APS :: Community Power Project

Power & Energy Services, Residential and Business: APS

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APS is proposing a pilot project in Flagstaff designed to increase the deployment of renewable energy, especially distributed energy from solar panels. The APS Community Power Project provides another opportunity for people to “go solar.” With no upfront costs, community members will host solar electric systems on their rooftops and join with their neighbors to form, in essence, an interconnected renewable power plant. The pilot will also be a part of APS’s smart grid initiatives for operation and data collection.

APS will own, operate and receive energy from solar panels on eligible customer rooftops. APS will hire solar contractors to install and maintain the system at no upfront cost to customers.

How It Will Work

Eligible customers must be served by the Sandvig 4 feeder.
A web screening tool will help determine if a home is served by Sandvig 4. It will also determine if other requirements such as roof direction, age and structural integrity, are met by the customer.
APS or its contractor will conduct a physical assessment of the customer property to verify engineering and eligibility requirements are met.
Customers will sign an easement, allowing APS access for panel installation and maintenance.
After installation is complete the customer will be eligible to receive service under the Community Power rate.

Participants will receive a portion of their energy, determined by the size of the system hosted, from solar energy. The solar energy is provided under the Community Power rate, and is available only to participants in this pilot project. Solar energy will be billed just like all APS services, on the standard customer bill. The Community Power rate is fixed for 20 years and therefore provides participating customers stable, predictable electricity prices.

Sandvig 4 is the name of the distribution area (or “feeder”) in northeastern Flagstaff that will host the Community Power Project pilot. It is generally bounded by Railhead Ave. to the south, Wupatki Trail to the north, Kochfield Rd. to the east, and Timberline Estates to the west. The Sandvig 4 feeder serves about 3,000 homes and businesses. In all, APS seeks to install 1.5 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity with the Community Power Project pilot.

Customers will host 1,000 kW:
Residential -- 600 kW Commercial/Industrial -- 400 kW
APS will host 500 kW (solar & wind)
Limited-income customers may
receive solar water heaters
(about 50 systems)

Renewable energy will meet more than 1,600 MW of the growth in energy consumption APS expects over the next 15 to 20 years. While much of this energy will come from large power plants like the Solana Generating Station, a 280-MW solar power plant planned for 2012, distributed energy will also play an important role in our customers’ energy needs. Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requires that 30 percent of APS’ renewable energy be generated from distributed energy sources, such as photovoltaic systems on customer homes and businesses.

Customers

Enabled to go solar
No maintenance worries
Upfront costs removed
Gain control over energy costs

Arizona

Capitalizes on our most abundant resource
Grows the solar economy
Leverages skilled AZ installers
Invests in our communities

APS

Uses utility strengths to remove barriers for customers
Delivers on the RES
Embraces the opportunity to learn
Making a wise investment

Additional Resources

Flagstaff is at the forefront of APS’s smart grid technology initiatives. APS will be installing automated network switches and remote monitoring equipment that help improve the responsiveness and reliability of the electric distribution system. Key to this is the installation of more than 30,000 digital “smart” meters at our customers’ homes and businesses. Together with the Community Power Project, smart grid technologies will help APS learn how distributed energy impacts its system.

Solar Water Heaters & Wind Power
The Community Power Project pilot will also include the installation of about 50 solar water heaters. The installations will be geared toward limited-income customers and the energy savings will have a direct impact on their utility bills.

APS will also establish sites in the pilot area to test small-scale wind turbines. Working with Northern Arizona University, APS will study energy output from these wind systems and work to improve ways to locate turbines for the greatest gains.

Utility Speak

Distributed Energy
Electricity generated fom small energy sources at or near where the energy is being used and typically on the customer’s property.

Easement
The right to use the owner’s land for a specific purpose -- for example, to install and
monitor an electric meter or to install and maintain solar panels.

Feeder
An electric distribution
line (less than 69,000 volts)
carrying power from a substation to individual customers.

Photovoltaic
Solar panels that use sunlight to generate electricity.

Renewable Energy
Standard (RES)
The Arizona Corporation
Commission requirement that Arizona utilities generate 15 percent of their electricity from
renewable resources by 2025.

Smart Grid
Use of technology to improve electric system analysis and diagnosis, which results in improved reliability and responsiveness.

Contact:

(800) 253-9405 (outside metro-Phoenix)
(602) 371-7171
communitypower@aps.com