It’s increasingly clear that extreme heat is becoming a longer, more dangerous fixture of Arizona summers and it’s not just an outdoor danger. For those without reliable air conditioning or the means to keep it running, heat relief resources can help vulnerable households stay safe.
Who’s most at risk when the heat moves indoors?
Cooling a home carries a heavy financial burden for many seniors and low-income families. On average, low-income households spend three times more of their income on energy bills than their middle- and upper-income counterparts. When bills outweigh basic needs, tough choices follow, like shutting off the AC during the most dangerous hours of the day to make ends meet.
Last summer, more than half of Maricopa County’s 44-day stretch of heat-related deaths happened on “moderate risk” days, underscoring that even seemingly manageable heat can be deadly.
Heat relief resources extending lifesaving aid
Fortunately, Arizonans can turn to a range of programs and resources to stay safe, cool and covered during extreme heat.
Cooling centers: Designated heat relief sites across Maricopa County — such as cooling centers, hydration stations and respite centers — offer free, air-conditioned spaces where individuals can rest, rehydrate and avoid dangerous exposure. Services providing free transportation to these sites are also available, and Arizonans can call 211 to check if they qualify.
Utility assistance for customers: Arizona’s major utilities offer financial aid programs to help customers reduce energy costs, avoid service disruptions and stay safe during extreme heat. SRP, for example, provides the following support options:
Economy Price Plan: Income-eligible customers can receive a $23 monthly discount on their SRP electric bill.
SRP Safety Net: Customers choose someone to notify them if their electric bill is past due.
SRP M-Power Price Plan: A pay-in-advance plan that offers flat-rate pricing. On average, M-Power customers save 12% on energy costs compared to other SRP plans.
Project SHARE: Customers facing financial hardship may qualify for up to $500 in bill assistance through this partnership between SRP, SRP customers and the Salvation Army.
Energy Assistance by City: A city-by-city resource hub for SRP customers to find local assistance programs. As of July, SRP provides $5 million annually to support bill assistance.
SRP eNotes: Text and email notifications for outage updates, high usage alerts, billing projections and payment reminders to better manage energy use.
Weatherization Assistance Program: Helps income-qualified households make energy efficiency upgrades that can lower future energy bills.
The organization also connects vulnerable individuals and families with the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP — which helps eligible households cover heating and cooling costs to make monthly energy bills more manageable.
Heat safety starts with you
Knowing the signs of heat-related illness can save lives. Watch for symptoms like heavy sweating, nausea, dizziness or confusion, and seek medical attention immediately if they appear.
While the Valley of the Sun shines on everyone, its heat doesn’t affect all Arizonans equally. Sharing resources with and looking out for those most at risk can help more households weather the summer safely.
Editor’s note: Kelly McGowan is the executive director for Wildfire, a Phoenix-based nonprofit addressing poverty in Arizona through advocacy and service. Vanessa Kisicki is the associate general manager and chief customer executive for SRP, a not-for-profit utility serving more than 1.2 million people in the Phoenix metro area.
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