ARIZONA RATEPAYER FUNDED PROGRAMS

CURRENT PROGRAMS
Rate Assistance
  • Energy Support Program (ESP)
    • Up to 65% discount on the cost (based on energy usage) of electricity for Arizona Public Service households earning at or below 150% FPG.
  • Crisis Bill Assistance (CBA)
    • Up to $400/year in assistance for Arizona Public Service customers earning up to 200% FPG if they lose their jobs, have unexpected medical expenses, or other financial hardships.
  • Economy Price Plan (EPP)
    • $21/month discount during summer months and $17/month discount on electric bills during winter months for Salt River Project households with incomes at or below 150% FPG.
  • SRP Bill Assistance (SRPBA)
    • Available to Salt River Project households with incomes up to 150% FPG or 60% SMI, whichever is higher for a household
  • Low-Income Ratepayer Assistance Program (LIRA)
    • 30% reduction applied to first 150 therms of natural gas for each month from November through April to Southwest Gas households earning up to 150% FPG.
  • Low-Income Energy Conservation Bill Assistance Program (LIEC-BA)
    • Up to $400 for Southwest Gas households at or below 150% FPG that experience a hardship, such as endangering health by not utilizing furnaces and water heaters, a sudden loss of income, or unexpected medical expenses.
  • Lifeline
    • $9/month discount to Tucson Electric customers whose household incomes are at or below 150% FPG.
  • Customer Assistance Residential Energy Support (CARES)
    • Electric: Approximately 44% monthly discount for UniSource households earning up to 150% FPG.
    • Gas: Approximately 30% monthly discount for UniSource households earning up to 150% FPG. Qualified customers can receive an additional monthly discount from November through April.
Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Wise Low-Income Weatherization (EW)
    • Eligibility is at or below 150% FPG for Arizona Public Service customers. Services include: attic insulation, air leak control measures, testing heating and cooling equipment, duct work, low-flow showerheads, and water efficiency measures.
  • Low-Income Energy Conservation Program (LIEC)
    • Eligibility is at or below 150% FPG for Southwest Gas customers. Services include: attic insulation, caulking, weather stripping, duct work repairs, and window repairs.
  • Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program (LIWAP)
    • Salt River Project: Provides up to $6,000 per eligible household (up to 200% FPG) for services that include: attic insulation, air leak control measures, testing heating and cooling equipment, duct work, low-flow showerheads, and water efficiency measures.
    • UniSource Energy Services: Provides up to $3,000 per eligible household (up to 150% FPG) for services that include: attic insulation, air leak control measures, testing heating and cooling equipment, duct work, and repair/replace of heating/cooling equipment.
    • Tucson Electric: Provides services to eligible households (up to 150% FPG) that include: attic insulation, planting shade trees, caulking, insulation, and exposed pipe wrapping.
Participating Utilities
  • ESP, CBA, and EW: Arizona Public Service
  • EPP and SRPBA: Salt River Project
  • LIRA, LIEC-BA, and LIEC: Southwest Gas
  • Lifeline: Tucson Electric " CARES: UniSource Energy
  • LIWAP: Salt River Project, UniSource Energy, and Tucson Electric
Annual Funding (2014) Rate Assistance

  • ESP: $34.9 million
  • CBA: $464,765
  • EPP: $10.5 million
  • SRPBA: $673,000
  • LIRA: $3 million
  • LIEC-BA: $196,345
  • Lifeline: $1.8 million
  • CARES (Electric/Gas): $202,400 / $391,760

Energy Efficiency

  • EW: $2.6 million
  • LIEC: $553,278
  • LIWAP: Tucson Electric - $315,934 / UniSource - $221,194 / Salt River - $673,000
Households Served (2014) Rate Assistance

  • ESP: 89,861
  • CBA: 1,610
  • EPP: 47,700
  • SRPBA: 1,048
  • LIRA: 44,818
  • LIEC-BA: 1,131
  • Lifeline: 14,798
  • CARES (Electric/Gas): 6,649 / 7,450

Energy Efficiency

  • EW: 594
  • LIEC: 203
  • LIWAP: Tucson Electric - 119 / UniSource - 82 / Salt River - 146
Funding Mechanism
  • ESP and CBA: "System Benefits Adjustment" charged on all customers' bills based on usage.
  • EEP: Systems benefits surcharge on all customers' bills.
  • LIRA: Surcharge paid by all customer bills, except LIRA participants.
  • LICBA: "DSM Adjustor Rate" charged to all customers.
  • Lifeline: "System Benefits Charge" on all customers' bills.
  • CARES: "System Benefits Charge" paid by all non-CARES customers
  • EW: "Environmental Improvement Surcharge" paid by all customers, except low-income households.
  • LIEC: "DSM Adjustor Rate" surcharge paid by all customers.
  • LIWAP: Surcharges on the utility customers.
Administration
  • Utilities generally work with the Arizona Community Action Association and its members. Some utilities run their programs in house.
  • Utilities contract with local community action agencies for efficiency programs; Southwest Gas works with the Governor's Energy Office for LIEC.
LEGISLATION
Authorizing
REPORTS / EVALUATIONS