APS Off-Peak Hours 2026: How Phoenix Solar Homeowners Save More on Time-of-Use Plans

What are the APS off-peak hours in 2026?

APS off-peak hours in 2026 cover every hour except the three-hour window from 4 pm to 7 pm on weekdays. That narrow peak window is where APS charges its highest rates: 34.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in summer. Everything outside it, evenings after 7, mornings before 4, and all day on weekends and holidays, runs at the off-peak rate of about 12.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.

There is a third tier on the APS TOU-E plan most homeowners overlook: the super off-peak window from 10 am to 3 pm on winter weekdays, November through April bills. During that window, the rate drops to just 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. That is roughly one-tenth the on-peak summer rate, and understanding all three tiers is the first step toward paying less on your APS bill.

Why is the gap between APS on-peak and off-peak rates so large in 2026?

The gap exists because APS has to buy or generate expensive power during the late afternoon to keep up with demand across the Valley. In summer, Phoenix homes hit the hottest part of the day right as people return from work, air conditioners ramp up, and the grid strains most. That 4 pm to 7 pm crunch is when electricity is genuinely scarce and expensive to produce, so APS passes that cost through on time-of-use plans.

On the APS TOU-E rate schedule, the summer on-peak rate is 34.396 cents per kilowatt-hour. The off-peak rate is 12.345 cents. That spread, nearly 22 cents per kilowatt-hour, means running a dishwasher, pool pump, or EV charger during peak costs almost three times what it costs at night or on weekends. For most Phoenix households, this gap adds up to hundreds of dollars a year.

This is also why APS off-peak hours matter so much if you have solar panels, or are thinking about going solar. Your panels already shift a big slice of your consumption to the middle of the day. But stacking load shifting on top of solar generation can meaningfully reduce your electric bill in Arizona beyond what panels alone accomplish.

Which loads should Phoenix homeowners shift to save on APS off-peak hours in 2026?

The three easiest wins for APS customers are the pool pump, the EV charger, and the dishwasher, and none of them require much inconvenience.

Does running a pool pump outside peak hours really save that much?

Pool pumps are one of the biggest single line items on a summer APS bill in Phoenix. A typical one-and-a-half to two horsepower pump draws somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 watts. Running it for six hours during the 4 to 7 pm peak would cost roughly two dollars per day at on-peak summer rates. Running the same six hours between 8 pm and 2 am costs about 74 cents at off-peak rates. Over a five-month Arizona summer, that single shift is worth around $200.

Most pool pump controllers let you set a schedule in minutes. Set it to run from 9 pm to 3 am and leave it there. If your pump does not have a built-in timer, a simple digital outlet timer available at most hardware stores handles it for under $30.

Is overnight EV charging on APS TOU the cheapest option in 2026?

For EV owners in APS territory, charging after 7 pm weekdays at 12.3 cents per kilowatt-hour is already a solid deal compared to the peak rate. If you own a vehicle with a 60 kilowatt-hour battery and you top it up from 20 percent to 80 percent overnight, that is 36 kilowatt-hours at about 12 cents, just over four dollars. Do the same charge from 5 pm to 7 pm at peak rates and you are closer to twelve dollars for the same amount of energy.

Some APS customers with EVs should explore the EV-specific rate plan with an 11 pm to 5 am off-peak window, which carries an even lower overnight rate. Check your current plan or use the Solar Calculator to see what combination of solar, battery, and rate plan works best for your household.

When should I run my dishwasher to avoid APS peak charges?

Dishwashers with a delay-start feature are among the simplest loads to shift. Set the delay so the cycle starts at 7:30 pm or later on weekdays, and you never pay peak rates for it. The savings on a single appliance are modest, but combined with the pool pump and EV charger, the cumulative shift keeps you consistently out of the expensive window.

How does solar generation change the math on APS off-peak hours in 2026?

Solar panels in Phoenix produce power during the middle of the day, which lines up almost perfectly with the off-peak window. During summer, your system generates most of its energy between 9 am and 5 pm, meaning much of your daytime consumption draws from your own panels rather than the APS grid.

The catch is that the 4 pm to 7 pm peak window falls late enough that solar output is already declining. By 4 pm in summer, a typical system is generating maybe 60 to 70 percent of its midday peak. By 6 pm it is significantly less. So solar alone does not fully solve the peak-hour problem. You are still drawing from the grid right when it is most expensive.

Phoenix gets about 5.8 peak sun hours per day on average, which is genuinely excellent solar territory. A well-sized 8 to 10 kilowatt system covers most of a typical home's annual consumption. But without a battery, excess midday generation either exports to the APS grid at the net billing credit rate (currently around 6.17 cents per kilowatt-hour) or gets self-consumed during afternoon hours. The real leverage point is what happens at 4 pm, and that is where a battery earns its keep.

See our post on APS solar rate plans in 2026 for a full breakdown of which rate plan pairs best with rooftop solar at different usage levels.

How do APS off-peak hours in 2026 become more valuable when you add a home battery?

A battery changes how you interact with APS time-of-use rates in a fundamental way. Without one, your solar generates during the day, exports excess power at 6.17 cents per kilowatt-hour, and you buy expensive peak power at 34.4 cents when the sun starts dropping. With a battery, you store midday solar output and discharge it between 4 pm and 7 pm, replacing that 34.4-cent peak power with energy from your own roof.

The math is worth stating clearly. If your battery holds 10 kilowatt-hours and fully discharges during the three-hour peak window in summer, you have avoided purchasing 10 kilowatt-hours at 34.4 cents, a value of about $3.44 per day. Over a five-month summer with roughly 130 weekdays, that is around $450 per season from peak avoidance alone. Add load shifting on top, and the total savings on your APS bill go further.

This is the rate arbitrage that makes batteries compelling in Arizona specifically. The APS net billing export rate of 6.17 cents is much lower than what you pay at peak. Storing your solar and consuming it during peak is worth nearly six times more than letting that same energy export during the day. The battery captures that difference.

For a detailed comparison of the most popular home battery options for Arizona heat conditions, see the breakdown of Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ 10C, and Franklin aPower 2.

What are homeowners saving with solar across Phoenix Valley cities?

In Chandler and Gilbert neighborhoods served by APS, homeowners with south-facing roofs and 8-kilowatt systems report annual savings of $1,400 to $1,800 after shifting pool and EV loads combined with solar generation. Utility territory varies by address in both cities, so check a recent bill to confirm you are on APS before applying these numbers to your situation. Adding a battery has pushed some of those households close to zero-dollar summer bills.

Scottsdale homeowners, particularly in McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, and North Scottsdale corridors, often deal with larger homes and higher summer bills. A 10-kilowatt system with a home battery on APS TOU-E has proven effective at flattening the peak demand window. With pool season running nearly eight months in Scottsdale, the pool pump shift alone is worth several hundred dollars per year.

Tempe and Mesa residents should verify their utility territory by checking a recent bill, since both cities have neighborhoods served by APS and neighborhoods served by SRP. The APS off-peak strategy in this post applies to APS customers specifically. SRP operates its own time-of-use plans with different windows and rates.

Phoenix proper has APS territory throughout much of the central city and west side. Homeowners in Ahwatukee, Arcadia, and Laveen who have already gone solar often find that their biggest remaining APS cost is the peak window, not overall energy use. Pairing a battery with an existing system addresses that directly.

For an overview of how the prepaid solar lease versus a solar loan stacks up for Arizona homeowners, that comparison walks through the total cost numbers over 25 years.

How do you get started optimizing for APS off-peak hours in 2026?

The first step is knowing which APS rate plan you are on. Check your APS bill or log in to your APS online account. If you are on the standard residential rate, switching to the TOU-E plan is free and the application takes about ten minutes. If you are already on TOU-E, confirm your scheduled loads are running outside the 4 to 7 pm window.

The second step is sizing a solar system, a battery, or both for your specific home. Usage, roof orientation, shading, and your current bill all affect the right system size. Phoenix Valley Solar works with vetted installers across the Valley to gather competing quotes so you are not locked into one company's recommendation. You can learn more on the About page or use the Solar Calculator to get a baseline estimate.

On financing: the prepaid solar lease option available through Phoenix Valley Solar prices the system at a 30% discount compared to full purchase. The leasing company can still claim the 48E commercial investment tax credit through 2027 and passes those savings along through the lower prepaid price. Homeowners who purchased a system in 2025 and claimed the Section 25D residential credit got an equivalent benefit through a different mechanism. If you missed that window, the prepaid lease gets you to the same 30% savings through a different path. This is not tax advice; consult a tax professional for your situation.

Want to see what the numbers look like for your home? Contact Phoenix Valley Solar to get competing installer quotes with no sales pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the APS off-peak hours in 2026?

APS off-peak hours cover all times except 4pm to 7pm on weekdays. Summer off-peak rates are about 12.3 cents per kilowatt-hour versus the 34.4-cent on-peak rate. Weekends and 12 designated holidays are always off-peak regardless of the time.

How much can I save by shifting my pool pump to APS off-peak hours?

A typical Phoenix pool pump running six hours per day costs roughly $2 at on-peak rates versus about 74 cents at off-peak. Over a five-month summer, shifting the pump schedule to evenings or overnight is worth roughly $200 in savings on your APS bill.

When is the APS super off-peak period in 2026?

The super off-peak window runs from 10am to 3pm on weekdays from November through April bills. Rates drop to about 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, less than one-tenth the summer on-peak rate. This is ideal for running large appliances or charging an EV or home battery in winter months.

Does adding a home battery help on APS time-of-use rates?

Yes. A battery stores midday solar energy and discharges during the 4pm to 7pm peak window, replacing expensive 34-cent peak power with stored solar. A 10 kilowatt-hour battery can save roughly $450 per summer season from peak avoidance alone, on top of load-shifting savings.

What is the best APS rate plan for a solar home in 2026?

Most solar homeowners in APS territory do best on the TOU-E plan, which has a narrow 4pm to 7pm weekday peak window. Pairing that plan with a home battery that discharges during peak maximizes the value of both your solar generation and stored energy.

Can I still get 30% off solar in Arizona if I missed the 2025 federal tax credit?

Yes, through the prepaid solar lease. The leasing company claims the 48E commercial credit and passes the savings to you through a lower prepaid price, delivering the same 30% discount. This is not tax advice; consult a tax professional for your specific situation.