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​​​​​​​​​Energy Access Plan

Grandmother and grandson using energy to cook a meal in their home depicting the importance of energy affordability for all.

The City of Phoenix is committed to ensuring all residents have access to reliable, renewable, and affordable energy.

The Energy Access Plan (EAP) addresses energy affordability, energy poverty, and energy burden, focusing on community-driven solutions to create a more sustainable and equitable future.

What is Energy Affordability?

Energy affordability means making sure everyone can easily and affordably access the energy they need for daily activities like cooking, cooling, and heating their homes.

Understanding Energy Poverty & Energy Burden

  • Energy poverty occurs when households can’t afford essential energy needs.
  • Energy burden measures the percentage of income spent on energy bills—anything above 6% is considered high, and over 10% is severe.

In Phoenix, rising temperatures and increasing nighttime heat make energy access critical. Many low-income families delay using air conditioning, leading to serious health risks. In 2023, most indoor heat-related deaths in Maricopa County occurred in homes where the AC was broken or unused.

The following maps show the percentage of low-income households that are experiencing high (yellow) and severe (blue) energy burden in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. 

Energy Access Plan Engagement Report

The 2025 Energy Access Plan Engagement Report details the process that the Office of Sustainability and its partners have undergone to conduct community outreach and center community voices in the upcoming Energy Access Plan. This Engagement Report shares invaluable insights from more than 170 community members on energy affordability topics. 

Read the Spanish 2025 Energy Access Plan Engagement Report

Read the Energy Access Plan Engagement Report
Graphic explaining high energy burden being when electricity and gas bills are more than 6 percent of household income. Graphic explaining high energy burden being when electricity and gas bills are more than 6 percent of household income.

How Phoenix is Taking Action

The City is developing the Energy Access Plan (EAP) to reduce energy poverty by:

  • Setting an energy equity goal by late 2024
  • Hosting webinars to gather community input
  • Launching workshops in 2025 to finalize solutions and track progress
Map of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area highlighting areas where low-income households face an energy burden, indicating the percentage of income spent on electricity and gas bills. ​​Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. (2020). Low-Income Energy Affordability Data - LEAD Tool - 2018 Update [data set].

Join the Conversation!

Community voices are essential in shaping the EAP. Residents can:

  • Attend upcoming workshops
  • Watch past event recordings and presentations
  • Stay updated by emailing energy@phoenix.gov

Past EAP Event Recordings

Stay Connected!