APS announces assistance for middle-income families

PHOENIX – Arizonans earning average wages may be eligible for as much as $640 or more in assistance to pay their Arizona Public Service (APS) bills through a state program called Power AZ, while funding lasts.

The temporary program is an initiative from Gov. Katie Hobbs administered by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). It is unique because most bill-assistance programs are available only to families who are earning less than average income, while Power AZ is available to families earning median wages.

Who is eligible for Power AZ?

Single people living alone can earn about $4,890 a month and still qualify for assistance under the state’s guidelines, while a family of four with monthly income of about $9,400 can qualify.

“Power AZ is designed for people who historically have not been able to take advantage of such programs and can help those who are experiencing new, unexpected hardships,” said Danielle Evans, Chief Customer Officer for APS. “Many people may not realize they meet the eligibility requirements because they think they earn too much for bill assistance, but those are precisely the customers this program was created for.”

The benefit amount is as much as $640 per year for those who qualify. People facing a crisis may be eligible for an additional $500 in one-time support. The funds are available for a limited time, and may expire in September. Customers can apply for Power AZ at the DES website.

The online application also automatically screens eligibility for the long-standing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that is designed to help households with income at or below 60% of the state median income, or 150% of federal poverty guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility in either program. Customers can only get assistance through one of the programs in a 12-month period. 

APS Customer Assistance and Support

In addition to Power AZ, APS offers customers a variety of ways to manage their bills:

• Energy Support Program: Customers may qualify for monthly discounts of up to 25% or 60% on their energy bills based on income.  Visit aps.com/assist.
• Crisis Bill Assistance: Customers facing temporary financial hardships, like a sudden reduction in income or unplanned major expense, may qualify for up to $1,000 per year in bill assistance based on income. This support is available through APS and our nonprofit partners. Customers can start the process by visiting aps.com/assistance or calling APS.
• APS CARE (Crisis Assistance Relief Effort): Customers can receive up to $500 in bill assistance in partnership with The Salvation Army, regardless of income. Visit aps.com/care.

• Flexible payment arrangements: An option for those who need more time to pay their balance. Visit aps.com/arrangement.
• Preferred due dates are available for customers to select the date they’d prefer to pay their bill each month, aligning better with their schedule.
• Safety Net: Friends and family can be designated to receive a copy of a customer’s bill to keep an eye on the account and ensure their loved one does not fall behind on payments. Enrollment is available through the customer’s online account or by phone. Visit aps.com/safetynet.
• Guest Roles: Customers can authorize someone they trust to have access to or help manage their APS account online to understand how they are using energy, manage their rate plan and make sure they don’t miss any payments. This can be set up through the customer’s APS.com account dashboard.
• Budget Billing can help take out the seasonal swings of summer billing by leveling payments throughout the year. This makes it easy for customers to know what their APS bill will be every month. Visit aps.com/budgetbilling.

APS serves 1.5 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties and is a leader in safely delivering reliable, affordable electricity in the Southwest. APS maintains a diverse range of energy resources, including nuclear from the Palo Verde Generating Station, natural gas, coal, solar, wind and energy storage – a mix that’s about 58% clean. With 140 years of experience serving Arizona, APS is the main subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).