SRP Rate Hike: One Of The Worst Arizona Hikes

It happened again, the Salt River Project, better known as SRP, has increased their rates. SRP customers saw an increase in their November 2023 bills of around 8 percent. Although SRP customers are upset with the increase, SRP General Manager and CEO Mike Hummel states that "SRP remains committed to keeping rates low as we work to meet the growing energy needs of the Greater Phoenix area” (SRP).

The board of directors met in March of 2023 to go over these rates. This was an increase to an already approved rate hike. The SRP board then approved an increase in the fuel and purchased power adjustment mechanism, FPPAM. SRP explains how “FPPAM is the rate that SRP charges to recover the costs of fuel, including natural gas, and purchased power agreements used to maintain energy reliability” (SRP). According to SRP, these costs are passed through to customers without any markup. 

As SRP bills increase, so do residents' attention towards their energy usage. Here are a few ways that you can help lower your electricity bill. 

​Switch Plans

Switching plans with SRP can save you money. Currently, there are seven different plans that SRP customers can choose from.

• Basic Price Plan- This is the standard plan, and includes one price for energy no matter what time of day it is. The cost of energy only changes three times, with a lower winter rate, higher rate in July and August, and a happy medium in May, June, September and October. 
  
• M-Power Plan- this plan allows you to pay in advance. This plan also includes the same rates each hour of the day, with standard increases in summer. 
  
• Time of Use Plan- seemingly one of the most popular plans, this plan has on and off peak times during weekdays, where customers are supposed to limit their usage of major appliances (air conditioning, dishwasher, etc.).
  
• EZ-3 Plan (3pm-6pm) & EZ-3 Plan (4pm-7pm)- these two plans allow customers to only limit their usage from either 3pm to 6pm or 4pm to 7pm. These rates are a bit higher than the time of use plan, but are popular for their flexible schedules. 
  
• Electric Vehicle Plan- this plan allows a “super off peak” time for customers, allowing them to charge their car between 11pm and 5am for much less than other plans. 
  
• Customer Generation Plan- This plan is for solar users, and boasts the lowest prices of all SRP plans. ​
  

For information on different types of plans, view our blogs. 

Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Although many people scoff at the simplicity, keeping your air conditioning filters clean is a must. A clogged filter can cause your air conditioner to run a lot harder, wearing it down over time and costing you more. Arizona's famous haboobs can do a number on your air conditioning filters, and will require you to change them more often. 
Regular maintenance is also important, as nobody wants to be woken up to a broken air conditioner. Here at Green ID, we complete a 22 point inspection to ensure that your air conditioner is running efficiently. With our maintenance special, you’ll receive 2 tune-ups per year, plus 20% off repairs and 10% off new units.

Replace Inefficient Appliances

Replacing inefficient appliances can help lower your electricity bill in the long run. We have made great strides in making energy efficient appliances affordable. For example, washers and dryers account for a lot of a home's energy usage- replacing them with Energy Star appliances can help cut down on those costs. In the heat of Arizona, drying your clothes outside may be a good option, too. 

Lighting

Lighting can make a huge difference when it comes to energy usage. We use our lights more than we realize, so switching to LED or other efficient bulbs can be a cost effective way to lower our electricity bills.

Energy Audits

An energy audit can help you find places in your home that are not energy efficient. Your home could have unsealed ducts, internal moisture, air leakage, draft leakage, and other issues that are costing you money each month. 
During an energy audit, one of our seasoned auditors will go through your home with infrared cameras and complete pressure tests, insulation evaluations, pool pump evaluations, and more. One energy audit checks all of the main efficiency issues. Afterwards, we will go over what you can do to increase your home's efficiency. 

Green ID Arizona

A small business here in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, we have been serving the Valley for over 10 years. We ensure that our customers' homes are as efficient as possible, and aim to save them as much as possible on their monthly bills. 
Don’t wait for another rate hike. Make sure your home is as efficient as possible today.