, as customers need your service, and you're the only one who is allowed to provide it.
Raising rates just a few months ago, and then claiming you can afford to give away a million dollars? Ridiculous. And a perfect example of why monopolies end up as stagnant, unresponsive entities, as opposed to customer-oriented, dynamic, competitive business models.
kcdelmoe posted at 12:14 am on Wed, Jan 9, 2013.
Not surprising at all, just after raising rates. I wish I could get my electricity from anywhere other than srp.
SRP Sucks Real Pathetically!!!
Suelee posted at 4:07 am on Wed, Jan 9, 2013.
The Corporation Commission should demand that SRP rebate the $1million back to the customers since this was obviously surplus funds that SRP stumbled across somewhere. Otherwise, why would they have had to raise rates a few months ago if they had a spare $1million laying around.
wdgnas posted at 5:21 am on Wed, Jan 9, 2013.
The donation will go to the Super Bowl Host Committee which raises money from local businesses to help put on the game.
weren't the stadiums, ball parks and arenas supposed to generate revenue?