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At APS, we have a long history of supporting the communities where we live and work. And we take our role as a corporate citizen very seriously. Through various programs such as Project SHARE, the Energy Support Program and our Low-Income Weatherization Program, we help customers who are in financial need afford much-needed energy services.
Project SHARE (Service to Help Arizonans with Relief on Energy) is an emergency fund created to help those who find themselves in a financial emergency and are unable to pay their energy bills. It is for those families who face unexpected financial hardships such as unemployment, a death in the family or unexpected medical expenses, and who have exhausted other potential sources of assistance and received a disconnect notice.
Managed by The Salvation Army, Project SHARE is a unique community-assistance program with no administrative or pass-through costs. One hundred percent of the funds collected are used to help those in need. The Salvation Army selects the recipients and disburses the funds after they assess a family’s needs. APS' participation in Project SHARE is funded by employees, retirees, shareholders and customers of APS. APS matches employee payroll contributions to the plan dollar for dollar.
APS’ E-3 and E-4 Energy Support Program offers a discount of up to 40 percent off the cost of electricity for customers that meet certain income guidelines. The income guidelines are based on 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as determined by the Department of Economic Security (DES). DES is responsible for processing the application and determining the eligibility of the applicant.
E-3 customers get a discount based on the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) used each month. The discount varies depending on how much electricity is used each month. Additionally, customers on E-3 are insulated from Power Supply Adjuster (PSA) charges, which is a commonly used mechanism that allows utilities to recover from customers the actual and reasonable costs of power supplies. The PSA is adjusted annually – up or down – based on the prior year’s actual fuel and purchased power costs. E-4 customers must have electrically operated medical equipment, such as oxygen generators, and the discounts are applied to a larger number of kWh. The discounts range from 13 percent to 40 percent. E-4 customers also are exempt from the PSA charge and surcharge.
The APS Energy Wise Low-Income Weatherization Program, which began in 1996, has contributed nearly $4 million toward making 3,000 homes more energy efficient. Some funds have and can be used to assist customers in paying past- due electric bills when the customer is in a crisis situation. Participants must be an APS customer and have a household income of less than 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline. APS works through several Community Action Agencies that identify needy customers, assess their homes for potential energy-efficiency improvements, and install the measures that save energy. APS funds are used in combination with several other funding sources from the federal government and other utilities. Community Action Agencies determine who is qualified to receive assistance.
Measures that typically are installed include insulation, duct repairs, window and door replacement, and evaporative cooler and air conditioner repair and replacement.
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