Utility Assistance for Seniors in Arizona

Utility assistance for seniors in Arizona starts with the company on your bill. APS, SRP, Southwest Gas and EPCOR each run their own income-qualified discounts and payment help, and the state LIHEAP program through DES helps with energy bills. Maricopa County Human Services handles bill help for many residents outside Phoenix, Glendale and Mesa.

Call Terry: 602-483-4665

First, know which utility serves the house

Every program on this page belongs to a specific company or agency, so the first step is knowing who sends your bills. In Greater Phoenix, electric service is usually APS or SRP depending on the street. Natural gas, where a home has it, is usually Southwest Gas. Water can be a city utility or a private water company. EPCOR, for example, lists Sun City and Sun City West among its Arizona water service areas.

The help follows the company on the bill, not the name of the community. My Sun City AZ utilities setup guide walks through who serves the Sun Cities and how to start service when you move in.

APS assistance programs

APS keeps its programs on one assistance page at aps.com/assistance. The main ones for retirees on a fixed income:

• Energy Support Program. A monthly bill discount based on household income, with an added discount for households that rely on electricity for life-saving medical equipment. You can apply online and upload documents, or ask for a paper application. APS lists Social Security, veterans benefits and annuity statements among the accepted income documents. Enrollment lasts 24 months, then you reapply.
• Crisis Bill Assistance. Help for a temporary financial hardship, offered through partner agencies including Maricopa County Human Services.
• APS CARE. Bill help through The Salvation Army, which APS says is available regardless of income.
• Medical Care Program. Outage preparedness notifications for customers with a life-threatening illness or electric medical equipment.

To ask for a paper application or a payment arrangement, call the APS Care Center at 602-371-7171 or 800-253-9405.

SRP assistance programs

SRP's limited-income assistance page lists the SRP Income-Qualified Discount, a monthly discount for customers who meet income guidelines, along with payment plans and bill extension options for past-due bills. You can enroll through SRP's financial assistance page or by calling 602-236-8888, which SRP staffs 24/7 including holidays. Spanish service is 602-236-1111.

SRP also offers a Medical Preparedness Program for customers who rely on electricity for medical life-support equipment, SRP Safety Net alerts that tell a family member if your bill goes past due, Budget Billing to level out monthly payments, and a free Home Energy Assessment.

Southwest Gas assistance programs

Southwest Gas lists its Arizona options at swgas.com/azassist:

• Low Income Ratepayer Assistance (LIRA). A discounted monthly basic service charge and a reduced rate, applied for through the MyAccount portal.
• Bill Assistance Program. Short-term help for low-income customers facing a hardship or crisis.
• Energy Share. An emergency fund for qualified customers, handed out by a local assistance agency.
• Weatherization. No-cost improvements such as insulation, weather-stripping and duct or window repairs for income-qualified owners and renters.
• Medically Fragile Household. For a qualifying medical condition; eligible customers may get priority gas restoration after an outage.
• Third Party Notification and Installment Plan. A relative can be told about a late bill, and past-due balances can be spread out.

For payment help or the Installment Plan, Southwest Gas lists 877-860-6020.

EPCOR and city water help

EPCOR's Arizona financial assistance page lists a Low Income Program that adds a monthly credit to the water bill for residential customers who qualify by household income. It is open to people in HOAs, apartments and mobile home parks, and enrollment depends on available space. You apply with a downloadable form by email or mail. EPCOR also offers payment arrangements and a Disabled Veterans Assistance credit that can be combined with the Low Income Program. Call EPCOR Customer Care at 1-800-383-0834.

If a city runs your water, check that city's utility page for its own help. Veterans can also see my veterans resources for Arizona retirees.

LIHEAP through DES and Maricopa County

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. In Arizona, the Department of Economic Security runs the application. It offers regular benefits and crisis benefits for households facing a shut-off or past-due notice. DES says its point system gives extra weight to households with vulnerable members, including people 60 or older.

Apply online through the A-to-Z Arizona Portal or with a paper application. For help filling it out, contact your local Community Action Agency, or call the DES LIHEAP line at 1-866-494-1981, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Maricopa County Human Services runs utility assistance through its Senior Services and Community Resilience Division for county residents who live outside Glendale, Mesa and Phoenix, which have their own programs. That covers places like Sun City, Sun City West, Peoria and Surprise. You can start with an online prescreen, or call your local Community Action Program office for an appointment. Bring a photo ID, 30 days of household income documents and recent utility bills. General questions: 602-506-0589.

Summer shutoff protections

The Arizona Corporation Commission reported that APS chose not to disconnect residential customers from June 1 through October 15, 2026. SRP is not regulated by the Commission and sets its own summer policy, so ask SRP what applies this year. Either way, the bills still come due, and the balance builds while the protection is on. That is why I tell clients to apply for help early instead of waiting for fall. My Phoenix heat safety guide for seniors covers cooling centers and keeping the AC running.

Who to call, step by step

1. Find the company name on your bill. Call that company first and ask about its income-qualified discount and payment plans.
2. If you are behind or have a shutoff notice, ask the utility about crisis help, then call DES LIHEAP at 1-866-494-1981.
3. Outside Phoenix, Glendale and Mesa, contact Maricopa County Human Services or your local Community Action Program office.
4. If someone in the home uses electric medical equipment, enroll in the utility's medical program.
5. Set up a bill alert for a family member through Safety Net or Third Party Notification, especially if you spend summers away.
6. Get any payment arrangement in writing and keep a copy.

Rules and program names change, so read the live page before you apply. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.

Utility assistance for seniors Arizona: questions people ask

Is there a senior discount on APS or SRP bills?

Neither assistance page lists a discount based on age alone. Both offer income-based discounts, and APS accepts Social Security statements as proof of income. LIHEAP gives extra weight to households with someone 60 or older.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Arizona?

Apply online through the DES A-to-Z Arizona Portal or with a paper application. Your local Community Action Agency can help, and the DES LIHEAP line is 1-866-494-1981.

Does Southwest Gas have a low-income program?

Yes. LIRA lowers the monthly basic service charge and the gas rate for customers who qualify. Southwest Gas also has a Bill Assistance Program, Energy Share and free weatherization for qualified households.

Can I get help with an EPCOR water bill in Sun City?

EPCOR serves water in Sun City and Sun City West, and its Low Income Program adds a monthly credit for customers who qualify, while space lasts. Call 1-800-383-0834 or apply with the form on EPCOR's site.

Can a family member watch my utility bills?

Yes. APS and SRP have Safety Net programs, and Southwest Gas has Third Party Notification. Each one alerts a person you choose about a late bill without making them responsible for paying it.