APS: Customers served with reliable power during record-breaking heat

Monsoon season is officially over and for a second straight summer, record heat outshined stormy weather.

As air conditioners hummed along, Arizona Public Service customers again broke peak energy demand records, while temperatures stayed in the triple-digits for almost four months straight. And while the calendar says it’s autumn, it still feels like summer, as extremely high temperatures remain across Arizona.

“Arizonans often say ‘we’re used to the heat’ but this summer was especially tough. APS employees take to heart the importance of keeping people cool and safe, delivering the power our 1.4 million customers need on our hottest days and all year long,” said Jacob Tetlow, APS executive vice president of operations. “As more people and businesses move to our great state, we continue to be one of the most reliable energy providers in the nation and our rates are below the national average. We invest in the electrical system and maintain a diverse mix of resources, including wind and solar power, energy storage, flexible natural gas and carbon-free nuclear power.”

Providing reliable power during historic 113-day run of 100+ degrees

This summer’s long stretch of 113 days above 100 degrees in Phoenix is the longest streak in Arizona history. The hot days, high nighttime temperatures and the Valley’s heat island effect meant air conditioners were running around the clock to keep homes and businesses cool. As a result:

• APS customers set a new peak energy demand record of 8,210 megawatts (MW) on Sunday, Aug. 4. (A preliminary number was shared in an earlier news release.) Peak demand is the highest amount of energy consumed at one time by customers. The previous record of 8,162 MW was set on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
• APS customer energy demand exceeded 8,000 MW on four different days. For perspective, during winter, APS customer peak energy demand ranges between 4,000 and 5,200 MW.

APS customers had reliable power when they needed it most to keep cool and stay comfortable, thanks to long-term resource planning, a robust power supply, regular maintenance and frequent upgrades to power lines and equipment.

Monsoon storm response

For many Arizonans, it may have felt like a "nonsoon" summer. It was one of the driest monsoon seasons on record; however, there were storms that produced extreme weather, including hurricane-force winds. When storms affected our customers’ power, APS crews were ready to respond quickly to safely restore service.

• APS crews replaced 290 storm-damaged power poles across APS service territory.
• By comparison, 2023’s monsoon season brought down 125 power poles. During 2022’s active monsoon season, APS replaced a record 811 damaged poles.

In the sweltering heat of July, APS repair crews worked one of the Valley’s strongest storms that snapped power poles and broke electrical equipment. Severe winds of up to 75 mph, fueled by multiple downbursts, caused such extensive damage in one southwest Phoenix neighborhood that APS crews had to first rebuild the grid serving that area in order to restore power.

To protect nearby neighborhoods, APS partnered with customers enrolled in its Cool Rewards smart thermostat program in a unique and historic way. APS customer technology experts worked with a specific, targeted portion of its network of thermostats, located in participating customers’ homes, to help voluntarily conserve power. This effort, along with operational back-ups, including rerouting electricity, helped relieve strain on the electric system caused by the severe storm damage.

This was the first time in APS history a smart thermostat program was utilized in such a targeted manner. APS Cool Rewards acts like a virtual power plant during times when energy usage is at its highest. Typically, all 95,000 enrolled thermostats work together, capable of conserving nearly 160 MW of energy, similar to the amount a small power plant would produce.

Tracking wildfire activity, maintaining a strong grid

So far in 2024, APS fire mitigation experts have tracked nearly 1,500 wildfires in Arizona, focusing on 450 fires that came within 10 miles of APS infrastructure. Most of these incidents were caused by human activity or lightning. APS employees worked in collaboration with fire agencies to ensure no major impacts to electrical equipment or service to customers. APS fire prevention, detection and mitigation efforts this year included:

• Clearing hazardous brush, dry grass and other vegetation from about 40,000 power poles.
• Activating new fire cameras and weather stations to aid in fire detection.
• Tracking wind speeds and humidity levels by APS meteorologists near extreme fire risk areas.
• Installing fire mesh on power poles in higher-risk fire areas to shield equipment from fire damage.

This summer’s weather conditions did not result in the need for APS to perform any Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

Support for summer energy bills

Higher summer temperatures have led to increased electricity use by APS customers, which can mean higher energy bills. For example, residential energy usage on customers' July bills was 25% higher than last July. APS is here to help customers with support ranging from flexible payment options to crisis bill assistance. Budget billing evens out the seasonal highs and lows for a more consistent monthly payment. Additionally, earlier this year, APS introduced new tiered energy support discounts for qualifying customers approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Customers can contact the APS Customer Care Center to speak with an advisor 24/7 in English or Spanish at 602-371-7171 (800-253-9405) or visit aps.com/assistance.

APS serves approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering reliable, affordable and clean energy in the Southwest. The company is committed to serving customers with 100% clean power by 2050. As owner and operator of Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free electricity, and with one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios, APS’s current energy mix is 51% clean. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

Editor's note: This article was submitted by APS.