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The solar industry has commenced another round of spending on the race for Arizona’s public utilities commission.

Since Friday, about $140,000 has gone toward mailers supporting Republican and current Arizona Corporation Commissioner Bob Burns and former commissioner Bill Mundell, who’s running as a Democrat.

The money comes from the independent expenditure committee Save Our AZ Solar, which receives funding from national solar leasing company Solar City.

Kris Mayes, who heads the political committee, said they believe Mundell and Burns are candidates who will protect consumers from unfair rate changes.

“We also believe that they will work to ensure that we preserve ten thousand solar jobs in our state and that we make sure solar energy remains a fundamental part of our economy,” Mayes told KJZZ on Tuesday.  

Up till now, Bob Burns has been the only candidate to receive significant financial support from outside groups — nearly $700,000 from Save Our AZ Solar before the primary. Burns has led the fight to force Arizona Public Service (APS) to disclose whether it was behind $3.2 million in "dark money" spending on commission races in 2014.

APS recently sued Burns after he subpoenaed the utility and its parent company Pinnacle West, demanding records of its political spending over the past five years. Burns has said he would prefer utilities and the solar industry stay out of this election, but ultimately he has no control over any independent expenditure.

Mayes said they are not going to “telegraph” how they plan to spend money in the coming weeks before the election, but will be transparent about whatever they decide to do.

“We believe there are other very pro-solar candidates in this race including Tom Chabin, and we also think Andy Tobin has said and done things that would indicate he believes in rooftop solar energy, too,” Mayes said.

Mayes did not mention the final candidate in the five-person race, retired superior court judge Boyd Dunn.

According to its campaign finance reporting, Save Our AZ Solar had a cash balance of about $800,000 as of Sept. 19.