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Regulatory Matters
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters Regulatory Matters
APS expects to file an application with the ACC for its next general rate case mid-year 2025 and is continuing to evaluate the timing of such filing.

2022 Retail Rate Case

APS filed an application with the ACC on October 28, 2022 (the “2022 Rate Case”) seeking an increase in annual retail base rates.

On January 25, 2024, an Administrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Opinion and Order (“ROO”) in the 2022 Rate Case, as corrected on February 6, 2024 (the “2022 Rate Case ROO”). The 2022 Rate Case ROO recommended, among other things, (i) a $523.1 million increase in the annual base rate revenue requirement, (ii) a 9.55% return on equity, (iii) a 0.25% return on the increment of fair value rate base greater than original cost, (iv) an effective fair value rate of return of 4.36%, (v) 12 months of post-
test year plant and the inclusion of the Four Corners Effluent Limitations Guideline (“ELG”) project, (vi) the approval of APS’s System Reliability Benefit (“SRB”) proposal with certain procedural and other modifications, (vii) no additional Coal Community Transition (“CCT”) funding, (viii) a 5.0% return on the prepaid pension asset and a return of 5.35% on the OPEB liability, and (ix) no disallowances on APS’s coal contracts.

The 2022 Rate Case ROO also recommended a number of changes to existing adjustors, including (i) the approval of modified DSM performance incentives and the requested DSM transfer to base rates, (ii) the retention of $1.9 million of Renewable Energy Adjustment Charge (“REAC”) in the adjustor rather than base rates, (iii) a partial transfer of $27.1 million of LFCR funds to base rates, and (iv) the adoption of an increase in the annual PSA cap to $0.006/kWh.

On February 22, 2024, the ACC approved a number of amendments to the 2022 Rate Case ROO that resulted in, among other things, (i) an approximately $491.7 million increase in the annual base revenue requirement, (ii) a 9.55% return on equity, (iii) a 0.25% return on the increment of fair value rate base greater than original cost, (iv) an effective fair value rate of return of 4.39%, (v) a return set at the Company’s weighted average cost of capital on the net prepaid pension asset and net other post-employment benefit liability in rate base, (vi) an adjustment to generation maintenance and outage expense to reflect a more reasonable level of test year costs, (vii) approval of the SRB mechanism with modifications to customer notifications, procedural timelines and the inclusion of any qualifying technology and fuel source bid received through an all-source request for proposal (“ASRFP”), and (viii) recovery of all DSM costs through the DSM Adjustment Charge (“DSMAC”) rather than through base rates.

The ACC’s decision results in an expected total net annual revenue increase for APS of approximately $253.4 million and a roughly 8% increase to the typical residential customer’s bill. The ACC issued the final order for the 2022 Rate Case on March 5, 2024, with the new rates becoming effective for all service rendered on or after March 8, 2024.

Six intervenors and the Attorney General of Arizona requested rehearing on various issues included in the ACC’s decision, such as the grid access charge (“GAC”) for solar customers, the SRB, and CCT funding. On April 15, 2024, the ACC granted, in part, the rehearing applications of the Attorney General, Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, and Vote Solar specifically to review whether the GAC rate is just and reasonable, including whether it should be higher or lower, whether the GAC rate constitutes a discriminatory fee to solar customers, and whether omission of a GAC charge is discriminatory to non-solar customers. All other applications for rehearing were denied. A limited rehearing was held October 28 through November 1. Following the limited rehearing, an Administrative Law Judge issued a ROO (the “Limited Rehearing ROO”) on December 3, 2024. The Limited Rehearing ROO recommended affirming the GAC as just and reasonable and that the GAC is not discriminatory to solar customers and the absence of a GAC is not discriminatory to non-solar customers. On December 17, 2024, the ACC approved the Limited Rehearing ROO with an amendment that requires APS in its next rate case to propose a revenue allocation based on a site-load cost of service study in order to bring further parity in revenue collection between solar and non-solar customers. SEIA, AriSEIA, Vote Solar, the Arizona Attorney General, and two individual customers have filed requests for rehearing of the Commission’s December 17, 2024 decision on the rehearing. The Commission has taken no action on these requests. In addition, each of these parties have subsequently filed notices of appeal to the Arizona Court of Appeals seeking review of the Commission’s decisions regarding the GAC and on rehearing. APS cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.
2019 Retail Rate Case

On October 31, 2019, APS filed an application with the ACC for an annual increase in retail base rates (the “2019 Rate Case”). On August 2, 2021, an Administrative Law Judge issued a ROO in the 2019 Rate Case (the “2019 Rate Case ROO”) and issued corrections on September 10 and September 20, 2021.

On November 2, 2021, the ACC approved the 2019 Rate Case ROO, with various amendments, that resulted in, among other things, (i) a return on equity of 8.70%, which included a 20 basis points penalty; (ii) the recovery of the deferral and rate base effects of the operating costs and construction of the Four Corners selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) project, with the exception of $215.5 million (see “Four Corners SCR Cost Recovery” below); (iii) the CCT plan including the following components: (a) a payment of $1 million to the Hopi Tribe within 60 days of the 2019 Rate Case decision, (b) a payment of $10 million over three years to the Navajo Nation, (c) a payment of $0.5 million to the Navajo County communities within 60 days of the 2019 Rate Case decision, (d) up to $1.25 million for electrification of homes and businesses on the Hopi reservation, and (e) up to $1.25 million for the electrification of homes and businesses on the Navajo Nation reservation; and (iv) a change in the residential on-peak time-of-use period from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The 2019 Rate Case ROO, as amended, resulted in a total annual revenue decrease for APS of $4.8 million, excluding temporary payments and expenditures, under the CCT plan.

Consistent with the 2019 Rate Case decision, APS completed the following payments that are being recovered through rates related to the CCT: (i) $10 million to the Navajo Nation; (ii) $0.5 million to the Navajo County communities; and (iii) $1 million to the Hopi Tribe. Consistent with APS’s commitment to the impacted communities, APS has also completed the following payments: (i) $1.5 million to the Navajo Nation for CCT; (ii) $1.1 million to the Navajo County communities for CCT and economic development; and (iii) $1.25 million to the Hopi Tribe for CCT and economic development. The ACC also authorized $1.25 million to be spent for electrification of homes and businesses on each of the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservations. Expenditure of the recoverable funds for electrification of homes and businesses on the Navajo Nation and the Hopi reservations is contingent upon completion of a census of the unelectrified homes and businesses in each that are also within APS service territory. The census work was completed in November 2022 and disbursement of the funds for electrification of homes and businesses is planned to be finalized after discussions with the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe are completed. On February 22, 2024, the ACC voted to not approve any further CCT funding.

APS filed a Notice of Direct Appeal to the Arizona Court of Appeals on December 17, 2021 requesting review of certain aspects of the 2019 Rate Case. On March 6, 2023, the Court issued its opinion in this matter, affirming in part and reversing in part the ACC’s decision in the 2019 Rate Case. The Court vacated the 20 basis points penalty included in the ACC’s allowed return on equity, as the Court determined the use of customer service metrics to justify the reduction exceeded the ACC’s ratemaking authority. Additionally, the Court vacated the disallowance of $215.5 million of APS’s Four Corners SCR investment. The Court remanded the issue to the ACC for further proceedings.

On June 14, 2023, APS and the ACC Legal Division filed a joint resolution with the ACC to allow recovery of the $215.5 million in costs related to the installation of the Four Corners SCR, a reversal of the 20 basis points reduction to APS’s return on equity from 8.9% to 8.7% as a result of the 2019 Rate Case decision, and recovery of $59.6 million in revenue lost by APS between December 2021 and June 20, 2023. On June 21, 2023, the ACC approved the joint resolution and proposals therein for recovery through
the Court Resolution Surcharge (“CRS”) mechanism, which became effective on July 1, 2023. See “Court Resolution Surcharge” below for more information.

Regulatory Lag Docket

On January 5, 2023, the ACC opened a new docket to explore the possibility of modifications to the ACC’s historical test year rules. The ACC requested comments and held two workshops exploring ways to reduce regulatory lag, including alternative ratemaking structures such as future test years, hybrid test years, and formula rates. On December 3, 2024, the ACC approved a policy statement regarding formula rate plans. The policy statement allows regulated utilities to propose formula rate plans in future rate cases. Proposed plans must be based on a historical test year, include an annual update with a true-up and an earnings test to ensure a utility earns within a 20 basis points band of its authorized return on equity. Proposed plans should also include an annual meeting and challenge periods for stakeholder feedback. Utilities that implement formula rates also must file a full rate case at least every five years unless an alternate schedule is set by the ACC. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Cost Recovery Mechanisms
 
APS has received regulatory decisions that allow for more timely recovery of certain costs outside of a general retail rate case through the following recovery mechanisms. See “2022 Retail Rate Case” above for modifications of adjustment mechanisms in the 2022 Rate Case.
 
Renewable Energy Standard. In 2006, the ACC approved the RES. Under the RES, electric utilities that are regulated by the ACC must supply an increasing percentage of their retail electric energy sales from eligible renewable resources, including, for example, solar, wind, biomass, biogas and geothermal technologies. In order to achieve these requirements, the ACC allows APS to include a RES surcharge as part of customer bills to recover the approved amounts for use on renewable energy projects. Each year, APS is required to file a five-year implementation plan with the ACC and seek approval for funding the upcoming year’s RES budget.

In June 2021, the ACC adopted a clean energy rules package which would require APS to meet certain clean energy standards and technology procurement mandates, obtain approval for its action plan included in its Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”), and seek cost recovery in a rate process. Since the adopted clean energy rules differed substantially from the original ROO, supplemental rulemaking procedures were required before the rules could become effective. On January 26, 2022, the ACC reversed its prior decision and declined to send the final draft energy rules through the rulemaking process. Instead, the ACC opened a new docket to consider ASRFP requirements and the IRP process. See “Energy Modernization Plan” below for more information.

On July 1, 2021, APS filed its 2022 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $93.1 million. APS filed an amended 2022 RES Implementation Plan on December 9, 2021, with a proposed budget of $100.5 million. This budget included funding for programs to comply with the decision in the 2019 Rate Case, including the ACC authorizing spending $20 million to $30 million in capital costs for the continuation of the APS Solar Communities program each year for a period of three years from the effective date of the 2019 Rate Case decision. APS’s budget proposal supported existing approved projects and commitments and requested a waiver of the RES residential and non-residential distributed energy requirements for 2022. On May 18, 2022, the ACC approved the 2022
RES Implementation Plan, including an amendment requiring a stakeholder working group convene to develop a community solar program for the ACC’s consideration at a future date.

On July 1, 2022, APS filed its 2023 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $86.2 million, excluding any funding offsets. This budget contained funding for programs to comply with ACC-approved initiatives, including the 2019 Rate Case decision. APS’s budget proposal supported existing approved projects and commitments and requested a waiver of the RES residential and non-residential distributed energy requirements for 2023. On November 10, 2022, the ACC approved the 2023 RES Implementation Plan, including APS’s requested waiver of the distributed energy requirement for 2023.

On June 30, 2023, APS filed its 2024 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $95.1 million. APS’s budget proposal supports existing approved projects and commitments and requests a waiver of the RES renewable energy credit requirements to demonstrate compliance with the Annual Renewable Energy Requirement for 2023. The ACC has not yet ruled on the 2024 RES Implementation Plan. APS cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding.

On July 1, 2024, APS filed its 2025 RES Implementation Plan and proposed a budget of approximately $92.7 million. APS’s budget proposal supports existing approved projects and commitments and requests a waiver of the RES renewable energy credit requirements to demonstrate compliance with the Annual Renewable Energy Requirement for 2024. The ACC has not yet ruled on the 2025 RES Implementation Plan. APS cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding.

On June 14, 2021, APS filed an application for approval of its Green Power Partners Program (“GPP”). On September 1, 2021, the ACC approved the application. On June 28, 2024, APS filed an application for approval of modifications to the GPP and requested a renewable generation renewable energy credits waiver. The ACC has not yet ruled on the GPP application. APS cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding.

Demand Side Management Adjustor Charge. The ACC Electric Energy Efficiency Standards require APS to submit a DSM Implementation Plan annually for review and approval by the ACC. Verified energy savings from APS’s resource savings projects can be counted toward compliance with the Electric Energy Efficiency Standards; however, APS is not allowed to count savings from systems savings projects toward determination of the achievement of performance incentives, nor may APS include savings from these system savings projects in the calculation of its LFCR mechanism. See below for discussion of the LFCR.

On December 17, 2021, APS filed its 2022 DSM Implementation Plan in accordance with an extension granted in 2021. The 2022 DSM Plan requested a budget of $78.4 million and represents an increase of approximately $14 million in DSM spending above 2021. On November 10, 2022, the ACC approved the 2022 DSM Implementation Plan, including a proposed performance incentive.

On June 1, 2022, APS filed its 2023 Transportation Electrification Plan (“2023 TE Plan”). The 2023 TE Plan detailed APS’s efforts to support transportation electrification in Arizona, including the Take Charge AZ Pilot Program and customer education and outreach related to transportation electrification. Subsequently, APS filed an amended 2023 TE Plan on November 30, 2022, that included a request for a $5 million budget. On December 12, 2023, the ACC approved the 2023 TE Plan without including the
Take Charge AZ Program and its budget going forward, but allowed APS to complete projects already underway. Additionally, the ACC discontinued the residential EV SmartCharger rebate and approved modifications to the EV rate plan.

On November 30, 2022, APS filed its 2023 DSM Implementation Plan, which requested a budget of $88 million. On May 31, 2023, APS filed an amended 2023 DSM Implementation Plan. The amended plan maintained the originally proposed budget of $88 million. Subsequent to filing the amended 2023 DSM Implementation Plan and prior to the ACC approving it, on November 30, 2023, APS filed its 2024 DSM Implementation Plan. The 2024 DSM Implementation Plan requested a total budget of $91.5 million and incorporated all elements of the amended 2023 DSM Implementation Plan as well as the 2024 TE Implementation Plan. On April 26, 2024, APS filed an amendment to the 2024 DSM Implementation Plan. The amended 2024 DSM Implementation Plan includes an updated budget of $90.9 million to reflect removal of incentive funds for the Level 2 Smart Charger rebate within the EV Charging Demand Management Pilot, an update on the performance incentive calculation, and the withdrawal of tranches two and three of the residential battery pilot. The ACC has not yet ruled on the amended 2024 DSM Implementation Plan. In a letter filed May 31, 2024, APS said it would not file a 2025 DSM Implementation Plan pending ACC review of the amended 2024 DSM Implementation Plan. APS cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding.

Power Supply Adjustor Mechanism and Balance. The PSA provides for the adjustment of retail rates to reflect variations primarily in retail fuel and purchased power costs. The PSA is subject to specified parameters and procedures, including the following:

APS records deferrals for recovery or refund to the extent actual retail fuel and purchased power costs vary from the Base Fuel Rate;
an adjustment to the PSA rate is made annually each February 1 (unless otherwise approved by the ACC) and goes into effect automatically unless suspended by the ACC;
the PSA uses a forward-looking estimate of fuel and purchased power costs to set the annual PSA rate, which is reconciled to actual costs experienced for each PSA Year (February 1 through January 31) (see the following bullet point);
the PSA rate includes (a) a “forward component,” under which APS recovers or refunds differences between expected fuel and purchased power costs for the upcoming calendar year and those embedded in the Base Fuel Rate; (b) a “historical component,” under which differences between actual fuel and purchased power costs and those recovered or refunded through the combination of the Base Fuel Rate and the forward component are recovered during the next PSA Year; and (c) a “transition component,” under which APS may seek mid-year PSA changes due to large variances between actual fuel and purchased power costs and the combination of the Base Fuel Rate and the forward component; and
the PSA rate may not be increased or decreased more than $0.006 per kWh in a year without permission of the ACC.
The following table shows the changes in the deferred fuel and purchased power regulatory asset for 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands):
 Year Ended December 31,
 20242023
Balance at beginning of period$463,195 $460,561 
Deferred fuel and purchased power costs250,288 549,877 
Amounts charged to customers
(425,886)(547,243)
Balance at end of period$287,597 $463,195 

On November 30, 2021, APS filed its PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2022. That rate was $0.007544 per kWh, which consisted of a forward component of $(0.004842) per kWh and a historical component of $0.012386 per kWh. The 2022 PSA rate was a $0.004 per kWh increase compared to the 2021 PSA year, which is the maximum permitted under the Plan of Administration for the PSA. These rates went into effect as filed on February 1, 2022.

On April 1, 2022, the ACC filed a final report of its third-party audit findings regarding APS’s fuel and purchased power costs for the period January 2019 through January 2021. The report contained an in-depth review of APS’s fuel and purchased power contracts, its monthly fuel accounting activities, its forecasting and dispatching procedures, and its monthly PSA filings, among other fuel-related activities. The report found that APS’s fuel processing accounting practices, dispatching procedures, and procedures for hedging activity were reasonable and appropriate. The report included several recommendations for the ACC’s consideration, including review of current contracts, maintenance schedules, and certain changes and improvements to the schedules in APS’s monthly PSA filings. On December 27, 2022, ACC Staff filed a proposed order supporting adoption of the recommendations in the third-party audit report, and the ACC approved the proposed order on February 22, 2023.

On November 30, 2022, APS filed its PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2023. In this filing, APS also requested that one of three different options be adopted to address the growing undercollected PSA balance. On February 23, 2023, the ACC approved an overall PSA rate of $0.019074 per kWh, which consisted of a forward component of $(0.005527) per kWh, a historical component of $0.013071 per kWh and a transition component of $0.011530 per kWh, that will continue until further notice of the ACC. The rate became effective with the first billing cycle in March 2023 and is designed to bring the PSA balancing account to near-zero over a 24-month period. On November 30, 2023, APS notified the ACC that it will be maintaining the current PSA rate of $0.019074 per kWh and an updated PSA adjustment schedule would not be filed at that time. In Decision No. 79293 in the 2022 Rate Case, the ACC approved a permanent increase in the annual PSA adjustor rate cap from $0.004 per kWh to $0.006 per kWh and a requirement that APS report to the ACC for possible action when the overall PSA balance reaches $100 million. As part of the 2022 Rate Case decision, the ACC also approved an overall PSA rate of $0.011977 per kWh, which consisted of a forward component of $(0.012624) per kWh, a historical component of $0.013071 per kWh, and a transition component of $0.011530 per kWh. The overall PSA rate was reduced to offset an increase in base fuel prices. The rate became effective on March 8, 2024.

On November 27, 2024, APS filed its PSA rate for the PSA year beginning February 1, 2025. The overall PSA rate of $0.013977 per kWh consists of a forward component of $(0.000281) per kWh, a
historical component of $0.008728 per kWh, and a transition component of $0.005530. This overall PSA rate is an increase of $0.002 per kWh over the prior overall rate approved in the 2022 Rate Case decision, and it is below the annual PSA rate increase cap of $0.006 per kWh. On February 5, 2025, the ACC voted to approve this request, with a rate effective date of the first billing cycle in March 2025.

Environmental Improvement Surcharge. On March 5, 2024, the ACC approved the elimination of the EIS, and the surcharge is no longer in effect. The EIS permitted APS to recover the capital carrying costs (rate of return, depreciation and taxes) plus incremental operations and maintenance expenses associated with environmental improvements made outside of a test year to comply with environmental standards set by federal, state, tribal, or local laws and regulations. APS’s February 1, 2023, EIS application requested an increase in the charge to $14.7 million, or $3.3 million over the prior-period charge. On March 10, 2023, APS filed an amended application requesting an EIS charge of $4.0 million, a decrease of $10.7 million from the February EIS request, and a decrease of $7.5 million from the prior-period charge. The revised 2023 EIS became effective with the first billing cycle in April 2023; however, with the elimination of the surcharge, it is no longer in effect, and any remaining amounts are being collected through base rates.
 
Transmission Rates, Transmission Cost Adjustor and Other Transmission Matters. APS’s retail transmission charges’ formula rate is updated each year effective June 1 on the basis of APS’s actual cost of service, as disclosed in APS’s FERC Form 1 report for the previous fiscal year. Items to be updated include actual capital expenditures made as compared with previous projections, transmission revenue credits and other items. APS reviews the proposed formula rate filing amounts with the ACC Staff. Any items or adjustments which are not agreed to by APS and the ACC Staff can remain in dispute until settled or litigated with FERC. Settlement or litigated resolution of disputed issues could require an extended period of time and could have a significant effect on the Retail Transmission Charges because any adjustment, though applied prospectively, may be calculated to account for previously over- or under-collected amounts. The resolution of proposed adjustments can result in significant volatility in the revenues to be collected.

Effective June 1, 2022, APS’s annual wholesale transmission revenue requirement for all users of its transmission system decreased by approximately $33 million for the 12-month period beginning June 1, 2022, in accordance with the FERC-approved formula. Of this net amount, wholesale customer rates decreased by approximately $6.4 million and retail customer rates would have decreased by approximately $26.6 million. However, since changes in Retail Transmission Charges are reflected through the TCA after consideration of transmission recovery in retail base rates and the ACC-approved balancing account, the retail revenue requirement decreased by $2.4 million, resulting in a reduction to the residential rate and increases to commercial rates. An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC-approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2022.

Effective June 1, 2023, APS’s annual wholesale transmission revenue requirement for all users of its transmission system increased by approximately $34.7 million for the 12-month period beginning June 1, 2023, in accordance with the FERC-approved formula. Of this net amount, wholesale customer rates increased by approximately $20.7 million and retail customer rates would have increased by approximately $14 million. However, since changes in Retail Transmission Charges are reflected through the TCA after consideration of transmission recovery in retail base rates and the ACC-approved balancing account, the retail revenue requirement decreased by $10 million, resulting in reductions to the residential
and commercial rates. An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC-approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2023.

Effective June 1, 2024, APS’s annual wholesale transmission revenue requirement for all users of its transmission system increased by approximately $27.4 million for the 12-month period beginning June 1, 2024 in accordance with the FERC-approved formula. Of this net amount, wholesale customer rates increased by approximately $16.6 million and retail customer rates would have increased by approximately $10.8 million. However, since changes in Retail Transmission Charges are reflected through the TCA after consideration of transmission recovery in retail base rates and the ACC-approved balancing account, the retail revenue requirement increased by $8.8 million, resulting in an increase to residential and commercial rates over 3 MW and a decrease to commercial rates less than or equal to 3 MW. An adjustment to APS’s retail rates to recover FERC-approved transmission charges went into effect automatically on June 1, 2024.

Lost Fixed Cost Recovery Mechanism. The LFCR mechanism permits APS to recover on an after-the-fact basis a portion of its fixed costs that would otherwise have been collected by APS in the kWh sales lost due to APS energy efficiency programs and to DG such as rooftop solar arrays. The adjustment to the LFCR has a year-over-year cap of 1% of retail revenues. Any amounts left unrecovered in a particular year because of this cap can be carried over for recovery in a future year. The kWhs lost from energy efficiency are based on a third-party evaluation of APS’s energy efficiency programs. DG sales losses are determined from the metered output from the DG units.
 
On February 15, 2022, APS filed its 2022 annual LFCR adjustment, requesting that effective May 1, 2022, the annual LFCR recovery amount be increased to $59.1 million (a $32.5 million increase from previous levels, which was inclusive of a $11.8 million balance from APS’s 2021 LFCR filing). On May 9, 2022, the ACC Staff filed its revised report and proposed order regarding APS’s 2022 LFCR adjustment, concluding that APS calculated the adjustment in accordance with its Plan of Administration. On May 18, 2022, the ACC approved the 2022 LFCR adjustment, with a rate effective date of June 1, 2022.

On February 15, 2023, APS filed a letter to the ACC docket stating that, in accordance with Decision No. 78585, APS and ACC Staff have agreed to move the filing date for the annual LFCR adjustment to July 31 each year. On September 5, 2023, APS filed an updated LFCR Plan of Administration, which was approved by ACC Staff on December 8, 2023. On July 31, 2023, APS filed its 2023 annual LFCR adjustment, requesting that the annual LFCR recovery amount be increased to $68.7 million (a $9.6 million increase from previous levels). On October 19, 2023, a request for intervention was filed, which was granted. Consistent with an October 25, 2023, Procedural Order, the parties met and conferred and conducted limited discovery. As a result of Decision No. 79293 in the 2022 Rate Case, APS transferred $27.1 million from the LFCR to base rates.

On March 8, 2024, APS filed conforming LFCR schedules to incorporate changes required as a result of Decision No. 79293 in the 2022 Rate Case. On April 9, 2024, the ACC approved the 2023 annual LFCR adjustment, with new rates effective in the first billing cycle of May 2024.

On June 5, 2024, APS filed a revised LFCR Plan of Administration in accordance with Decision No. 79293. The ACC approved the revised Plan of Administration on October 8, 2024.
On July 31, 2024, APS filed its 2024 annual LFCR adjustment, requesting that effective November 1, 2024, the annual LFCR recovery amount be increased to $49.6 million (an $8 million increase from previous levels). On December 3, 2024, the ACC approved the 2024 annual LFCR adjustment, with new rates effective in the first billing cycle of January 2025.

Tax Expense Adjustor Mechanism.  The TEAM helps address potential federal income tax reform and enable the pass-through of certain income tax effects to customers. The TEAM expressly applies to APS’s retail rates with the exception of a small subset of customers taking service under specially-approved tariffs. As part of the 2019 Rate Case decision, there remains small true up balances in the TEAM balancing account. In the 2022 Rate Case, these true up balances are being recovered and amortized through 2032.

Court Resolution Surcharge. The CRS mechanism permits APS to recover certain costs associated with investments and expenses for APS’s purchase and installation of SCR technology for Four Corners Units 4 and 5 and a change in APS’s allowable return on equity as required by the Arizona Court of Appeals and approved by the ACC in Decision No. 78979. The CRS went into effect on July 1, 2023, at a rate of $0.00175 per kWh. The rate is designed to recover $59.6 million in revenue lost by APS between December 2021 and June 20, 2023, and the prospective recovery of ongoing costs related to the SCR investments and expense and the allowable return on equity difference in current base rates. The portion of the CRS representing the recovery of the $59.6 million of lost revenue between December 2021 and June 20, 2023, $26.2 million of which has been collected as of December 31, 2024, will cease upon full collection of the lost revenue. Additionally, the CRS tariff was updated to remove the return on equity component and account for SCR-related depreciation and deferral adjustments approved in Decision No. 79293 in the 2022 Rate Case. See “2019 Retail Rate Case” above for more information.

Net Metering

The ACC’s decision from APS’s 2017 rate case (the “2017 Rate Case Decision”) provides that payments by utilities for energy exported to the grid from residential DG solar facilities will be determined using a Resource Comparison Proxy (“RCP”) methodology as determined in the ACC’s generic Value and Cost of Distributed Generation docket. RCP is a method that is based on the most recent five-year rolling average price that APS incurs for utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects. The price established by this RCP method is updated annually (between general retail rate cases) but cannot be decreased by more than 10% per year.

On April 29, 2022, APS filed an application to decrease the RCP price from 9.4 cents per kWh, which had been in effect since October 1, 2021, to 8.46 cents per kWh, reflecting a 10% annual reduction, to become effective September 1, 2022. On July 12, 2022, the ACC approved the RCP as filed.

On May 1, 2023, APS filed an application for revisions to the RCP. This application would decrease the RCP price to 7.619 cents per kWh, reflecting a 10% annual reduction, to become effective September 1, 2023. On August 25, 2023, the ACC approved the RCP as filed.

On May 1, 2024, APS filed an application for revisions to the RCP. This application would decrease the RCP price to 6.857 cents per kWh, reflecting a 10% annual reduction, to become effective September 1, 2024. On August 13, 2024, the ACC approved the RCP as filed.
On October 11, 2023, the ACC voted to open a new general docket to hold a hearing to explore potential future changes to the 10% annual reduction cap in the solar export rate paid by utilities to distributed solar customers for exports to the grid and the 10-year rate lock period for those customers that were approved in the ACC’s Value and Cost of Distributed Generation Docket. A procedural conference was held on November 1, 2023, to discuss the process going forward. As a result of the procedural conference, ACC Staff issued a request for information to investigate the issues related to this matter. A status conference was held on March 20, 2024 to determine if ACC Staff is prepared to present a recommendation on this matter at that time. Stakeholders provided responses to the ACC Staff’s request for information on March 21, 2024. Another status conference took place on May 20, 2024 and ACC Staff issued a request for additional information to investigate the issues related to the matter on May 31, 2024. Stakeholders provided responses to the ACC Staff’s request for additional information on July 1, 2024, and on October 15, 2024, the ACC Staff filed a report finding that the RCP is working as intended and recommending no changes to the RCP at this time. The ACC Staff also recommended that the ACC close the docket without a hearing or further action. The ACC has not yet acted on the ACC Staff’s recommendation, and APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Energy Modernization Plan

On May 26, 2023, the ACC opened a new docket to review articles within the Arizona Administrative Code related to Resource Planning, the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff, and Electric Energy Efficiency Standards. On January 9, 2024, the ACC approved a rulemaking process for this matter. During the ACC Open Meeting on February 6, 2024, the ACC approved motions to direct ACC Staff to include recommendations to repeal the current Electric Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Standard rules during the rulemaking process. On August 21, 2024, the ACC Staff filed separate reports for each set of rules, including its recommendations to repeal the Electric Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Standard rules along with required preliminary economic, small business, and consumer impact statements. APS and other interested parties have filed comments about the ACC Staff reports. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Integrated Resource Planning

ACC rules require utilities to develop triennial 15-year IRPs which describe how the utility plans to serve customer load in the plan time frame. The ACC reviews each utility’s IRP to determine if it meets the necessary requirements and whether it should be acknowledged. In February 2022, the ACC acknowledged APS’s 2020 IRP filed on June 26, 2020. The ACC also approved certain amendments to the IRP process, including, setting an EES of 1.3% of retail sales annually (averaged over a three-year period) and a demand-side resource capacity of 35% of 2020 peak demand by January 1, 2030.

On May 1, 2023, APS, Tucson Electric Power Company, and UNS Electric, Inc. filed a joint request for an extension to file the IRPs from August 1, 2023, to November 1, 2023. On June 21, 2023, the ACC granted the extension. As a result, APS filed its 2023 IRP on November 1, 2023. On January 31, 2024, stakeholders filed comments regarding the IRP, and APS filed its response to stakeholder comments on May 31, 2024. On July 31, 2024, the ACC held an IRP workshop where utilities and stakeholders presented on the 2023 IRPs. On October 8, 2024, the ACC acknowledged APS’s 2023 IRP and approved certain amendments to the IRP process, including requirements for APS to demonstrate resource adequacy prior to exiting Four Corners as well as analysis of impacts from western market participation and planned resource requirements in the next IRP. See “Energy Modernization Plan” above for information regarding proposed changes to the IRP filings.
Equity Infusions

On October 27, 2023, APS filed a notice of intent to increase Pinnacle West’s equity in APS in 2024. APS sought approval to receive from Pinnacle West in 2024 up to $500 million in additional equity infusions above the previously authorized limit of $150 million annually. The ACC approved the increased equity infusion limit for 2024 on January 9, 2024.

On April 19, 2024, APS submitted a request to the ACC to permanently modify Pinnacle West’s permitted yearly equity infusions to equal up to 2.5% of APS’s consolidated assets each calendar year on a three-year rolling average basis. On December 17, 2024, the ACC issued a financing order that approved an annual equity infusion allowance of 2.5% of APS’s consolidated assets on a three-year rolling average basis.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act

Under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”), qualifying facilities are provided the right to sell energy and/or capacity to utilities and are granted relief from certain regulatory burdens. On December 17, 2019, the ACC mandated a minimum contract length of 18 years for qualifying facilities over 100 kW in Arizona and established that the rate paid to qualifying facilities must be based on the long-term avoided cost. “Avoided cost” is generally defined as the price at which the utility could purchase or produce the same amount of power from sources other than the qualifying facility on a long-term basis.

Residential Electric Utility Customer Service Disconnections

In accordance with the ACC’s service disconnection rules, APS uses a calendar-based method to suspend the disconnection of customers for nonpayment from June 1 through October 15 each year (“Annual Disconnection Moratorium”). Pursuant to an ACC order, customers with past due balances of $75 or greater as of approximately one month prior to the end of the Annual Disconnection Moratorium are automatically placed on six-month payment arrangements. In addition, APS voluntarily began waiving late payment fees of its customers (“Late Fee Waivers”) on March 13, 2020. Effective February 1, 2023, late payment fees for residential customers were reinstated. Late payment fees for commercial and industrial customers were reinstated effective May 1, 2022. Since the suspensions and moratoriums on disconnections began, APS has experienced an increase in bad debt expense and the related write-offs of delinquent customer accounts.

Retail Electric Competition Rules

On November 17, 2018, the ACC voted to re-examine the facilitation of a deregulated retail electric market in Arizona. On July 1 and July 2, 2019, ACC Staff issued a report and initial proposed draft rules regarding possible modifications to the ACC’s retail electric competition rules. On February 10, 2020, two ACC Commissioners filed two sets of draft proposed retail electric competition rules. On February 12, 2020, ACC Staff issued its second report regarding possible modifications to the ACC’s retail electric competition rules. During a July 15, 2020, ACC Staff meeting, the ACC Commissioners discussed the possible development of a retail competition pilot program, but no action was taken. In April 2022, the Arizona Legislature passed, and the Governor signed a bill that repealed the electric deregulation law that
had been in place in Arizona since 1998. On August 27, 2024, the ACC administratively closed this docket due to inactivity and obsolescence.

Four Corners SCR Cost Recovery

On December 29, 2017, in accordance with the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS filed a Notice of Intent to file its SCR Adjustment to permit recovery of costs associated with the installation of SCR equipment at Four Corners Units 4 and 5. APS filed the SCR Adjustment request in April 2018. The SCR Adjustment request provided that there would be a $67.5 million annual revenue impact that would be applied as a percentage of base rates for all applicable customers. Also, as provided for in the 2017 Rate Case Decision, APS requested that the adjustment become effective no later than January 1, 2019. The hearing for this matter occurred in September 2018. At the hearing, APS accepted ACC Staff’s recommendation of a lower annual revenue impact of approximately $58.5 million. The Administrative Law Judge issued a ROO finding that the costs for the SCR project were prudently incurred and recommending authorization of the $58.5 million annual revenue requirement related to the installation and operation of the SCRs. The ACC did not issue a decision on this matter. APS included the costs for the SCR project in the retail rate base in its 2019 Rate Case filing with the ACC.

On November 2, 2021, the 2019 Rate Case decision was approved by the ACC allowing approximately $194 million of SCR related plant investments and cost deferrals in rate base and to recover, depreciate and amortize in rates based on an end-of-life assumption of July 2031. The decision also included a partial and combined disallowance of $215.5 million on the SCR investments and deferrals. APS believes the SCR plant investments and related SCR cost deferrals were prudently incurred, and on December 17, 2021, APS filed its Notice of Direct Appeal at the Arizona Court of Appeals requesting review of the $215.5 million disallowance. The Arizona Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on November 30, 2022. On March 6, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued its order in the matter, vacating the ACC’s disallowance of the SCR investment and remanding the matter back to the ACC for further review in accordance with ACC rules and the order of the Court of Appeals. On June 21, 2023, the ACC approved a joint settlement filed by APS and the ACC’s Legal Division that resolved all issues relating to the 2019 Rate Case decision, including recovery of the cost of the Four Corners SCRs. See above for further discussion on the 2019 Rate Case decision.

Cholla

On September 11, 2014, APS announced that it would close Unit 2 of the Cholla Power Plant (“Cholla”) and cease burning coal at the other APS-owned units (Units 1 and 3) at the plant by the mid-2020s, if the EPA approved a compromise proposal offered by APS to meet required environmental and emissions standards and rules. On April 14, 2015, the ACC approved APS’s plan to retire Unit 2, without expressing any view on the future recoverability of APS’s remaining investment in the unit. APS closed Unit 2 on October 1, 2015. In early 2017, EPA approved a final rule incorporating APS’s compromise proposal, which took effect on April 26, 2017. In December 2019, PacifiCorp notified APS that it planned to retire Cholla Unit 4 by the end of 2020 and the unit ceased operation in December 2020. APS is required to cease burning coal at its remaining Cholla units by April 2025.

Previously, APS estimated Cholla Unit 2’s end of life to be 2033. APS has been recovering a return on and of the net book value of the unit in base rates. APS is allowed continued recovery of the net book value of the unit and the unit’s decommissioning and other retirement-related costs, $28.1 million as
of December 31, 2024, in addition to a return on its investment. In accordance with GAAP, in the third quarter of 2014, Unit 2’s remaining net book value was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset. In accordance with the 2019 Rate Case decision, the regulatory asset is being amortized through 2033.

On August 14, 2024, APS filed a request with the ACC for a deferral order associated with unrecovered book value and closure costs of the remaining Cholla units. This order would authorize APS to defer, for future recovery in rates, both the expenses necessary to close and decommission coal-fired power plant infrastructure at Cholla, including legally required site environmental remediation, CCR corrective actions, the closure of CCR management facilities, and any unrecovered plant investment and operating costs incurred through and after April 2025. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Navajo Plant

The Navajo Plant ceased operations in November 2019. The co-owners and the Navajo Nation executed a lease extension on November 29, 2017, that allows for decommissioning activities to begin after the plant ceased operations. In accordance with GAAP, in the second quarter of 2017, APS’s remaining net book value of its interest in the Navajo Plant was reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a regulatory asset.

APS has been recovering a return on and of the net book value of its interest in the Navajo plant in base rates over its previously estimated life through 2026. Pursuant to the 2019 Rate Case decision described above, APS will be allowed continued recovery of the book value of its remaining investment in the Navajo plant, $33.4 million as of December 31, 2024, in addition to a return on the net book value, with the exception of 15% of the annual amortization expense in rates. In addition, APS will be allowed recovery of other costs related to retirement and closure, including the Navajo coal reclamation regulatory asset, $7.9 million as of December 31, 2024. The disallowed recovery of 15% of the annual amortization does not have a material impact on APS financial statements.

Fire Mitigation

On August 14, 2024, APS filed a request with the ACC for a deferral order that would authorize APS to defer, for future recovery in rates, operations and maintenance expenses associated with wildfire management, including increased insurance costs. APS cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The detail of regulatory assets is as follows (dollars in thousands):
December 31,
Amortization Through20242023
Pension(a)$750,976 $696,476 
Deferred fuel and purchased power (b) (c)2025287,597 463,195 
Income taxes — AFUDC equity2054192,936 189,058 
Ocotillo deferral2034114,775 128,636 
SCR deferral (e)203883,123 89,477 
Lease incentives(g)70,541 46,615 
Retired power plant costs203368,380 83,536 
Deferred fuel and purchased power — mark-to-market (Note 15)
202742,275 120,214 
FERC Transmission true up202635,159 616 
Income taxes — investment tax credit basis adjustment205634,834 34,230 
Deferred compensation203633,108 33,972 
Deferred property taxes202723,918 32,488 
Palo Verde VIEs (Note 17)
204620,611 20,772 
Power supply adjustor - interest202511,525 19,416 
Active Union Medical Trust(f)9,673 12,747 
Mead-Phoenix transmission line contributions in aid of construction (“CIAC”)20508,384 8,716 
Navajo coal reclamation20267,905 10,883 
Loss on reacquired debt20386,682 7,965 
Tax expense adjustor mechanism (b)20314,534 5,190 
Four Corners cost deferral2024— 7,922 
OtherVarious3,522 3,912 
Total regulatory assets (d)$1,810,458 $2,016,036 
Less: current regulatory assets$420,969 $625,757 
Total non-current regulatory assets$1,389,489 $1,390,279 
(a)This asset represents the future recovery of pension benefit obligations and expense through retail rates.  If these costs are disallowed by the ACC, this regulatory asset would be charged to OCI and result in lower future revenues.  As a result of the 2019 Rate Case decision, the amount authorized for inclusion in rate base was determined using an averaging methodology, which resulted in a reduced return in retail rates. The 2022 Rate Case decision allows for the full return on the pension asset in rate base. See Note 7 for further discussion.
(b)See “Cost Recovery Mechanisms” discussion above.
(c)Subject to a carrying charge.
(d)There are no regulatory assets for which the ACC has allowed recovery of costs, but not allowed a return by exclusion from rate base. FERC rates are set using a formula rate as described in “Transmission Rates, Transmission Cost Adjustor and Other Transmission Matters.”
(e)See “Four Corners SCR Cost Recovery” discussion above.
(f)Collected in retail rates.
(g)Amortization periods vary based on specific terms of lease contract.
The detail of regulatory liabilities is as follows (dollars in thousands):
December 31,
Amortization Through20242023
Excess deferred income taxes - ACC — Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a)2046$888,896 $930,344 
Excess deferred income taxes - FERC — Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a)2058207,400 214,667 
Asset retirement obligations and removal costs(d)358,403 486,751 
Other postretirement benefits(c)238,113 226,726 
Four Corners coal reclamation203877,532 68,521 
Renewable energy standard (b)202568,523 60,667 
Income taxes — deferred investment tax credit205666,327 55,917 
Income taxes — change in rates205359,133 43,251 
Spent nuclear fuel202726,818 33,154 
Demand side management (b)202523,927 14,374 
Sundance maintenance203123,086 19,989 
TCA Balancing Account (b)202614,834 3,425 
Property tax deferral20274,785 10,850 
Tax expense adjustor mechanism (b)20324,343 4,835 
OtherVarious113 2,317 
Total regulatory liabilities$2,062,233 $2,175,788 
Less: current regulatory liabilities$206,955 $209,923 
Total non-current regulatory liabilities$1,855,278 $1,965,865 
(a)For purposes of presentation on the Statement of Cash Flows, amortization of the regulatory liabilities for excess deferred income taxes are reflected as “Deferred income taxes” under Cash Flows From Operating Activities.
(b)See “Cost Recovery Mechanisms” discussion above.
(c)See Note 7.
(d)In accordance with regulatory accounting, APS accrues removal costs for its regulated assets, even if there is no legal obligation for removal.