12News AZ
Covering the AZ Attorney General calling for the Arizona Corporation Commission to finally investigate my mother’s death, a year later. I have a page about the AG letter on this site; one can also read the full letter. Given the callousness of the ACC Commissioner I have interacted with, I am unsurprised by reporting saying that the ACC will only investigate the process of APS’ decision to cut off her power, which killed her. — Jonathan
Arizona AG calls for public investigation into heat death
On the day Kate Korman’s power was turned off, it was 99 degrees. Over the next five days, it hit 102 degrees.
Author: Kyra O’Connor, Joe Dana
Published: 7:23 PM PDT May 6, 2025 Updated: 2:49 PM PDT May 7, 2025
PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General is asking utility regulators to open a public investigation into the death of an elderly woman whose power was shut off in her home.
12News first reported the death of 82-year-old Kate Korman of Sun City West back in April. Korman was found dead inside her home on May 19, 2024. A medical examiner’s report states that Korman's utility, APS, turned off her power six days earlier, on May 13.
APS told 12News that Korman stopped paying her bills after January 2024.
Commission Vice Chair Nick Myers said after the 12News story aired that he personally reviewed the case, and he said APS is not to blame. But the Medical Examiner ruled heat was a contributing factor.
The medical examiner's report concludes the underlying "cause of death" was complications of chronic alcohol use and the "manner of death" was an accident caused by "exposure to elevated temperatures." Heart disease is also listed as a contributing factor.
“Given the public importance of heat issues in Arizona… the Commission and APS have an excellent opportunity to set the record straight… and to inform much-needed updates to the Commission’s disconnection rules," Mayes said in her letter.
Kate Korman's son, Jonathan Korman, said he began speaking about his mother's death because he learned she was one of many people "Arizona utilities killed by cutting them off in deadly heat."
"Arizona Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers’ callous public comments showed literally deadly refusal of institutional responsibility," Jonathan Korman said to 12News in a statement. "The Attorney General's investigation gives me hope that uncovering the policies, processes, and decisions which killed my mother will compel change which saves lives.”
The public information officer for the Arizona Corporation Commission sent an updated statement to 12News the day after this story aired.
“The Commission received two inquiries: one from Adam Korman on May 1, 2025, and one from Jonathan Korman on May 2, 2025.
The Commission Utilities Division is now looking into the disconnection procedures related to the May 2024 death of their mother, Kate Korman. This is an ongoing disconnection inquiry, and the Commission is in the process of reviewing the events that led up to the termination of service, as we would for any inquiry initiated by a customer.
The Commission’s inquiry is limited to the disconnection of power, the Commission does not investigate deaths.”
The public information officer's original statement said:
"The Commission was just made aware of a letter purportedly from the Attorney General, however, the Commission has not received it so far. At this time, we are not able to provide a comment."
