Arizona Public Service (APS) has announced several measures to assist customers experiencing financial hardship, including those affected by the recent federal government shutdown. The utility company is offering flexible payment arrangements and a range of assistance programs to help customers manage their energy bills.
Earlier this month, APS allocated an additional $3 million to nonprofit agencies that provide essential services such as utility bill assistance, air conditioner repair and replacement, and housing support. According to APS, “These grants will ensure money is available to help customers in need. The support is from Pinnacle West shareholder funding, not money recovered through customer rates.”
Among the programs available is Project SHARE, which will be renamed APS CARE starting November 1. This initiative allows customers to apply for up to $500 in emergency bill assistance regardless of income. The program is administered by The Salvation Army and aims to support those who have lost a paycheck or faced other financial difficulties.
For qualifying customers facing temporary financial challenges, Crisis Bill Assistance offers up to $1,000 per year in payment support for energy bills.
The APS Energy Support program provides tiered monthly discounts based on household income. Eligible customers can receive either a 25% or 60% discount on their monthly energy bills—the largest limited-income customer bill discount in Arizona. Eligibility can be determined using last month’s income, which may benefit those who have recently stopped receiving paychecks.
APS provided an example: “A family of four with a monthly income of $5,358 or less before taxes would qualify for the 25% discount, and those with an income of $2,036 or less would qualify for a 60% discount.”
Additionally, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a government initiative, helps qualified households cover heating and cooling costs.
To help reduce expenses further, APS encourages customers to review their rate plans using the Monthly Plan Comparison tool available online or on printed bills at aps.com/compare. This tool shows how much could have been saved on different plans based on past usage.
Budget Billing is another option that allows payments to be spread evenly throughout the year for easier budgeting (aps.com/budgetbilling). Customers can also select their preferred due date and sign up for alerts about energy use and outages.
APS offers two account management options involving friends or family: Safety Net partners receive copies of monthly bills and notifications about overdue payments; Guest Roles allow designated individuals access to manage accounts online.
Customers interested in any of these programs can contact APS advisors at (602) 371-7171 or (800) 253-9405 at any time in English or Spanish.
