Safety Net Program Helps Avoid Electric Service Disruption

July 15, 2008

Phoenix, AZ  -   Some customers may not be paying their electric bills for reasons other than financial challenge - and could face the prospect of being without electricity without even knowing it. That's where the APS Safety Net Partner Program comes in.

"Our Safety Net Program, open and free to all our customers, enables APS to notify a designated third party if one of our customers is facing an interruption of service," explains Linda Haven, manager, APS Revenue Recovery. "The third party is not held liable for the customer's bill. The idea is that the third party can remind the customer that their payment is past-due so they avoid losing their electric service. Safety Net can help give customers added protection against disruption of electric service when they might need it the most." 

The APS Safety Net Partner Program is designed to help:

• Elderly customers, who may not remember or get around to paying their bills on a regular basis
• Customers who become ill and may require longer term care, either in or away from home
• Any other condition that takes customers away from their homes on a regular basis, such as frequent travel.

Haven said the designated third party may be a relative, a trusted friend or even a community agency. Once authorized, the designee will receive a copy of any notice sent to the customer regarding interruption of service due to non payment. However, only the APS customer of record can make credit arrangements with APS and APS cannot share any other customer information with the designee. 

To be included in the APS Safety Net Partner Program, a short pre-addressed card must be signed by both the APS customer and their designee, dropped in the mail, or brought into an APS office.

Customers may find out about the program by visiting aps.com or by calling (602) 371-7171 in the Phoenix area, or (800) 253-9405 statewide. 

APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. In 2008, APS won its second Edison Award in recognition of innovative leadership and operational excellence in the electric industry. Given annually by the Edison Electric Institute, the Edison Award is considered the industry's most prestigious honor. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

Damon Gross
(602) 250-2269