Keeping a home cool through an Arizona summer can come with a big price tag. But there are resources available in the state for utility assistance and air conditioning repairs. Here’s where to start.
Get help covering utility bills
The largest electric provider in the Phoenix area, Salt River Project, won’t shut off power for nonpayment July through August, or anytime there’s an excessive heat warning in effect.
Arizona Public Service can’t shut off your power from June 1 through Oct. 15, under rules from the Arizona Corporation Commission. APS also recently agreed not to shut off customers’ power any time the temperature is over 95 degrees.
But even during times when utilities won’t disconnect customers, it’s still important to keep up with bills. Customer disconnections tend to spike in the fall when unpaid summer bills come due.
SRP is temporarily dropping its rate by 3% this summer, to help customers afford the high cost of air conditioning.
And SRP and APS both offer discounted price plans for qualifying lower-income customers, as well as other forms of bill assistance.
Qualifying low-income Arizonans can also get help with utility bills through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, administered by Arizona’s Department of Economic Security.
And this summer, more middle-income Arizonans may be able to get help on energy bills through a new $15 million initiative called Power AZ, said Kelly McGowan, executive director of the Arizona anti-poverty nonprofit, Wildfire.
“Power AZ has expanded eligibility capacity, so for a household of four, people can earn almost up to $9,000 a month and still be eligible,” McGowan said. “We’re really trying to get the word out about that program, because we think it’s an untapped population that might not know that they are eligible for assistance.
Households may qualify for up to $640 in standard assistance and up to $500 in crisis assistance per year through Power AZ. Like LIHEAP, households can also apply for that program through the Department of Economic Security.
Get the air conditioner repaired at your rental
Electric bills are just one concern. What if your air conditioner stops working?
Phoenix landlords are required by a city ordinance to provide a cooling system in good working order. It must cool the space to at least 82 degrees if it’s an air conditioner, or 86 degrees if it’s an evaporative cooler.
If it’s not working, notify your landlord as quickly as possible in writing. If the issue is not resolved quickly, contact the city’s Landlord and Tenant Program at 602-262-7210 to speak with a Landlord-Tenant counselor about your rights or to report an AC violation.
Outside of Phoenix, different cooling ordinances may apply, but in general, Arizona landlords must keep any existing air conditioning units on the property in good working order.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recommends renters notify their landlord in writing if a repair is needed. If temperatures outside are above 100 degrees, the landlord should respond within five days.
If the repair is not made within the required window, Mayes says tenants may be able to terminate the lease, sue for damages or arrange the repair themselves and deduct the cost from their rent, depending on the circumstances.
Mayes says tenants may also file a consumer complaint through her office in cases when landlords fail to make necessary repairs.
Get help repairing an air conditioner you own
If you own your home and your AC needs repair or replacement, it can be very expensive — new air conditioning systems can cost $10,000 to $15,000.
Maricopa County offers an emergency home repair program to help qualifying low- to moderate-income homeowners address urgent health and safety issues in their homes, primarily non-functioning air conditioning and heating systems.
Individual cities within Maricopa County also have their own home repair programs.
In Phoenix, the Neighborhood Services Department offers a weatherization program for some low-income residents.
“It really focuses on the entire envelope of the home, including the AC, and pairs the AC with the insulation and the windows to make sure the home is as efficient as possible,” said Matthew Utyro, Phoenix Neighborhood Services deputy director.
But, Utyro noted, getting help through the program may take several weeks.
“Reach out as early as possible if you believe your home’s going to need weatherization and you believe you qualify,” Utyro said.
Low- and middle-income Arizona households may also qualify for household energy efficiency upgrades, including rebates on heat-pump air conditioning units, through the federally funded Efficiency Arizona program.
Additional resources for home weatherization or repairs may be available through your local community action agency.
Call 211 to find the heat relief services you need
Arizonans needing heat relief can get started by calling 211.
Live operators are available daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help Arizonans with a variety of services related to heat.
“That ranges anywhere from weatherization, air conditioning assistance, respite from the heat, other supports in the home, if they are experiencing financial or economic issues and are just simply not able to pay for their air conditioner we can refer them to providers that can help with economic hardship as well,” said Tara Bingdazzo with Solari Crisis and Human Services, the organization that runs 211.
211 can even help arrange free transportation to your nearest cooling center if you need to get out of the heat immediately.
Resources
211: speak to a live operator daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for information about heat relief sites, utility assistance, air conditioning repair assistance, and more public services.
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Apply for utility assistance through the LIHEAP or Power AZ programs.
City of Phoenix Landlord Tenant Program: speak with a Landlord-Tenant counselor about your rights or report an AC violation at 602-262-7210.
Maricopa Association of Governments Heat Relief Network: Find cooling centers, respite centers, hydration stations, and donation collection sites across Maricopa County.
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