Arizona regulators laud largest utilities for successfully meeting higher electricity demands

Arizona’s regulated utilities continue to meet challenging electricity demands without interruption during the current summer sizzle, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) reported on July 12.

“Hotter temperatures and monsoon winds put even more pressure on our electric grid, as we demand increasing amounts of power each year from our utilities,” said ACC Chairman Jim O’Connor. “Thankfully, Arizona has top-notch utilities with dedicated employees that coordinate to keep our power reliable across our state.”

This year, utilities anticipated an even higher electricity demand than last year’s record highs, according to the ACC, which reported that already this summer, Arizona Public Service (APS), SRP, and Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services (TEP/UNS) have reported higher demand compared to last year. 

APS, which serves approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, on July 8 reported its highest peak demand to date of 8,100 megawatts (MW), compared to a record high in 2023 of 8,200 MW.

SRP, the community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area serving 1.1 million customers, on July 8, reported its highest peak demand to date of 8,087 MW, compared to a record high in 2023 of 8,163 MW.

Meanwhile, TEP/UNS, which together provide electric service to more than 546,000 customers in the state, on July 8 reported its highest peak demand to date of 2,917 MW, compared to a record high in 2023 of 2,969 MW.

The ACC also reported that the three utilities assured the commission in April that they were prepared to produce a combined total of more than 23,000 gigawatts (GW) of electricity to meet daily summer demands.

Currently, these three utilities are producing power from diverse sources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, steam, solar, battery, wind, hydroelectric, and storage facilities, and they invest in short-term purchases, according to the ACC.

To help reduce demand during peak hours, the ACC also encouraged Arizonans to be mindful of their usage.

“Each of us can continue to do our part to lessen the demands on our power grid during critical times of the day, especially between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., by turning up our thermostats an additional degree or two and delaying the use of our major appliances or charging vehicles until the later evening or early morning hours,” said O’Connor.