Utility Bills, Rates & Rebates
10 Phoenix-specific guides. APS and SRP plans, demand charges, pre-cooling, rebates, payback, assistance. Each guide answers five real homeowner questions, direct answer first, with every figure sourced.
APS vs SRP: Cooling on Time-of-Use Plans
- How do APS and SRP time-of-use plans change how I should run my AC?
- What are the on-peak hours for APS and SRP, and how expensive is peak cooling?
- Which rate plan is best for heavy summer AC use?
- How do I find out which plan I am on and whether it is costing me money?
- Does switching plans mid-summer make sense?
Demand Charges Explained
- What is a demand charge and why did it wreck my summer electric bill?
- How does running the AC and other appliances at once trigger demand charges?
- How do I manage AC use on a demand plan without living in a hot house?
- Should I switch off a demand plan, and what is the trade-off?
- Do smart thermostats and load controllers actually tame demand charges?
Why Your Summer Electric Bill Is So High
- Why is my Phoenix electric bill $400–$600 in the summer?
- How much of a summer bill is the AC alone?
- Is my high bill from rates, my habits, or a failing AC?
- Which changes cut a summer bill the most for the least money?
- When is a high bill the first symptom of an AC problem?
Best Thermostat Settings for Arizona Summer
- What should I set my thermostat to in an Arizona summer?
- How much does each degree above 78 actually save?
- Should I turn the AC off when I leave, or turn it up?
- What is the best sleeping temperature without spiking the bill?
- Are the standard 78/85 recommendations realistic at 115 degrees outside?
Pre-Cooling: The Time-of-Use Strategy
- What is pre-cooling and how does it cut costs on time-of-use plans?
- What is a good pre-cooling schedule for APS and SRP peak windows?
- Does pre-cooling really save money or just shift the cost?
- How cool should I drive the house before peak hours start?
- Does pre-cooling stress the AC or shorten its life?
APS & SRP Rebates for Cooling Upgrades
- What rebates do APS and SRP offer for AC and heat pump upgrades?
- How do I qualify and apply for utility HVAC rebates?
- Do rebates require using specific contractors or equipment tiers?
- What do the utilities pay for smart thermostats, duct sealing, and insulation?
- Can I claim more than one utility rebate on the same project?
The Federal Tax Credit for Cooling Equipment Has Ended
- Is there still a federal tax credit for a new AC or heat pump in 2026?
- When exactly did the 25C tax credit end, and what ended it?
- I paid for equipment in 2025 but it was installed in 2026 — does it still qualify?
- Can I still claim the credit for a system installed in 2025?
- What is left after the federal credit — which Phoenix-area incentives still exist?
Will a New AC Pay for Itself? The Real Math
- How much will a new high-efficiency AC actually save on a Phoenix bill?
- How do I calculate payback when upgrading from an older SEER rating to SEER2 equipment?
- Do contractor 'cut your bill in half' claims hold up?
- How do rate plans change the payback math on efficiency upgrades?
- When is a mid-tier efficiency system the smarter buy than the flagship?
Solar and Your AC
- How much solar does it take to offset AC use in a Phoenix home?
- What is an AC soft-start kit and why do solar and battery owners install them?
- Can I run my AC on battery backup during an outage?
- How do solar export rates interact with afternoon AC loads?
- Should I upgrade the AC before or after going solar?
Help Paying for Cooling: Assistance Programs
- What programs help Arizona households that can't afford cooling repairs or bills?
- How do LIHEAP and Arizona weatherization assistance work for AC issues?
- Do APS and SRP have crisis bill assistance or medical-need protections in summer?
- Can my power be shut off during extreme heat in Arizona?
- Where can seniors and vulnerable residents get emergency cooling help?
Other Phoenix cooling topics
Cost & Pricing Repair or Replace Buying a New System The Refrigerant Transition Heat Pumps in the Desert Mini-Splits & Retrofits Troubleshooting & Symptoms Maintenance & Lifespan Desert Homes & Seasonal Realities