Arizona Public Service (APS) is continuing its work with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) to help electrify rural homes within the Navajo communities of Tuba City and Cameron in northern Arizona.

The new collaboration is intended to electrify homes before the end of 2020 as part of Navajo Nation CARES Act funding, supported by APS’s line extension program—which will cover up to $10,000 toward the cost of each home connection.

“Providing electrical service to these rural customers requires extensive collaboration, and we are committed to continuing this meaningful effort with our partners at NTUA,” said APS Chairman and CEO Jeff Guldner. “CARES Act resources, combined with our line extension program, will connect these families to the many comforts and conveniences of reliable energy.”

The project began when hundreds of families submitted applications requesting solar units from NTUA’s Off-Grid Residential Solar program. While many of those families did not have electricity and lived outside of NTUA’s service area, some lived in the western portion of the Navajo Nation that APS serves.

Following approval of CARES Act funding, the Navajo Nation reached out to APS to help stretch those funds further in support of families who may otherwise not be able to afford the line extensions necessary to electrify their homes. Working on the CARES Act funding timeline, APS leapt at the opportunity to help these families and went straight to work.

“This partnership with APS extends the impact of the CARES Act funding and ensures more families throughout the Navajo Nation have access to reliable lighting, refrigeration, heating, and eventually other services such as running water and cellular/internet connections,” said NTUA General Manager Walter Haase.

This isn’t the first time the electric company has collaborated to help the Navajo Nation. Last year, APS participated in NTUA’s Light Up Navajo initiative, in which volunteer crews from 26 electric companies from across the country worked to connect more than 230 homes to electricity.

“I commend NTUA and APS for working together to further these efforts to help more communities. Through these types of united efforts, we will get through this pandemic together,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathon Nez.

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