APS operates a large number of facilities located throughout Arizona and in the Farmington, New Mexico area that generate, transmit and distribute electricity to our customers. One of our highest priorities is to construct and operate these facilities in a safe, sustainable and environmentally conscious manner, protecting our land and our wildlife. 

APS' infrastructure "Footprint"

Power Plants

Facility	Acres
Cholla	7,624 owned,  9,052 leased
Palo Verde	4,287 owned
4-Corners	3,486 owned
Redhawk	1,874 owned
Saguaro	974 owned
Sundance	310 owned
West Phoenix	141 owned
Ocotillo	126 owned
Yucca	38 owned
Douglas	6 owned
Total Acres	27,917

Transmission and Distribution
Transmission lines are the power lines that bring electricity from power plants to substations in customer areas, where the voltage is lowered. Distribution lines carry electricity at lower voltages and go from substations to transformers near homes and businesses. The transformers, often located on power poles, decrease the voltage lower still so it can be used by appliances in homes or businesses.

Transmission Lines: The company owns and operates a total of 5,121miles of transmission lines

• 69kV: Overhead: 2,416 miles, Underground: 25 miles
• 115kV and larger: Overhead: 2,663, Underground: 18
• Number of Transmission Substations: 5

While the majority of APS’ customers reside in the metropolitan Phoenix area, we serve a large portion of the rest of Arizona, which is largely rural. APS averages 23 customers per square mile of service territory.

Office and Support Facilities
At the end of 2005, PNW owned or leased 106 facilities to support our operations, with a total of 1,558,073 square feet of building space. This included 18 APS Service Centers and 32 APS Customer Service Business Offices located across Arizona.

Transmission and Distribution Line Siting
APS conducts extensive environmental reviews for siting new transmission and distribution systems. For new power lines rated at greater than 115 kilovolts (kV), the Arizona Corporation Commission requires a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) to be issued prior to construction. APS conducts a thorough siting process covering a broad range of environmental issues and factors including, land use, cultural resources, biological resources and habitat studies for rare and endangered species. 

APS also conducts a multi-faceted public process which consists of direct mailings, open houses,  newspaper advertising and multiple jurisdictional, governmental and public meetings. APS also maintains a Transmission and Facility Siting website that providing ongoing information about siting projects to the public.

Beyond the regulatory programs, APS has a voluntary siting process for new transmission lines that are less than 115kV and are not required to follow the state process. This voluntary process is much like the CEC process where numerous environmental factors are evaluated and the public participation process seeks to communicate transmission line siting information to local citizenry to obtain their input. This allows APS to site transmission lines in the most sustainable manner that meets project requirements.

 Learn more about our

• Wildlife Protection Programs
• APS Forestry Program
• Decommissioning of the Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Power Plants.