After heat-related death, APS agrees not to shut off customers' power when temperatures hit 95

Arizona’s largest electric utility will no longer disconnect customers’ power when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, following a settlement with the Attorney General’s Office.

The settlement comes after the heat-related death of 82-year-old Arizona Public Service customer Katherine Korman. Korman died in her Sun City West home on a 99 degree day in May 2024 after her power was disconnected because of unpaid bills.

“I do not believe that Kate’s death had to happen,” Attorney General Kris Mayes told reporters Wednesday. “You shouldn’t have to die because the utility disconnects you when it’s hot in Arizona.”

APS did not admit to liability or fault through the settlement. But the utility agreed to pay $2.75 million in monetary relief to the Attorney General’s Office. APS also said it would put $1 million into a financial assistance program for customers, and invest $3.4 million to expand its customer safety net program. APS said it would also add steps to its process for notifying customers about past-due bills.

But Mayes said the most important outcome of the settlement was that APS agreed to adopt the temperature-based policy for power disconnections.