Proposition 412 would maintain current franchise fees while increasing city residents’ TEP bills by an average of about $1 per month through a new fee, the “Community Restoration Fee.”

Proposition 412 was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent, with 129 of the 144 districts filing notices, preliminary results from the City Clerk’s Office Tuesday night showed.

A total of 62,796 votes were cast.

Within an hour of the initial election results, the TEP said in a prepared statement that it was disappointed voters had lost “Proposition 412, which offered a cooperative response to critical energy-related issues.”

TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said Tuesday evening that TEP is working with local residents and stakeholders to identify the best routes for transmission lines to meet the growing energy demand in central Tucson, and to deploy the new 138. announced that it would resume development of kilovolt transmission lines.

The company announced it is resuming consideration of a potential route for the project through downtown Tucson. “This line is urgently needed to maintain reliable service, so we aim to complete it by the summer of 2027, which we hoped to achieve should Prop 412 pass. The schedule is the same,” the company said, adding that details will be provided soon to local residents.

City official Suzanne Messick said final results are expected to be announced by Monday, and the mayor and city council will meet on May 23 to discuss the results of the election.

New 25-year franchise agreement will fund planned underground installation of high-voltage power lines from South Kino Parkway and East 36th Street to West Grant Road and Interstate 10 As such, it was endorsed by TEP, city leaders, and neighborhood activists.

Residents of the historic district argue that the 110-foot-tall overhead lines and poles will detract from the landscape and damage property values, while city officials say TEP’s plans are designed to reduce the number of designated scenic spots and gateways in Tucson. It said it violated an ordinance banning overhead power lines in corridors.

TEP said going underground for this project would be too costly (roughly 13 times the cost of an overhead line, or about $60 million to bury six miles of track) and would be financed through state-regulated toll increases. objected to doing so.

As TEP’s city franchise agreement expires in 2026, city leaders will primarily cover the cost of undergrounding transmission lines for the first decade, allowing a portion of the proceeds to go toward building the lines. Negotiated a new contract with TEP, including new tariffs. The city’s climate mitigation efforts.

TEP said a new line is urgently needed to accommodate the increased load along this route across the University of Arizona campus into the midtown area.

The new franchise agreement was supported by TEP, Mayor Regina Romero, and most of the City Council, as well as the Tucson Metro Chamber, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and the Sun Corridor.

Other supporters include the Sam Hughes Neighborhood Association. About a dozen neighborhood associations are included on the steering committee of the Underground Coalition, a political action committee funded by TEP shareholders and registered with the city, according to Yes On 412.

However, Proposition 412 faced criticism from various opponents for various reasons.

City Councilman Steve Kozachik is in favor of putting the bill on the ballot, but rather than simply relying on fees from toll payers, TEP will invest its own resources to help advance Tucson’s climate change goals. He said some of the money should be put in.

While Pima County Republicans said they oppose any funding for the city’s climate change efforts, some environmental activists say the proposed new franchise deal would extend TEP’s commitment to carbon-free renewable energy. He argued that it wasn’t enough to encourage an early transition.

The only apparent organized opponent of franchise agreements is Prop 412 Fact, a non-profit voter education group that supports conservative, free-market values, founded by the Phoenix-based Strong Community Foundation of Arizona. was a group called

Other opponents argued that TEP shareholders should bear at least some of the additional costs of moving new transmission lines underground.

TEP originally applied to the State Power Plant and Transmission Line Location Board in August 2021 for approval of the transmission line route. The commission will hold public hearings and recommend to the Arizona Commission of Corporations whether to approve the power plant site or transmission line route.

But after TEP came under fire from city councilors for trying to ignore city ordinances, the company withdrew its application in February 2022, giving it more time to negotiate with the city.