The Arizona Governor's Office of Resiliency announced its Efficiency Arizona program has provided its 1,000th rebate for highly efficient appliances and HVAC equipment. As of April 30, the program has delivered 1,076 rebates to qualifying Arizona households, resulting in 618,152 kilowatt-hours of energy savings, according to the office. Low-income households have received more than 77 percent of these investments.

Keeping a home cool through an Arizona summer can come with a big price tag. But there are resources available in the state for utility assistance and air conditioning repairs. Here’s where to start.

The state has a new utility assistance program to help Arizonans with their power bill this summer. Power AZ has $15 million through Sept. 30 for the program, which is open to more people than the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

One of the fastest-growing states in the nation, Arizona is undergoing a tech-driven economic boom, with major investments from chip manufacturers, electric vehicle factories and digital data companies transforming it into a global hub for high-tech industry. This economic engine is bringing high-quality jobs and investment to our communities, but it also brings a distinct set of challenges.

Salt River Project (SRP) has reached an agreement with NextEra Energy Resources to generate 3,000 megawatts of new solar energy by the end of 2034, which would be enough to power almost 600,000 homes. The agreement will add enough solar capacity to power 595,000 houses and is a big step in SRP’s goal to “more than double the capacity of its power system by 2035,” according to a press release.

On Wednesday, April 22, the ACC held its fifth and final public comment meeting about TEP’s proposed rate increase. Next will come a weeks-long hearing regarding TEP’s proposal, which would increase rates by 14%.

When the Valley’s utilities think of Earth Day, it’s primarily about how they are trying to wean the power grid off carbon sources of generation. Salt River Project serves more than 2 million people in central Arizona, including those within the Phoenix area. After a highly publicized election, newly elected board President Chris Dobson is excited to see what’s new for SRP’s reliability, sustainability and affordability in the coming years.

The summer months are just around the corner, and for many residents, that means higher utility bills. It is not uncommon for costs to skyrocket during the desert heat, often doubling or tripling. However, there are basic ways to keep costs in check and get help doing it.