Phoenix Council Approves Energy Access Plan to Reduce Household Energy Burden by 25% by 2030

Phoenix — The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 9 to adopt an Energy Access Plan designed to reduce household energy burden by increasing participation in low-income energy programs by 25% by 2030, city staff said.

The plan, introduced by Chief Sustainability Officer Carla de la Chapa and city energy manager Dr. Carlos Aguilar Hernandez, aims to add more than 18,000 households to existing programs (on top of about 72,000 currently enrolled). City officials said roughly 14% of Phoenix households — more than 82,000 homes — now spend more than 6% of their monthly income on energy, a commonly used threshold for “high energy burden.”

"This plan was created to enhance safety and comfort for residents in response to extreme heat," Carla de la Chapa said during the council presentation, outlining six actions across three focus areas: investment and funding to expand weatherization; community-driven outreach and multilingual energy education; and policy and consumer-protection efforts to improve solar access for low-income households.

Why it matters

Council and staff framed the plan as part of the city’s broader climate action framework and a response to the local impacts of extreme heat. Presenters said reduced energy burden can improve health outcomes, reduce stress, and improve economic opportunity for affected households.

What the plan would do

City staff described three existing city programs to be expanded or better linked to residents: the Neighborhood Services Department’s weatherization assistance (insulation, air sealing, appliance upgrades), the owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program (forgivable loans for repairs such as broken air conditioning), and emergency housing and utility assistance for overdue bills and urgent repairs.

Presenters also reviewed utility and state programs the plan will help connect residents to: APS’s CARE program (monthly discounts of 25% or 60% and medical discounts of 35% or 60%), SRP’s income-qualified discount (fixed monthly discounts of $10 or $35, adding up to about $420 a year), and the state-administered Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which staff said provides up to $640 per year in some cases. They also noted a home electrification and appliance rebate program that can provide up to $14,000 per household for qualifying upgrades.

Community input and concerns

Staff said the plan drew on 10 bilingual workshops and partner outreach and identified three recurring themes: the need for accessible program enrollment, household behavioral adaptations to manage costs, and the financial strain of rising living expenses. Council members raised several follow-up questions.

"Are we using the same metric as the state?" Councilwoman Hernandez asked; Dr. Aguilar Hernandez said the city uses the same metric recommended by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (6% of income, with 10% considered extreme burden).

Hernandez also pressed why some community-requested solutions — particularly direct bill assistance — did not appear as prominent actions in the plan. City staff responded that this plan is the first iteration focused on actions the city can implement quickly with current partners and funding streams, and that budgetary options for direct financial assistance could be explored through the council’s normal budgeting process.

Budget and implementation questions

City staff said the city is not currently funded for direct electrical bill assistance beyond programs tied to federal or utility funding, but that the council could consider direct assistance during the budget process if it chooses to allocate funds. Vice Mayor O’Brien requested interim milestones toward the 2030 target; staff said interim goals are not set but could be developed with Neighborhood Services.

Council reaction and vote

Council members generally praised the plan’s outreach and bilingual engagement while urging clearer timelines, a more explicit record of community-priority rankings, and stronger connections with public-safety and first-responder outreach. Councilman Robinson suggested notifying fire and police supervisors so those departments can refer households in need when they encounter them in the field.

The council moved and seconded the item and approved the Energy Access Plan in an 8-0 roll call vote. The clerk recorded “Yes” votes from Gonzalo; Hernandez; Hodge Washington; Pastor; Robinson; Waring; O’Brien; and Gallego.

What’s next

City staff asked the council to approve the plan so they can begin reaching more residents and seeking funding to expand programs. Officials said the plan is intended to be updated as staff secure additional resources and continue community co-design. The council did not adopt interim numeric milestones at the meeting; staff said they would return with implementation details and could explore budget requests for direct financial assistance.

— Reporting by the Phoenix City Council meeting transcript. Direct quotes and figures are drawn from the presentation given to council.