New APS Program Supports Solar on All-New Homes
Shea Homes' Trilogy at Vistancia First Developemnent to Participate

July 30, 2009

PHOENIX - Trilogy by Shea Homes is the first developer to sign up for APS' new Energy Star and Solar Homes Program, which offers home builders incentives for making solar water heaters, solar electric systems or the infrastructure to add such systems a standard option on all new homes.

All homes built in Trilogy at Vistancia not only will meet strict energy efficiency standards, but also will come with the ability to produce electricity from the sun. Trilogy by Shea Homes could receive as much as $1,400 from APS for each home sold.  

According to Barbara Lockwood, APS Director of Renewable Energy, the Energy Star and Solar Homes Program is a winning proposition for everyone involved.

"Homebuilders improve their bottom line by receiving a check from APS each time they sell a home, the customer gets a more stable monthly energy bill, APS increases the amount of solar energy produced in the state - and everyone gets cleaner air," she said.

Trilogy at Vistancia is located in Peoria, Ariz., in the northwest section of the Phoenix metropolitan area.  It is an active-lifestyle community focused on the changing needs of the Baby Boom generation, including business services, a luxurious spa, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a diverse range of recreation and education opportunities.   

The Solar Homes component was recently added to the already successful APS Energy Star Homes Program, which offers incentives to builders who adhere to specific energy efficiency standards. Builders must first meet the Energy Star efficiency standards before they are allowed to participate in the Solar program.

Builders have the option of developing a Solar Community or a Solar-Ready Community. At least half of the homes in a Solar Community will have a solar water heater or a solar electric system installed. Those that do not have solar, are "solar-ready," which means they contain the necessary infrastructure to add solar technologies in the future.  Trilogy at Vistancia is a Solar Community.

Todate, nearly all of the 3,000-plus solar installations by APS customers are on existing homes. However, installation of solar water heaters and solar electric systems can cost much less when added to a home during the construction phase or to a home that is solar-ready.   

"By making new homes solar-ready, APS is helping reduce the cost of solar installations for our customers," said Lockwood.

Increasing the amount of solar produced by homeowners is one way APS is looking to meet the growing demand for electricity over the next 15 years.  APS predicts customer demand for electricity in 2025 will be more than 50 percent higher than today. To address the challenge, APS is looking to accelerate the amount of renewable energy added to its generation portfolio.

Additional information on The APS Energy Star and Solar Homes program is available at www.aps.com/homes.

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)

Steven Gotfried
(602) 250-3040, Office
(602) 568-5067, Cell