Arizona Public Service officials want to be certain residents know they have several options to avoid disconnections if they can’t pay their entire electric bill each month.
APS serves about …
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Arizona Public Service officials want to be certain residents know they have several options to avoid disconnections if they can’t pay their entire electric bill each month.
APS serves about 1.2 million customers in Arizona.
Commissioners of the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities, voted to enact an emergency rule June 20 preventing residential electric utilities from turning off electric power to a residence. The moratorium continued until after Tuesday, Oct. 15. Commissioners said the rule was to protect residents who might have an unsafe condition without power due to high temperatures.
The issue came to the forefront when two customers died during summer months while their electric utility was turned off.
“APS's customer education and outreach program was not reasonable and understandable, ” Commissioner Sandra Kennedy said during the June 12 ACC meeting.
Annette Carrier, APS external affairs program manager said the utility is trying to reach every customer they possibly can to be sure everyone knows their options.
“We are here to help,” she said.
Ms. Currier said some customers are concerned there will be a large number of utility shutoffs when the moratorium expires Oct. 16, but they should not be.
Anyone with a past due balance will be put on an automatic four-month payment plan, and if that plan isn’t doable for the resident, they can contact APS customer service to arrange other payment plans, Ms. Carrier said.
She added APS has several energy programs that can provide savings to residents. Included in those is a medical care program where life sustaining equipment is in the home and customers can save 35 percent each month and get special alerts and notices.
An additional program allows a customer to designate anyone else who will also receive copies of bills and account information. Those people, who are not financially responsible, can help remind the customer when a bill is due or late.
“Our pledge to customers is we will work with them,” Ms. Carrier said. “Our job is to help them any way we can.”
She added concerned residents with past due billing issues should call 602-371-7607 7 a.m-7 p.m. Monday-Friday for assistance.
She also said APS is working with various community agencies that assist residents with financial problems.
Ralph Johnson, Property Owners and Residents Association of Sun City West governing board president, said representatives of PORA and the Sun City West Community Fund met with APS officials in May to discuss these issues.
Mr. Johnson said PORA representatives are continuing to work closely with the Sun City Homeowners Association and the Residential Utility Consumer Office to help in these situations.
“We continue to monitor this issue and our government relations committee will participate as the need arises,” Mr. Johnson said.
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