Energy Costs are a Major Concern for Arizonans, but Commonsense Solutions Can Help

Arizonans don’t agree on everything, but one thing many agree on is that the rising cost of electricity is a major stress for households across the state. As temperatures continue to rise and budgets are stretched, keeping energy affordable has emerged as a major priority for Arizonans across the political spectrum.

The good news is that solutions are in reach.

A new statewide energy issues poll commissioned by The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, in partnership with Arizona PIRG Education Fund, underscored these concerns. In fact, if your electric bill has increased in the past two years, your summer utility bills are difficult to afford, or you’ve raised your thermostat to an uncomfortable temperature to save money, you are not alone. A majority of respondents reported the same experience, according to the poll, which was conducted by Noble Predictive Insights.

While these results are alarming, there are solutions that can reduce your bill while simultaneously mitigating climate change and air pollution, the second and third biggest energy concerns ranked by Arizonans.

One of those opportunities is energy efficiency, which means using less energy to provide the same or comparable service such as sealing drafts and leaks, installing more efficient air-conditioning systems, improving insulation, or using more efficient appliances.

The poll found overwhelming support for energy efficiency programs offered by utilities, with 88% of respondents showing their support. Additionally, 81% said they would financially support expanding rebates and incentives designed to lower monthly energy bills and reduce household costs. Furthermore, more than 8 in 10 support energy-efficiency programs that are available to all utility customers. Similar to making electricity affordable, increasing energy efficiency is something people across the party line agree on.

Despite strong support for energy efficiency, the survey found many consumers are unaware of available programs and may choose not to participate due to an upfront cost or uncertainty about whether the investment will pay off. If you have such reservations or questions, we encourage you to contact your utility to discuss them and visit EfficiencyArizona.com to see if you qualify for energy efficiency home rebates. Policymakers should also take note and make it easier for Arizonans to take advantage of energy efficiency programs in our homes and businesses.

The bottom line is this: Arizonans may approach issues from different perspectives. Although there are many ways to address high electric bills and ensure they are just and reasonable, practical measures such as energy efficiency can reduce costs, energy waste and air pollution, while providing greater reliability and common ground.