The Arizona Corporation Commission made headlines recently as the new CEO of APS’s parent company, Jeff Guldner, made a public apology to customers.

But, while most eyes were on Guldner at that hearing — and certainly most of the attention from news outlets — utility regulators also took a vote that stood in stark contrast to the wishes of both APS and Tucson Electric Power, a vote solar energy advocates hope will mark a lasting shift at the commission. The companies are now required to set 18-year contracts with renewable energy developers — a far cry from the two-year terms APS and TEP had requested.