From the critical work done in our state’s burgeoning biosciences industry,
to high-profile microchip manufacturers, to parents reading their children a
bedtime story, reliable electric power has never played a more important
role in Arizona.

Thankfully, a concerted effort to improve the health of APS’ electric grid over
the last decade has culminated in the best year for reliability for APS customers.
In 2007, our company recorded all-time best results in measures that reflect
outage frequency.

According to the final Clear Weather System Average Interruption Frequency
Index (SAIFI) metrics, APS customers saw an average of 0.98 outages, down
from 1.0 last year and 1.66 in 1996. With weather factored, customers experienced 1.57 outages, down from the previous record of 1.60 set in 2002,
and 2.78 in 1996.

APS was able to achieve these results while serving one of the fastest-growing service territories in the country. While the company's 34,000 new meter sets
were fewer than projected, they still represent a growth rate well beyond the national average.

Continuing to meet the future energy needs of our customers and Arizona’s economy depends upon critical decisions and investments our company is
making today. That’s why we’ll invest $10 billion in the next decade to ensure Arizona’s future has ample amounts of safe, reliable and increasingly
renewable electricity.

Here are 10 important tips to help you stay safe around electricity when outdoors:

1. Never use electrical equipment near a pool or other wet areas.
   
   
2. Always look up for the location of power lines when using a ladder or a long-handled pool-cleaning tool.
   
   
3. Before digging, first determine the location of all underground electric facilities. In the Phoenix metropolitan area, call the Blue Stake Center at (602) 263-1100 (1-800-STAKE-IT state-wide) at least two working days before you dig.
   
   
4. Antennas or satellites can be installed safely if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use common sense. However, never get yourself, tools, materials and/or equipment closer than 10 feet from overhead power lines.
   
   
5. Fly kites and model airplanes in open areas well away from trees and power lines.
   
   
6. Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers for frayed power cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housings.
   
   
7. Before attempting any tree pruning, look for overhead power lines that may be near and/or hidden by the tree foliage. If there are any concerns with overhead power lines and trees on your property contact APS.
   
   
8. Do not plant vegetation or construct any permanent structures directly in front of underground electrical equipment devices. APS employees need safe access to work on these devices during outages and maintenance.
   
   
9. Never use electric-powered mowers on wet grass. Also, use an extension cord designed for outdoor use and rated for the power needs of your mower.
   
   
10. Treat all electric lines with caution and respect. Even low-voltage electric lines and cords can be hazardous if damaged or improperly handled.

Few people would disagree that nowhere is the need for electricity more critical than
at a hospital. Inside the walls of APS customer Scottsdale Healthcare’s two medical campuses – one at Shea in north central Scottsdale, the other at Osborn in Old Town Scottsdale – the business of health care service hums along. Around the clock, babies are delivered, surgeries are performed and hundreds of patients rest in air-conditioned rooms.

According to Elena Wortman, APS senior technical account representative, hospitals not only need to know that power will flow 24-hours-a-day, but also that it is quality power – free of fluctuations or disturbances.

“All of our hospital customers are essential load customers, so it makes them quite different than other customers,” Wortman said. “Even the smallest voltage sag can have operational impacts that other customers wouldn’t even notice.”

It makes sense, then, to offer large clients like Scottsdale Healthcare a personal level of APS service. In this case, the “face” of APS, at least for Scottsdale Healthcare, belongs to Wortman. She serves as the main point of contact for the hospital customer and is responsible for being a “one-stop shop” for answers to critical power issues affecting Scottsdale Healthcare facilities.

Wortman works closely with Trevor Swanson, an energy management engineer at Scottsdale Healthcare, to keep the lines of communication open and ensure APS delivers what Scottsdale Healthcare needs.

“Hospitals have to have lights on all the time and they need to have a power supply for medical equipment 100 percent of the time. Lives depend on it,” Swanson said.

And as one might expect, a hospital needs a lot of electricity. According to Swanson, the Shea campus can draw nearly three-and-a-half megawatts of power during periods of peak demand — enough electricity to supply about 850 average-sized residential homes.

“Having a good relationship with APS absolutely is essential because the better our relationship, the better information we’ll have about the security of our power. It also will help all of our power projects go smoother,” Swanson said. “With Elena, customer service has been available whenever we’ve needed it. We’ve always received prompt service with our system of hospitals.”