OPINION — For many low-income Arizona families, summer utility bills can quickly become a financial emergency. As temperatures rise, keeping homes safe and cool means stretching already tight budgets even further. About 161,000 Arizona households are severely behind on utility bills, according to a 2025 analysis by The Century Foundation. The report also found Arizona has one of the nation’s highest average monthly energy bills at $289.
Extreme heat only raises the stakes, putting vulnerable populations — including families living paycheck to paycheck and older adults on fixed incomes — at even greater risk.
As summer approaches, the pressure will only intensify. But there are practical steps families can take now to reduce costs, avoid crises and stay safer through the heat.
