Renting in Arizona? Start saving energy here.

1. Find out how your electricity is charged

Utility account in your name: find the provider and exact plan on your bill. If the plan charges different prices at different hours, moving a flexible task may help. Check our APS hours, SRP schedules or TEP hours guide for your plan.

Power charged through the property: ask, “Is this based on my meter, a shared allocation, or a fixed amount? Can you show the usage and charges?” Get that answer before assuming a change at home will lower your payment. This is a suggested billing question, not a conclusion about your lease.

2. Choose changes you can use today

• Block direct sun with shades you already have. The Department of Energy’s cooling guidance highlights south- and west-facing windows. Notice which room heats up and when; use that observation to choose where to start.
• Let air move. Move furniture away from air vents. Use a room fan when it helps you feel comfortable, and switch it off when nobody needs it. A fan moves air; it does not lower the room’s temperature. See ENERGY STAR’s rental tips and the DOE Energy Saver guide, Home Cooling section.
• Make each laundry or dishwasher run count. Choose full loads within the machine’s capacity, cold-water laundry when suitable for the fabric, and the dishwasher’s air-dry setting if available. Clean the dryer lint screen before each load. These steps come from ENERGY STAR’s appliance guidance.
• Check your own lamps and electronics. If a frequently used lamp still has an incandescent bulb, an appropriate LED uses less electricity. Unplug unused, nonessential electronics when practical. SRP includes both in its renter checklist. Keep refrigerators, medical devices and other equipment that needs continuous power connected.

For central air conditioning, ask who changes the filter and what type the system needs. DOE notes that clogged filters can hurt performance. Let maintenance handle unfamiliar or inaccessible equipment.

3. Give the property manager something specific to investigate

SRP recommends asking the landlord to repair poor window or door seals. Before changing a thermostat, adding window film, drilling for coverings or altering fixtures, check the lease and get the property manager’s approval.

If cooling stops working, use the property’s urgent maintenance contact rather than waiting for the next bill to see what happens.

4. SRP customer? Check your property type before booking

An energy assessment reviews the home and suggests improvements. SRP’s current program rules, checked September 11, 2026, distinguish these rentals:

• Single-family rental, duplex, triplex or four-unit community: renters can qualify for the Home Energy Assessment with the property manager’s approval.
• Apartment or condo community with five or more units: renters are not eligible for that assessment. Ask the manager about SRP’s Multifamily Solutions Program instead.

For eligible homes, SRP lists a free virtual assessment. An in-home visit is $49 unless you qualify for the free option under its income-related program rules. Confirm eligibility and any charge with SRP before scheduling.

For APS, TEP or another provider, ask what rental assessment or efficiency help is available. SRP’s property rules and prices do not establish another provider’s offer.

5. Check the result without guessing at savings

Note the date of your change or repair. On the next bill, compare electricity used per day, billing days and weather—not just the total amount due. Our bill comparison checklist walks through this. A cooler week can reduce use too, so one lower bill does not prove how much a particular change saved.

If paying the current bill is the immediate problem, use our Arizona electric-bill help guide while working on longer-term changes.

Common questions

Sources checked September 11, 2026. The order of steps and sample maintenance message are AZ Energy Hub’s editorial guidance. No dollar savings or individual program approval is promised.