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 your electricity bill.

APS Peak Hours: Quick Answer

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)

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. That means running your AC, oven, or dryer during peak costs nearly four times more than during midday.

What Uses the Most Energy During Peak Hours

These are the biggest culprits that spike your bill during 4–7 PM:

• Air conditioning — By far #1. 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/range — Dinner prep during peak hours. Uses 2-5 kW.
• Clothes dryer — About 5 kW per load. One load during peak costs ~$0.50 more than off-peak.
• Pool pump — If still running at 4 PM, it's 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.

5 Ways to Avoid Paying Peak Rates

1. Pre-Cool Your Home 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–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.

4. Install Solar Panels

Solar produces most energy from 10 AM–3 PM (super off-peak). While that doesn't directly offset peak usage, it slashes your overall bill. Pair with a battery for the real win. Use our solar calculator to see your savings.

5. Add a Home Battery

This is the game-changer. A battery charges during super off-peak ($0.0935/kWh) and discharges during peak ($0.3439/kWh). That's 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 your battery can generate $70-$100/month in total value. Check our battery calculator for your exact numbers.

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

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 Really Save?

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.