APS Solar Rate Plans

There are two APS Solar Rate Plans to choose from when you go solar in the APS territory:

1. Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays (Previously named Saver Choice)
2. Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays with Demand Charge (Previously named Saver Choice Max)

The APS Solar Plan you choose will affect the amount of savings you enjoy after going solar. Unfortunately, choosing your APS Solar Plan can be a complicated and frustrating process. But, after reading this article, you will have a full understanding of the APS Solar Rate Plans. See the Glossary for definitions of the terms used in this article. Below we will cover the important components of each APS Solar Plan.

See our page on APS for more information on the electric utility.

APS Solar Rate Plans – Time of Use

Both APS Solar Rate Plans have three time of use segments: On-Peak, Off-Peak, and Super Off-Peak.

On-Peak times are Monday through Friday from 4PM to 7PM. Off-Peak times are weekends and certain holidays. Super Off-Peak times are in the Winter months only (November through April) Monday through Friday from 10AM to 3PM. Further, On-Peak times have the highest usage charges, Off-Peak times have the mid-range usage charges, and Super Off-Peak times have the lowest usage charges.

See our pages on APS On-Peak Hours and APS Off-Peak Hours for more information on this.

Holidays Included as Off-Peak

The following holidays are considered Off-Peak no matter what time of day and day of the week they fall on, unless otherwise noted:

1. New Year’s Day,
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
3. Presidents Day,
4. Cesar Chavez Day,
5. Memorial Day,
6. Independence Day,
7. Labor Day,
8. Veterans Day,
9. Thanksgiving Day,
10. and Christmas Day.

If these holidays fall on a Saturday, the preceding Friday will be off-peak.

If they fall on a Sunday, the following Monday will be off-peak.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are off-peak holidays as well but only when they fall on a weekday.

APS Solar Rate Plans – Seasonal Energy Rates

Plan Comparison

Choosing the Right Plan

Choosing the right plan after going solar depends on what APS Plan you had before solar and your habits of using energy in your home. For more information on this topic, see our page on APS Plans Before Solar.

Many customers are on the Fixed Energy Charge Plan before going solar, which is an APS Plan that has a flat usage charge at all times. After solar, there are two plans to choose from, and they are both Time-of-Use plans. On these plans, usage charges are different depending on the time of day and day of the week. Unfortunately, this can be expensive for customers that are unaware of the change in billing after going solar, as they are probably not in the habit of minimizing their energy use during On-Peak times.

Customers must adjust their habits to avoid using large electric appliances during On-Peak time, which is 4PM to 7PM Monday through Friday. This includes not using their clothes dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, electric hot water heater, electric stove and oven, microwave, or hair dryer.

APS Solar Rate Plans – Understanding Demand Charges

Customers on the Time-of-Use with Demand Charge plan will face very expensive demand charges if they use their large electric appliances simultaneously during On-Peak times. Remember, you can estimate your usage and demand with the APS Energy Estimator to gain a better understanding of your likely energy costs after solar. 

Customers that are less inclined to manage their large electric appliance usage during On-Peak times should never choose the Time-of-Use with Demand Charge plan because of the expensive demand charges.

On the other hand, customers that want to maximize their savings should choose the Time-of-Use with Demand Charge plan, and possibly purchase a Demand Manager with their solar system. Because, this plan presents the largest opportunity to save money if the customer can keep their demand charge low.