What AC rebates does APS offer?
If you’re looking for an APS AC rebate on a new air conditioner or heat pump, the short version is that APS no longer offers one. One APS program still affects cooling, though, and it’s worth knowing before you replace or repair a system. First, make sure APS is actually your utility. In Maricopa County, electric service comes from either APS or SRP depending on where you live, so check the name on your electric bill, or call APS at 602-371-7171 with your address.
Is there still an APS AC rebate?
No. APS’s rebates page said the AC rebate, the smart thermostat rebate, and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Checkup rebates were no longer available, following Arizona Corporation Commission Decision No. 81584. APS has since taken that page down.
If you’re getting a quote now, don’t count on an equipment rebate from APS, even if an older page or a contractor’s website still mentions one. If a quote includes an APS rebate, ask the contractor which program it means and where APS lists it.
Without a utility rebate, the efficiency level you choose comes down to your own operating costs and budget. Our guide to what a new AC costs in Phoenix covers what drives the total.
What happened to the APS duct sealing rebate?
APS used to pay a $250 rebate when a participating contractor repaired and sealed leaky ductwork. That rebate ran through the APS AC Rebate and Home Energy Checkup programs, and both of those programs ended, so the duct rebate ended with them. APS has since removed its duct rebate page too.
Leaky ducts still cost you, rebate or not. APS’s duct page said they can add to your bill each year and affect indoor air quality, and it named several signs that ducts may be leaking:
- Dark or discolored insulation on the ductwork
- Rooms that are hard to heat or cool
- Rooms that feel stuffy or dusty
- Lukewarm or cold air from a heat pump in winter
What APS still offers for cooling
Cool Rewards is a smart thermostat program. APS pays a $50 one-time enrollment bill credit per smart thermostat, plus a $35 participation bill credit per thermostat at the end of each season you stay enrolled, for up to $85 in the first year. It’s a bill credit for letting APS adjust your thermostat, not a rebate on equipment.
How to enroll in Cool Rewards
You need to be an APS residential customer with an eligible internet-connected smart thermostat that controls your central air conditioning. Enroll through the Cool Rewards page on aps.com. Between June 1 and September 30, APS can call up to 20 conservation events, usually lasting 2 to 3 hours and typically starting at 5 or 6 p.m. APS sends an email the day of an event, and you can change your thermostat at any time during one.
Program terms can change, so confirm current amounts and requirements on aps.com before you enroll.
Other options for APS customers replacing an AC
If APS serves your home, a few things are still worth checking:
- Efficiency Arizona (HEAR): a separate program, not run by APS, that offers electrification rebates to households at or below 150% of area median income. Homes that already have a heat pump don’t qualify for its heat pump rebate. Check whether your household qualifies before you choose equipment.
- Your utility, one more time: if your bill says SRP, see what AC rebates SRP offers instead.
- Your contractor’s quote: ask for the SEER2 rating in writing, and ask whether the quote assumes any rebate. If it does, ask which program and confirm it with the program itself.