We continue working to limit exposure to the virus and to help slow its spread following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization and any protocols put in place in states and areas where we operate. These are some of the measures we have taken:

• The company is actively participating with industry groups, including Edison Electric Institute, and the Arizona Emergency Operations Center to coordinate, share learnings and emerging best practices, and advocate on behalf of our stakeholders in response processes. We are also participating in Arizona Corporation Commission activities centered on COVID-19, including the special open meeting that was held to discuss utilities’ preparedness plans.
• We have implemented rigorous hygiene measures and strict social distancing. All employees who do not have a critical need to be at company facilities must work remotely. Those whose jobs are essential to grid and power plant operations and can only be performed on-site are taking measures to maintain physical distancing.
• We’re maintaining a COVID-19 online resource center for our employees and implemented an employee hotline, providing guidance should employees experience virus symptoms or be presumed positive for the virus.
• We have identified business-critical positions in both our operations and support organizations and identified backup personnel who can provide support if needed to maintain operations with a reduced workforce.
• We have increased monitoring of our supply markets and impacts to the supply chain. Our suppliers are largely domestic, but we leverage a global supply chain, ensuring multiple sources of supply for vital materials. We currently do not foresee critical shortages that would impact our ability to serve our customers’ needs.
• We have canceled all work-related travel, including travel between company facilities without special permission and critical business need.
• We have extremely limited visitor access to our sites.
• Cyber criminals are trying to exploit the current fear and uncertainty, so we are providing employees with tips to help them recognize and avoid scams.

To date, the company has committed more than $15 million to assist customers and communities with the impacts of COVID-19. To assist APS customers impacted by COVID-19, that subsidiary has taken the following actions:

• We suspended shutting off power to customers for non-payment in mid-March. In mid-September, we extended that hold on disconnects through the end of 2020.
• We are waiving late fees.
• We set up a Customer Support Fund for those who needed assistance paying their bill in 2020. Both residential and small-business customers who were past due on their APS bill qualified for the fund if they had unexpected loss of income, higher medical or childcare expenses, or other financial hardship created by the COVID-19 virus.
• We wrote to customers letting them know what we are doing for them in this time of uncertainty.
• With many customers working from home or home with kids at this time, we provided tips that can help them save on their bill.
• We set up extended payment plans for customers with past due balances, giving them more time to bring their accounts current.

While this situation continues to evolve, our focus will remain on keeping our employees safe, and keeping the power on for APS customers and the communities we serve.