APS assistance programs.
Find how to get financial help paying APS utility bills in Arizona Low-income families and people threatended with a shut off can get payment plans, emergency government hardship funds, or electric bill help from charities or non-profits, including Project SHARE. Get financial assistance from APS (Arizona Public Service) for electric bills below.
The energy provider offers qualified low-income, seniors or disabled customers several different programs as well as financial resources. There are also emergency government grant programs, including LIHEAP that pay energy bills or free weatherization services as well as payment extensions. There is emergency financial help for summer AC bills, gas and other types of utilities. The customer service team, at the number below, can help people apply.
APS financial assistance programs for low-income customers
In addition to the resources listed below, payment arrangements, forgiveness of past due utility bills or extensions maybe offered for your delinquent amount and to help customers resume with paying their bills. Call APS to determine if they can provide you any assistance, or what type of disconnection prevention services they offer.
APS Crisis bill assistance program – This is paid for by APS and is offered for limited income customers who are currently earning between 150% to 200% of the Federal Low Income Guideline. Senior citizens or disabled people on a fixed income may get a grant to keep their power on, especially during the summer. This service is overseen by agencies authorized by the Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA).
Project SHARE, or Service to Help Arizonans with Relief on Energy, is another financial assistance program offered by APS. Salvation Army centers across the state select the recipients and disburse the funds to the low-income, with applications in Spanish for APS customers if needed. Funds can be used for paying utility and energy bills. Types of bills that can be paid for include natural gas, electric, cooling, wood, and oil. Or the money can help APS families pay for, or repair, an air conditioner.
Qualifications include the customer needs to be under age 60 and experiencing special hardships. Or an applicant can be age 60 or older, and living on a fixed income and facing a financial emergency. The disabled may also qualify for help with APS utility bills from Project SHARE. This is another resource you can turn to for help with paying your energy (gas, electric, oil, wood) bills if you meet the following criteria:
- Applicant is under age 60 and experiencing special hardships and a crisis.
- You're over the age 60, living on a fixed income and facing a personal crisis or financial emergency.
- The applicant is disabled with no source of income.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is run by the Community Action Agencies in Arizona. However, LIHEAP is paid for by the federal government. The federal program offers a onetime cash grant payment for a delinquent APS utility or air conditioning bill. A component of this program is offered in emergencies to, and can help pay bills when a customer is faced with disconnection. This is known as crisis LIHEAP, and it provided immediate relief. Learn more on LIHEAP crisis funds.
LIHEAP may also be able to assist with paying for utility deposits and other general bill type payments. The state and federal government contracts directly with a series of non-profits and Community Action Agencies across Arizona to provide this service to APS customers, as well as families that use other energy providers.
Referrals to local Arizona community action agencies are provided by APS. Your local community action agency, no matter what part of Arizona you live in, is always one of the leading places to go to for help with paying utility, air conditioning, and even water bills. Sometimes they may be able to offer cash grants to provide you with immediate relief, and in other cases they may redirect you towards other resources, like the federal government funded low income energy assistance program (LIHEAP) or weatherization.
Various resources, including hardship grants, free home repairs or window replacement for APS customers, fans and more is offered. Both long term and emergency help is provided. Get more information on your local community action agency.
Another effective APS assistance program is pick a date. This is something that many senior customers, disabled, and people that live on a fixed income or pension select. Others that receive SSI or that are more moderate income are heavy users of the pick a date.
It allows the customer to select a payment due date (“pick a date”) between the 1st and 28th of the month. Their monthly payment will always be due on that day, or the next business day if that particular date falls on a holiday or weekend. So for those APS customers that say receive one check on a certain day of the month, this allows them to pay their bill after they receive that check.
So this makes it very effective when they are trying to time their payments with their income. Note that when you first sign up, your first bill may include fewer (or more) days than anticipated which is a one time event that is due to timing.
Free energy conservation from APS
The APS Weatherization Program is run in partnership with local community action agencies. It is federal funded and often combined with LIHBEAP grant money. The updates and measures taken on your home will increase the comfort level in your home, and also help you save energy and money on utility bills.
The Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program is the federal government energy conservation resource. It will lower the electricity and fuel expenses of APS customers. It can help you with saving money on water heating, space cooling and heating bills. This can also have the side benefit of improving the safety of a home.
The program is focused on lower income individuals and families who pay a higher percentage of income towards their utility bills. The Weatherization Assistance Program was established by the federal government to help seniors, the working poor and limited income families, including APS customers, with their home energy bills. All updates from weatherization are offered free of cost. Improvements include:
- Adding shading to sun-exposed windows, primarily for houses using central refrigeration and air conditioning/cooling.
- New windows for an older home, including grant money to pay for them and installation. Learn more on free window and installations for seniors.
- Testing, maintaining and tuning cooling and heating equipment.
- Adding floor and attic insulation to the residential building envelope, most typically attic insulation.
- Installing low-flow showerheads and other general water and energy efficiency measures to the home or apartment.
- Installing air leak control measures to reduce excessive air flow and infiltration of outside air.
The resources offered directly by the company are the APS Energy Support Program (E-3) as well as Medical Care Equipment Program (E-4). Both are offered for qualified low income individuals.
If after applying, if you are found to be eligible, then these services can provide up to 65 percent off the cost of your monthly electricity bills. However the exact savings will depend on factors including your usage and income.
Several assistance programs are offered from APS. If you are a low or moderate income customer, you may be eligible to receive a monthly discount on your electric bill through the APS Energy Support Program (E-3) or you may be able to qualify for the Medical Care Equipment Program (E-4). Both E-3 and E-4 programs offer participants a discount up to 40 percent on utility bills for customers who meet certain income thresholds.
The exact amount of the discount that is offered will vary depending on how much electricity is used each month and the persons income. The third program that APS has available to help low-income individuals and families paying their energy bill is the Bill Assistance Program, which is also run by NACOG. Under this third program, people can qualify for up to $400 in assistance and cash grants a year.
It is a straightforward, fairly simple process to sign up for the E-3 or E-4 program. Anyone who is interested can pick up an application at the local Arizona Department of Economic Security office, food banks or other local community agencies that help low-income residents. In addition, people can also call APS directly at 1-800-253-9405.
Phone number to apply for help from APS
Low-income families will get emergency help help, referrals from the free customer service at APS (Arizona Public Service), or payment plan options among other resources. There are a number of other company specific as well as government assistance programs. Call 800-253-9405 for details and to speak to a customer service representative
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