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APS operates 10 power plants across Arizona and in the Four Corners area of New Mexico, with a combined land area of 27,917 acres. APS’ transmission facilities consist of approximately 5,825 pole miles of overhead lines and approximately 45 miles of underground lines, 5,601 miles of which are located in Arizona. APS’ distribution facilities consist of approximately 11,392 miles of overhead lines and approximately 16,630 miles of underground primary cable, all of which are located in Arizona. APS shares ownership of some of its transmission facilities with other companies.
In addition, PNW owns or leases 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.
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.
The APS Forestry and Special Programs Department (APS F&SP) is responsible for administering a variety of operations- related environmental programs associated with vegetation management, wildlife protection, landscaping, wood preservation and electrical hardware inspection. To meet the compliance requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other pertinent regulations, the department has evolved to include a dedicated staff of degreed natural resource professionals including foresters, arborists, wildlife specialists, biologists, an environmental resources specialist, a herpetologist and an archaeologist.
Arizona's environment provides ideal habitats for a variety of birds of prey, or raptors. Raptors are naturally drawn to power poles because they offer a high place to perch, roost, nest and hunt. The large wing spans of raptors, however, make them vulnerable to harm by the electricity being carried on the power lines. The most common raptors affected in the APS territory include Harris hawks, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls.
APS F&SP, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has developed a comprehensive Avian Protection Plan. Also, the company has implemented new construction design standards that require the installation of raptor protection devices and coverings to shield electrical components. All new construction is installed in accordance with these raptor safe standards and hardware on over 800 existing poles was modified with protection coverings. Likewise, on all new substation installations, wildlife protective coverings are installed. In addition, 71 existing substations were retrofitted with wildlife protection devices in 2008.
Protecting birds from electrical contact also increases safety for members of the cat family, raccoons, squirrels and other wildlife whose curiosity and foraging habits draw them to climb power poles and other electrical facilities. APS is a member of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee and has worked closely with this group to revise the industry’s “Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines” manual.
As a continuation of the Condor Project, APS donated and installed a 1.5-ton array of nine solar panels – enough to supply 30 amps of power to the holding pen and to a field lab on top of the cliffs. This will keep the water supply thawed through the winter, make it possible for the staff to utilize video cameras for remote observation and supply electricity directly to the field lab. Learn more about this program.
APS has completed habitat enhancement projects in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation and has developed right-of-way corridor vegetation management plans that will improve habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife. APS is currently collaborating with the Federation, the Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department on a wild turkey habitat restoration project on Mingus Mountain in central Arizona.
The company also conducts a comprehensive nest-management program. When birds build their nests on electrical equipment it becomes necessary to take action. If the nest is occupied, permits must be obtained from the USFWS permitting office. APS has developed a nest platform that is installed on the pole in a safe place, the nest is relocated to this platform, and the chicks are placed back in the nest. The adults return soon after to care for their young. In most cases birds return year after year to these same nests.
APS is involved in many other environmental and wildlife protection efforts:
- Wildlife specialists work closely with wildlife rehabilitation organizations to construct artificial homes for burrowing owls displaced as a result of development. APS provides the equipment and people necessary to construct underground burrows that serve to hold an entire colony of burrowing owls.
- The department is currently involved in a biological-assessment project in conjunction with the USFWS. More than 1,000 miles of the company’s right-of-way corridors are being evaluated to determine their value to wildlife habitat and to identify areas of concern as they relate to the company’s field operations. This multi-year project began in 2006. The company has dedicated two degreed biologists to this project on a full-time basis.
- APS collaborates on projects and partnerships with other agencies and non-profit groups for public awareness and education. APS partnered with Liberty Wildlife at several birding events including the Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival, ASU Earth Day and National Public Lands Day.
- The company works closely with the Southwest Bald Eagle Association. Each year the company donates approximately 20 hours of helicopter flight time to transport Arizona Game and Fish personnel on their annual Bald Eagle Nest inspections.
Arizona's landscape has a long rich history, and many culturally significant areas. To reduce the possibility of damaging national historical treasures and to ensure the company is in compliance with current regulations, APS added a professional archaeologist to its staff. In addition to coordinating the cultural resource compliance component of new construction projects, efforts are underway to survey the majority of the company’s existing transmission system.
The Forestry Program includes the maintenance and control of trees, shrubs and brush growing around APS facilities and equipment – including overhead power lines, poles, guys and underground electrical equipment. APS has about 100 forestry employees who work to help insure trees do not grow into- or fall onto- more than 20,000 miles of transmission and distribution power lines, causing power disruptions and posing dangerous situations for APS employees and customers. Our Vegetation Management program follows professional industry tree-trimming standards to limit damage and improve overall tree health. We follow the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) strategy on minimizing pesticide use.
The high-quality standards of the Forestry and Special Programs' vegetation management efforts have been recognized for the twelfth consecutive year with the National Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree Line USA Utility” distinction. The department was lauded for administering a superior program of professional tree care, providing annual worker training, as well as implementing tree planting and public education programs related to proper tree care.
It is often necessary to remove established tall-growing species of trees growing near power lines. In many circumstances the company provides the customer with low-growing replacement trees. The department has launched a massive tree replacement project in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Thousands of existing street trees which normally require routine trimming in order to provide safe clearances from overhead wires are being removed and replaced with appropriate low-water use trees that do not grow tall enough to affect power lines. This is truly a win-win project.
Every year, APS F&SP visits at least ten local elementary schools to host Arbor Day celebrations. These events involve an educational component involving the importance of trees in the environment. This is followed by a tree-planting ceremony on the school's grounds.
APS F&SP has developed a Web site to educate and inform customers about the department’s wildlife protection and vegetative management programs, and to address questions and concerns.
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 Web site 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.
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