Phoenix is preparing to roll out a wide-ranging strategy to make household energy more affordable after the City Council voted 8–0 on Tuesday to approve the 2025 Energy Access Plan, a blueprint designed to reduce energy burden, boost participation in assistance programs and protect residents from the mounting pressures of extreme heat.
The plan builds on a council-approved target adopted earlier this year to increase enrollment in low-income energy assistance programs by 25% by 2030. City officials say the new framework is meant to help close that gap by expanding outreach, simplifying application processes and supporting energy-efficiency improvements for households most affected by rising utility bills.
Mayor Kate Gallego called the initiative a proactive step toward a more resilient Phoenix, noting that access to affordable energy has become a defining challenge as the region grows and temperatures climb. Carla De La Chapa, the city’s chief sustainability officer, said the plan intentionally centers residents facing both high housing costs and high energy demands.
The Energy Access Plan draws heavily on community input gathered throughout 2025, including Spanish-language workshops, youth sessions and neighborhood meetings that reached nearly 200 residents. Those conversations shaped strategies that pair practical household support—such as weatherization and improved access to utility assistance—with broader climate goals, including Phoenix’s commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
City energy manager Carlos Aguiar Hernández said rising temperatures make the work urgent, describing energy burden as both a public-health and affordability issue. The new plan, he said, gives families “clear, actionable solutions” to manage costs while helping the city meet its long-term sustainability targets.
With council approval in hand, staff will now finalize the plan for public release and begin working with utilities, community organizations and residents to implement its early phases. More information is available through the city’s Energy Access Plan webpage.
