APS & Gila County Reps Hold Globe Area Summit

APS & more than 30 agency representatives in Gila County met yesterday to exchange information & ideas to provide better, more efficient energy services to low-income clients.

“Partnering with agencies that provide basic, direct services to customers who need them the most makes a lot of sense,” said APS Southeast Division Community Development Manager Judee Jackson, who coordinated the summit. “With these agencies & their networks, the objective of the summit was to engage in a dialogue so that all of us learn more about services available to low-income clients & be able to better serve them.”

Gila County Housing Services Manager Malissa Buzan said, “It’s never been more important for our low-income families & low-income seniors to learn how to manage their energy usage with the escalating costs of natural gas, gasoline & electricity.” Buzan presented an energy education class to those attending the summit. She estimated that 13% of Gila County’s roughly 60,000 residents qualify as low-income.

With numerous human services agencies, APS has hosted 3 summits around the state since May & 3 more are scheduled. They are part of APS’ overall effort to increase awareness of conservation measures to help customers manage their energy use & lower their energy bills.

At the summit, APS representatives focused on the Energy Support Program (E-3) that offers up to 40% off the cost of monthly electricity bills. Customers qualify for E-3 if household income is within 150% of the federal low-income guidelines, before taxes. The program is administered in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).

To sign up for the Energy Support Program, customers must fill out an application (available at all APS offices, Community Action Program offices, senior centers & food banks) & mail it back to DES. The DES address is on the application form. APS also offers agencies that administer federal low-income energy support funds (LIHEAP) the ability to electronically request enrollment for eligible APS customers.

The E-3 Program has been approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission & is paid for by APS customers.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp.