After heat-related death, APS agrees not to shut off customers' power when temperatures hit 95

Arizona’s largest electric utility will no longer disconnect customers’ power when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, following a settlement with the Attorney General’s Office.

The settlement comes after the heat-related death of 82-year-old Arizona Public Service customer Katherine Korman. Korman died in her Sun City West home on a 99 degree day in May 2024 after her power was disconnected because of unpaid bills.

“I do not believe that Kate’s death had to happen,” Attorney General Kris Mayes told reporters Wednesday. “You shouldn’t have to die because the utility disconnects you when it’s hot in Arizona.”

APS did not admit to liability or fault through the settlement. But the utility agreed to pay $2.75 million in monetary relief to the Attorney General’s Office. APS also said it would put $1 million into a financial assistance program for customers, and invest $3.4 million to expand its customer safety net program. APS said it would also add steps to its process for notifying customers about past-due bills.

But Mayes said the most important outcome of the settlement was that APS agreed to adopt the temperature-based policy for power disconnections.

APS already had a policy to pause customer disconnections from June 1 through Oct. 15, based on heat safety regulations from the Arizona Corporation Commission. The commission adopted those rules in 2019, following another heat-related death of an APS customer whose power had been disconnected.

But Mayes said climate change is prolonging Arizona’s dangerous heat season and she noted Korman’s death occurred in May, outside the June-through-October moratorium.

Mayes said she wants other utilities in the state to also suspend power shutoffs based on temperature, not date.

“Those utilities that are not following the 95-degree hold policy are on notice,” Mayes said. “If somebody dies on their watch with a date-based policy, we’re coming after them too.”

Salt River Project, the other major utility provider for the Phoenix area, is not regulated by the Corporation Commission. SRP has a policy not to disconnect customers in July or August, or anytime the National Weather Service issues an extreme heat warning.

Mayes called on the state Legislature and the Arizona Corporation Commission to enact statewide regulations to prohibit power shutoffs in high heat.

While APS agreed to implement new policies, the utility issued a statement denying any wrongdoing related to Korman’s death.

“APS rejects the Attorney General’s assertions regarding our existing disconnection policies and customer communications, which already meet or exceed all applicable state laws and regulations,” APS stated. “Our entire team at APS prioritizes customer safety and cares deeply about the wellbeing of our customers and communities.”