APS rate increases over time
Arizona Public Service's average residential electricity price has risen from 12.93 cents per kWh in 2015 to 16.45 cents in 2024, an increase of about 27 percent, or roughly 2.7 percent per year. The chart shows APS's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
What rising APS rates could cost you
APS rates have risen about 2.7% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at APS's historical average rate increase (2.7% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
Current residential rates
APS residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| R-1 Fixed Energy Charge (large/Tier 3 usage, 1,000+ kWh/mo avg) | 15.418 cents/kWh flat | $0.458/day basic service charge (~$13.93/mo) |
| R-1 Fixed Energy Charge (medium/Tier 2, 600-1,000 kWh/mo) | 14.052 cents/kWh flat | $0.458/day basic service charge (~$13.93/mo) |
| TOU-E Time-of-Use (4-7pm weekday peak) | On-peak 34.396 cents (summer) / 32.543 cents (winter); Off-peak 12.345 cents (summer) / 12.351 cents (winter); winter Super Off-peak 3.495 cents per kWh | $0.458/day basic service charge (~$13.93/mo) |
Rates are APS bundled tariff charges effective March 8, 2024 (ACC Decision No. 79293; R-1 = A.C.C. No. 6148, TOU-E = A.C.C. No. 6154). The per-kWh energy charges shown are the bundled tariff rates before monthly adjustor/rider line items (fuel, etc.); the all-in effective rate a customer pays is higher, which is why the EIA average residential price (16.45 cents/kWh for 2024) exceeds the flat tariff energy charge. R-1 is tiered by average monthly usage: small/Tier 1 (<=600 kWh) 12.925 cents at $0.362/day, medium/Tier 2 (600-1,000 kWh) 14.052 cents, large/Tier 3 (>=1,000 kWh) 15.418 cents. APS filed a new rate case June 13, 2025 (requesting ~15.99% base revenue increase); new rates not expected until second half of 2026.
Net metering and solar export: Net billing (RCP export rate, ~6.85 cents/kWh)
APS does not offer retail-rate net metering. Since 2017 it uses net billing: your home consumes your solar first, and any excess you export to the grid is bought back at the Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) export rate, an avoided-cost rate set by the Arizona Corporation Commission that is well below the retail rate you pay for power. The RCP rate is about 6.85 cents/kWh (2024-2025), roughly 60% of the ~16.5 cents/kWh retail average. Exports earn a monthly bill credit; unused credit rolls forward month to month, and APS issues a refund check at year-end if your accumulated credit exceeds $25. The RCP rate steps down by up to 10% each year (it has dropped about 10% nearly every September since 2017, except 2020), falling to roughly 6.17 cents/kWh on September 1, 2025. Importantly, the rate in effect when you submit your interconnection application is locked in for 10 years, so earlier adopters keep a higher export credit. Because exports are credited below retail, the economics strongly favor self-consumption and pairing solar with battery storage.
What it means for solar
APS rates have risen about 2.7 percent per year over the past decade. Solar can offset that grid cost, every kWh you generate and use is a kWh you do not buy, but how much you save depends on your rate level and on how exported power is credited (Net billing (RCP export rate, ~6.85 cents/kWh)). Where exports are worth little, using your own solar, often with a battery, matters more than selling surplus back. Whether solar makes sense depends on your usage, roof, and rate plan, so get a site-specific quote.
APS service area
APS serves Arizona: APS serves 11 of Arizona's 15 counties, including most of metro Phoenix and surrounding communities, across roughly 34,600 square miles. Investor-owned utility (IOU) regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by APS, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | APS (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 12.93 |
| 2016 | 13.11 |
| 2017 | 13.57 |
| 2018 | 14.16 |
| 2019 | 13.6 |
| 2020 | 13.24 |
| 2021 | 13.45 |
| 2022 | 13.87 |
| 2023 | 15.31 |
| 2024 | 16.45 |
Sources: EIA Form 861 (Sales to Ultimate Customers), 2015-2024 annual files · EIA Table 6: 2024 Utility Bundled Retail Sales - Residential (2024 reconciliation, APS = 16.45 cents/kWh) · EIA Arizona Electricity Profile / State data · APS Rate Schedule R-1 Fixed Energy Charge tariff (A.C.C. No. 6148, eff. March 8, 2024) · APS Rate Schedule TOU-E Time-of-Use tariff (A.C.C. No. 6154, eff. March 8, 2024) · APS Residential Service Plans (rate plan overview) · APS Rate Rider RCP (Resource Comparison Proxy export rate schedule) · Solar.com: Solar Net Billing in Arizona (RCP mechanics, 10% annual cap, 10-year lock) · Solar Topps: APS Solar Buyback Rates 2026 (6.85 cents now, ~6.17 cents after Sept 1, 2025)
FAQ
How much have APS electricity rates gone up?
APS's average residential price rose about 27 percent since 2015, roughly 2.7 percent per year, reaching about 16.45 cents per kWh in 2024.
Does APS offer net metering for solar?
APS uses Net billing (RCP export rate, ~6.85 cents/kWh). See the net metering section above for exactly how exported solar is credited and what that means for your system.
Is solar worth it with APS?
It depends on your electricity usage, roof, system size, and whether you add a battery. Higher rates and rate increases make solar more attractive, but the value of exported power depends on APS's net metering rules. Get a site-specific quote rather than relying on a general estimate.
Where does this rate data come from?
The per-year prices come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Form 861, and the current rate structures come from the public Utility Rate Database. Both are public, free, and updated regularly.