APS Natural Gas Build-Out Exposes Ratepayers to Global Price Shocks

The Sierra Club and Synapse Energy Economics have released a joint report warning that APS's plan to nearly double its natural gas supplies could expose ratepayers to global price shocks.

Since 2023, APS has added several new planned natural gas plants, representing 4.6 gigawatts of new supply by 2030, enough energy to power roughly 3 million homes.

Sandy Bahr, president of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter, says it's a clear departure from the renewable energy goals the utility once had, and that APS is exposing ratepayers to higher price volatility.

The report warns that in a worst-case scenario, APS gas expenditures could exceed $431 million, increasing average residential bills by $9 more a month.