APS serves 1.5 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties and is a leader in safely delivering reliable, affordable electricity in the Southwest. With 140 years of experience serving Arizona, APS is the main subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).
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APS Keeps Power Flowing During Record Energy Demand
Investments in the grid, year-round maintenance, and careful planning help APS deliver the reliable service customers count on when they need it most.
As sustained high summer temperatures pushed energy use to a new high late last week, Arizona Public Service (APS) customers counted on reliable power to keep homes, businesses and air conditioners running. And APS delivered, as customers set a new all-time peak energy demand record on Friday, July 24, 2026, using 9,053 megawatts (MW) between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., according to preliminary figures. The previous record was set Aug. 7, 2025, when APS customers’ energy use hit a peak of 8,648 MW. One MW of energy is enough to serve about 160 Arizona homes.
As high temperatures impact many parts of the country, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order on July 26 directing the deployment of backup generation resources in a number of states to ensure grid reliability. The order does not apply to Arizona Public Service and does not impact APS customers. APS has sufficient generation and reserves to serve our customers throughout the state.
APS provides top-tier reliable service to customers throughout the year, supported by investments, years of planning and year-round preparation to keep the lights on and air conditioners running during Arizona’s hottest days. Ensuring this level of reliability requires proactive infrastructure maintenance, grid upgrades, resource planning and power plant readiness that strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the electrical system.
APS crews, supported by a team of meteorologists and other experts, regularly inspect, maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure, prepare equipment and generating resources for periods of high demand, and train year-round for storms and emergencies. Together, these efforts ensure customers have safe, reliable power when they need it most.
Peak demand is the period of time when customer energy use is at its highest. This is the fourth consecutive year APS customers have set a peak energy use record, reflecting continued growth across Arizona as more people move here, new businesses open and the economy expands. This growth requires APS to invest more than $2.5 billion a year in upgrades, operations and maintenance of the electrical system to provide customers with top-tier reliability.
APS is strengthening Arizona's energy future with a balanced mix of resources designed to support reliability while meeting growing energy demand. Flexible natural gas generation helps APS integrate more solar, wind and energy storage on the grid, ensuring energy is available when customers need it most, especially during Arizona's hottest days. Nuclear energy also remains a critical component of APS's portfolio, supported by ongoing investments in Palo Verde Generating Station and the continued evaluation of future nuclear generation opportunities.
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