As climate change drives more extreme heat, a growing number of Americans are falling behind on summer utility bills, according to a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity. And the report says Arizona Public Service customers are among those struggling to keep up.
Arizona Corporation Commission heat safety rules bar APS from disconnecting customers’ electricity June through mid-October. But the report shows APS customer disconnections in May are increasing. In May 2024, the utility disconnected about 2,200 customers – a 17% increase over the previous May, the report says. The average temperature in Phoenix during May 2024 was about 0.5 degrees hotter than in May 2023.
“That just goes to show the extent to which extreme temperatures forced customers to spend a lot more money to keep their homes cool and habitable,” said Selah Goodson Bell, an energy justice campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Goodson Bell said as extreme heat has driven record energy use, APS profits have increased in recent years.
“Something is definitely wrong with an energy system where customer strife equals lavish returns for executives and shareholders,” Goodson Bell said.
The report states, “about 1% of the nearly $295 million APS spent on shareholder dividends from January through September 2024 could have covered the estimated cost to prevent all 20,456 of its shutoffs in the same period.”
In a statement to KJZZ News, a spokesperson for APS said the utility does offer a variety of assistance programs including discounts for some low income customers and flexible repayment plans for customers who fall behind on bills.
“Disconnection is a last resort and, by taking advantage of these programs, many customers can avoid and are avoiding that,” the statement said. “We are committed to serving our customers and communities and are here to help those who are struggling.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the temperature difference between May 2023 and May 2024.
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