APS: New plan addresses customers’ increasing energy needs
On Thursday, Arizona Public Service announced it had filed a plan with the Arizona Corporation Commission to address energy needs for the next 15 years.
The 2023 APS Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) includes strategic planning intended to provide customers with reliable energy and what investments are necessary to address those needs. Working with its Resource Planning Advisory Council (RPAC), APS said it held meetings and workshops over the last year to estimate what those needs will be and how the company can best meet them.
“Our state is growing rapidly and when we think about how important reliable power is for customers, and especially considering the unique challenges Arizona’s summers bring, it’s critical we plan years in advance,” said Jacob Tetlow, APS Executive Vice President of Operations. “Our team has worked collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders to develop the 2023 IRP and find pathways to continue to provide top-tier reliability, while maintaining affordable rates, for our customers well into the future.”
APS said it estimates that by the end of 2027, its customers will need about 11,350 MW, and that by the end of 2031, its customers will require more than 13,000 MW and that peak demand will grow by about 40 percent. Toward the end of the decade, the amount of electricity will grow to more than 14, 820 MW the company said.
To meet the need, while meeting 100 percent clean and carbon-free goals by 2050, the company plans to invest in more than 6,000 MW of solar and wind power, coupled with battery storage, to provide long-term value and affordability. The company said it plans to exit coal-fired electricity generation by 2031. During the transition, APS said it will use flexible natural gas resources that can ramp up quickly during peak periods and make use of existing infrastructure.
