Arizona Public Service (APS) has announced an expansion of its support for community programs aimed at helping Arizonans with utility bill assistance, air conditioner repairs and replacements, and housing support. The company is granting an additional $3 million from shareholder funds to nonprofit organizations that provide these services.
This initiative is part of APS’s ongoing collaboration with groups such as St. Vincent de Paul, AllThrive 365, Chicanos Por La Causa, the American Red Cross, Maricopa County Human Services, and Wildfire. These partnerships aim to address the growing needs in Arizona following what was recorded as the fourth hottest summer on record in the Phoenix area in 2025.
“We know some of our neighbors are still feeling the strain of another summer of extreme weather,” said Ted Geisler, APS President and CEO. “We are partnering with community nonprofits who can provide critically needed assistance directly to those who need it most. By working together, we can reach more customers to keep them safe and comfortable.”
Tami Bohannon, President & CEO of AllThrive 365, added: “APS’s support comes at a time when the stakes couldn’t be higher. With record-breaking heat and shrinking federal resources, too many Arizonans are facing dangerous conditions without access to safe, reliable cooling. APS’s investment in AllThrive 365’s Healthy Homes AC program helps us respond to this public health emergency — ensuring older adults, families, and individuals with disabilities aren’t left behind.”
The expanded funding includes $2 million for crisis bill assistance through Wildfire, Chicanos Por La Causa, and Maricopa County Human Services. This will allow qualified customers facing temporary financial hardship to receive up to $1,000 toward their energy bills. The program expects to help about 3,200 individuals.
For air conditioning repair and replacement programs targeting low-income homeowners, APS is providing $500,000 through AllThrive 365 and Wildfire. This funding is estimated to assist around 40-45 households across several counties.
The C.O.O.L. Neighborhood Activation Program will receive $60,000 from APS for a pilot project led by Wildfire designed to strengthen community networks so that vulnerable residents can be connected with available assistance before next summer.
Additionally, APS will give $60,000 to the American Red Cross for a heat awareness campaign involving door-to-door outreach efforts that distribute flyers with safety tips and relief kits when necessary.
To help prevent evictions due to unpaid bills or housing crises, St. Vincent de Paul will receive $500,000 from APS—enough funding to assist approximately 400 households or 1,000 individuals.
Since 2021—including this latest contribution—APS has provided a total of $6.1 million for heat relief efforts statewide. Earlier this year in May 2025, APS pledged $1 million for continued operation of 211 Arizona—a round-the-clock resource connecting residents with critical services such as housing support and food assistance.
As the summer disconnection moratorium ends on October 15—a period when past-due bills tend to peak—APS encourages customers needing further help to contact them for flexible payment arrangements or options like selecting a preferred payment date each month.
Customers can also use tools such as Monthly Plan Comparison at aps.com/compare or their printed bill statements to determine if they are on the lowest-cost rate plan based on previous energy usage patterns.
Other available programs include Budget Billing at aps.com/budgetbilling which levels payments throughout the year; tiered monthly discounts through the Energy Support program for qualifying households; Safety Net notifications allowing friends or family members oversight if bills go unpaid; and Guest Roles which permit designated individuals full management access over a customer’s online account.
Enrollment information or further details about crisis bill assistance can be obtained by calling (602) 371-7171 or (800) 253-9405 at any time in English or Spanish.
