Arizona Public Service to lower bills by more than $3

Arizona Public Service (APS) officials said the utility’s residential customers should soon expect lower bills of more than $3 on average.

APS customers would begin experiencing the savings this month as a result of more sales of electricity to other western states via an innovative energy trading program; lower operating costs at APS power plants due to cheaper fuel prices; and being paid to take excess solar generation from California.

“We are always looking for ways to keep our product affordable, as well as safe, clean and reliable,” Stacy Derstine, APS vice president of Customer Service, said. “That’s how for 20 years APS rates have stayed below the rate of inflation. We pass savings on to customers when our costs to serve them come down.”

APS has one of the country’s cleanest energy portfolios, including both the Palo Verde Generating Station and renewable energy. The company is also a proven leader in introducing technology and services that offer customers choice and control over their energy consumption. There are also initiatives designed to help with payments.

“Although APS continues to work to make power affordable, we know some of our customers may still need assistance to pay their electricity bill and offering them help is the right thing to do,” Derstine said. “For example, our Energy Support Program offers a 25 percent monthly discount that can make a big difference for customers who qualify.”