Side by side (AZ, EIA-861)
| Metric | Arizona Public Service (APS) | Salt River Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.45 | 13.46 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 15.31 | 12.47 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,777 | $1,453 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,256,120 | 1,053,407 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Public district |
| Counties served in AZ | 14 | 3 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Arizona Public Service (APS) · Salt River Project · Arizona overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Gila · Maricopa · Pinal counties (AZ, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project do not compete for the same meters. Arizona is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (azcc.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Arizona Public Service (APS) cheaper than Salt River Project?
- No — in 2024 Arizona Public Service (APS) customers averaged 16.45 cents/kWh versus 13.46 for Salt River Project (EIA-861). Salt River Project was cheaper by 2.99 cents, about $323 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Arizona Public Service (APS) to Salt River Project?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Arizona has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Arizona Public Service (APS) more expensive than Salt River Project?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between APS and Salt River Project territory all feed the 2.99-cent gap.