Final public hearing on proposed APS power rate hike is Monday

The final public hearing on a proposed electricity rate hike by Arizona Public Service starts at 10 a.m. Monday.

The hearing will run until 1 p.m. or when the last caller is done speaking, whichever comes first.

To join in, call 877-309-3457 and use the passcode 801972877.

The APS proposal calls for a hike of 14% on residential customers — which would increase the typical household’s bill by $20 a month — and 45% on data centers.

What’s next in APS rate hike process?

Discovery and public comment is the fifth stage of an eight-part rate adjustment process. Four other public comment hearings were already held in January and February as part of the current step.

The ACC and involved parties still need to participate in an evidentiary hearing in front of an administrative law judge, who will draft a recommended opinion and order.

The final step is an ACC vote, which hasn’t yet been scheduled.

The process started when APS submitted the rate hike proposal in June 2025. It was just 16 months after the ACC approved an 8% increase that added about $10-$12 per month to the typical residential bill.

The utility company has said another increase is needed because current rates don’t support the rising cost of maintaining grid reliability and infrastructure.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who was granted intervention status in the rate case, called the proposed hike a “blatant” grab for profits.

APS, which is owned by publicly traded Pinnacle West Capital Corp., provides electricity for about 1.4 million customers statewide. The power company’s service area includes a portion of Phoenix along with Valley suburbs to the west and north.

Customers who are struggling to pay their bills can find information about company, state and local assistance programs at APS.com/assistance.

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