APS offering rooftop solar systems to limited-income customers

PHOENIX – APS has rolled out a program to provide free rooftop solar systems for limited-income customers, offering a bill credit in exchange for the electricity created.

Arizona’s largest electric company will own and maintain the systems for 20 years, and the power generated will flow back to the APS grid.

“In turn, the customer receives a $30 bill credit every month, every year, for the 20-year program period,” Maggie Gibbs, APS project manager, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

The APS Solar Communities program will contribute to the company’s 50 percent clean-energy portfolio.

“We will actually contract and work with local Arizona-based installers who will install the system,” Gibbs said.

To take part, customers need to meet income qualifications, and the roofs need to meet size, quality and orientation requirements.

Households must be certified as earning no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level to be eligible. The income cutoff depends on family size. For example, for a family of four it would be $68,700.

Only single-family houses with structurally sound roofs that can accommodate at least a 4-kilowatt solar system are eligible, and the surfaces must face west or southwest.

“This offers the greatest potential to generate energy during the late afternoon, early-evening hours … when customer use energy the most,” Gibbs said. “This aligns with our new rate structure.”

Gibbs said the program will recruit customers for the next three years, and applications can be submitted at the APS website.

“We are excited and ready to receive applications,” she said.

APS serves about 2.7 million people across Arizona.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Madison Spence contributed to this report.

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