Dive Brief:

• Arizona Public Service (APS) has proposed a slate of new energy programs and rates that will help customers conserve energy and control their usage, including energy storage, demand response and load management programs. 
• The proposals include incentives for smart thermostats, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric school buses and charging infrastructure, energy storage and water heater timers. The plan also calls for an increase in funding for APS' energy storage program, from $4 million to $6 million.
• The utility is also proposing an educational component to ensure customers know best how to utilize the programs, including rate structures that encourage home pre-cooling, shifting the use of appliances to off-peak hours, and staggering the use of major appliances.

Dive Insight:

APS is rolling out a new generation of load management and efficiency ideas in its service territory, explaining that traditional measures like LED light bulbs and efficient appliances are now commonplace.

Stacy Derstine, APS vice president of customer service, said the utility is proposing an integrated set of programs, including education, to ensure that “the result is increased choice and control for customers when it comes to their energy usage.”

APS says its new offerings would reward customers for conserving power when it’s most expensive, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and would encourage using energy when the state's solar resources are abundantly producing energy.

"In addition to helping customers save by conserving during peak demand hours, this targeted energy efficiency approach can help better integrate renewable resources and delay the need for future infrastructure," the utility said in its announcement. "The programs work hand-in-hand with APS’s new rate plans to help customers achieve maximum savings."

In addition to the new programs, the utility will continue several current rebates, including programs for residential HVAC, business solutions, new home construction and home performance with Energy Star.

Last month, the Arizona Corporation Commission allowed APS to raise rates and approved a settlement with solar advocates that establishes a new compensation scheme and allows customers to lock in their rate for years.The decision means a typical residential customer will see bills rise 4.5%, or about $6/month.