Arizona Public Service (APS) has announced new measures to support Arizona families facing financial challenges amid ongoing disruptions with federal assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a continued federal government shutdown.
To address increased demand at food banks, APS is donating $1 million to Arizona’s four regional food banks—Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, St. Mary’s Food Bank, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank—and the Arizona Foodbank Network. The funding comes from Pinnacle West shareholder contributions and not from customer rates. APS employees are also volunteering at local food banks and have been encouraged to donate non-perishable items through an internal campaign.
“APS is dedicated to supporting our customers and communities, especially during challenging times,” said Stacy Derstine, APS Vice President for External Affairs. “By partnering with Arizona’s regional food banks and encouraging employee engagement, we hope to help families put food on the table and bring hope as the holidays approach.”
“We recognize many Arizonans are facing new challenges and may need support for the first time. If you’re an APS customer struggling with your energy bill, please reach out to us. We offer many ways to help you through these times, from monthly bill discounts and crisis bill assistance to flexible payment arrangements and bill management options,” said Monica Whiting, APS Vice President for Customer Experience and Communications.
In October, APS announced an additional $3 million in grants for nonprofit agencies providing resources such as utility bill assistance (through APS CARE and Crisis Bill Assistance), air conditioner repair or replacement, and housing support. These funds aim to ensure that money is available for customers in need.
The company’s Energy Support program offers qualified customers monthly discounts of up to 25% or 60% on their energy bills based on income level—the largest limited-income discount in Arizona. Customers enrolled in SNAP can qualify by applying online using their SNAP EBT card or income information.
For those needing more time to pay bills, APS provides flexible payment arrangements that allow outstanding balances to be distributed over a set period.
Additional programs include:
– APS CARE (formerly Project SHARE): Offers up to $500 in emergency bill assistance regardless of income; administered by The Salvation Army.
– Crisis Bill Assistance: Provides up to $1,000 per year for qualifying customers facing temporary financial hardship.
– Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A government program helping eligible households pay heating and cooling bills.
– Customers can dial 211 for connections to local community resources.
APS also encourages customers to use tools such as the Monthly Plan Comparison at aps.com/compare or via their printed bills or online accounts. This feature helps users determine which rate plan would have saved them money based on past usage patterns.
Budget Billing is available at aps.com/budgetbilling for those who want consistent payments throughout the year rather than seasonal fluctuations. Customers can also select their own due date or sign up for alerts about energy use, billing amounts, or outages.
Programs like Safety Net allow designated partners to receive copies of monthly bills and notifications about past-due payments; Guest Roles let friends or family manage a customer’s account online if needed.
For more information about any of these programs or services—or help enrolling—customers can call (602) 371-7171 or (800) 253-9405 at any time in English or Spanish.
