APS Peak Hours 2026: The Exact Schedule Every Arizona Homeowner Needs
APS charges up to $0.3439/kWh during peak hours in summer, nearly 4x the super off-peak rate. Knowing exactly when peak hours hit is the first step to cutting an APS electricity bill.
APS peak hours: quick answer
Peak Hours: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Weekdays only (Monday–Friday). No peak hours on weekends or APS-recognized holidays.
APS Peak Window — Weekday Summer (May–October)
The 4-7pm peak window (red) is when rates jump 3.7x to $0.3439/kWh. Super off-peak 10am-3pm (dark green) is the cheapest rate year-round.
This applies to the Saver Choice Plus plan, which is APS's most popular time-of-use rate plan and the one most solar and battery owners are on.
Complete APS rate schedule (2026)
| Time Period | Hours | Summer Rate (May–Oct) | Winter Rate (Nov–Apr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | 4–7 PM weekdays | $0.3439/kWh | $0.2145/kWh |
| Off-Peak | 7 PM–10 AM, weekends | $0.1235/kWh | $0.1035/kWh |
| Super Off-Peak | 10 AM–3 PM weekdays | $0.0935/kWh | $0.0935/kWh |
APS Saver Choice Plus — Summer Rate Spread (per kWh)
Peak rates are 3.7x the cheapest rate. Every kWh you shift out of the 4-7pm window saves roughly $0.25.
Source: APS Saver Choice Plus rate schedule as of April 2026. Actual bill varies with monthly adjustments.
Why peak hours cost so much
Arizona summers are brutal. When everyone gets home around 4 PM and cranks the AC, demand on the grid spikes. APS has to fire up expensive "peaker" natural gas plants to keep up. That extra cost gets passed to you through peak pricing.
In summer, peak rates are 3.7x higher than super off-peak rates. Running your AC, oven, or dryer during peak costs nearly four times more than during midday.
What uses the most energy during peak hours
The biggest culprits that spike your bill during 4-7 PM:
- Air conditioning. By far the largest. Your AC runs hardest when you get home and the house has been warming up. A typical AZ home uses 3-5 kW for cooling.
- Electric oven or range. Dinner prep during peak hours. 2-5 kW.
- Clothes dryer. About 5 kW per load. One load during peak costs ~$0.50 more than off-peak.
- Pool pump. If it is still running at 4 PM, it is eating peak-rate electricity. Reprogram to finish by 3 PM.
- EV charging. A Level 2 charger pulls 7-10 kW. Never charge during peak. Schedule it for after 10 PM.
Five ways to avoid paying peak rates
1. Pre-cool the house before 4 PM
Set your thermostat to 74°F by 3 PM, then let it drift up to 78-80°F during peak. Your home acts as a thermal battery. It takes hours to warm back up if well-insulated. This single trick can save $30-$50/month in summer.
2. Shift appliances to off-peak
Run your dishwasher, dryer, and pool pump before 4 PM or after 7 PM. Many appliances have delay-start timers. Program your pool pump to run from 10 AM to 2 PM during super off-peak.
3. Use a smart thermostat
Ecobee and Nest thermostats can learn APS peak hours and automatically pre-cool your home. Some qualify for APS rebates. They pay for themselves in 2-3 months during Arizona summers. If you are also upgrading your AC unit, check out the Arizona heat pump rebates available in 2026: up to $4,500 stacked from federal and APS programs.
4. Install solar panels
Solar produces most energy from 10 AM to 3 PM (super off-peak). That does not directly offset peak usage, but it slashes the overall bill. Pair with a battery to capture the peak window value too. Use our solar calculator to see your savings, or explore DIY solar kits to start small before committing to a full installation.
5. Add a home battery
This is the strongest strategy by dollar value. A battery charges during super off-peak ($0.0935/kWh) and discharges during peak ($0.3439/kWh). That is a $0.25/kWh spread on every kWh shifted. A 13.5 kWh battery saves roughly $60/month in summer from rate arbitrage alone.
Add VPP earnings and the same battery can generate $70 to $100 per month in total value. Check our battery calculator for your exact numbers. No solar panels? A standalone battery still makes sense. See our APS battery ROI without solar breakdown.
Peak hours on weekends and holidays
There are no peak hours on weekends or APS-recognized holidays. All hours on Saturday and Sunday are off-peak rates. APS holidays include New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
This means weekends are the cheapest time to do laundry, run the pool pump extra, charge your EV, and catch up on energy-intensive tasks.
APS peak hours vs SRP peak hours
| Utility | Peak Hours | Summer Peak Rate |
|---|---|---|
| APS (Saver Choice Plus) | 4–7 PM weekdays | $0.3439/kWh |
| SRP (E-27) | 2–8 PM weekdays | ~$0.12/kWh + demand charge |
APS has a shorter peak window (3 hours vs 6 hours) but higher per-kWh rates. SRP uses demand charges instead, which penalize your highest 30-minute usage. Read our SRP rates guide for the full comparison.
How much can you actually save?
| Strategy | Monthly Savings | Upfront Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-cool + shift appliances | $30–$60 | $0 (free) |
| Smart thermostat | $15–$30 | $150–$250 |
| Solar panels | $80–$150 | $15K–$25K |
| Solar + battery + VPP | $150–$250 | $25K–$40K |
For personalized numbers based on your actual usage, try our solar calculator or battery calculator. Both use real APS TOU rates to show your exact ROI.
Affordable tools to beat APS peak rates
You do not need solar panels or a battery to start saving during APS peak hours. These tools pay for themselves within one summer billing cycle:
Smart thermostat: the highest-impact peak-hour tool
Pre-cool to 73°F before 4 PM at $0.09/kWh, then coast through the $0.34/kWh peak window. Saves $50-100/month in summer, with no behavior change needed.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
~$220 — automates pre-cooling, learns your schedule, built-in Alexa.
Check Price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Price and availability may change.
Whole-house energy monitor
See exactly which circuits are using power during peak hours. Identifies $20-50/month in waste you did not know about.
Emporia Vue Home Energy Monitor
~$80 — clips onto your breaker panel, shows real-time usage per circuit on your phone. Find peak-hour energy hogs instantly.
See on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Price and availability may change.
Window film: block heat before it enters
Reduces AC load by blocking solar heat gain through windows. Especially effective on west-facing windows that take the brunt of afternoon Phoenix sun right during peak hours.
Heat-Blocking Window Film
~$15-30 per roll — blocks up to 85% of infrared heat. DIY install in 30 minutes. Reduces peak-hour AC demand.
See Options on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Price and availability may change.