Flagstaff resident: APS time-of-use plan and demand charge saved her money after switching to heat pumps

Genevieve, a Flagstaff resident, described Arizona Public Service(APS) residential rate options and said switching from a fixed-rate plan to a time-of-use plan with a demand charge lowered her overall utility bills after she replaced a gas furnace with heat-pump mini-splits. "APS, I think has 4 plans available to residential customers," she said, describing fixed and two kinds of time-of-use plans and an EV-friendly option.

Her account outlined how the plans differ. She said one time-of-use option charges higher rates during on-peak hours and lower rates in off-peak periods; another includes a demand charge that increases the cost for energy used during on-peak hours. "On peak hours from 4 to 7, you pay higher rates," she said. She also said one plan offers lower overnight rates for electric-vehicle charging.

Genevieve described her personal changes in billing choices as she electrified heating: she moved from a fixed-rate plan to a time-of-use plan, then to a time-of-use plan with a demand charge, and said that careful shifting of usage away from on-peak hours reduced her bills. "My overall utility bills are actually cheaper," she said, comparing current costs to when she had a gas furnace, but she did not provide dollar amounts or specific rate figures.

The remarks reflect one customer's experience, not a utility statement or broader study. The transcript does not include APS rate sheets, exact rate levels, or a utility representative response. The on-peak hours and the number of plans are reported by the speaker and were not independently verified in the transcript.