APS Time-of-Use vs. E-12 vs. EV Plans in 2026: Which Rate Plan Saves a Phoenix Solar Owner the Most?

If you have been searching for the APS E-12 rate plan, here is the short answer: E-12 is now a frozen legacy plan, meaning it is no longer offered to new customers or to customers who switch away from it. The current standard residential time-of-use option from APS is the Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays plan. If your bill still reads E-12, you are on a separate, frozen plan structure that has not moved to the current lineup.

For most households on APS with solar panels, that distinction matters. The plan you are on shapes how your credits accumulate, what you pay during afternoon hours, and whether an EV fits neatly into the same bill or belongs on a different plan entirely.

What happened to the APS E-12 plan

APS E-12 was a standard residential plan that many customers were placed on by default. It is now classified as a frozen legacy plan. Customers who are still on E-12 cannot leave and return to it; if they switch, they move to a currently active plan instead.

If your bill shows E-12 and you are planning to go solar, or you already have panels and are wondering whether to switch, verify your current plan at aps.com/plans before modeling any changes. A frozen plan behaves differently from the current lineup, and the rules around it are specific to when you enrolled.

Not every address near you is on APS. APS and SRP both serve the Phoenix metro, and which utility you have depends on your address, not your city. Check the name on your electric bill before applying any rate plan information to your situation.

APS aps rates in 2026: the current standard plan

The current standard residential time-of-use plan from APS is the Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays plan. On-peak hours apply on weekdays only, year-round. Weekends are off-peak.

For a solar home, that peak window matters in a specific way. A rooftop system in Phoenix is typically generating through the afternoon. When it covers household load from 4 PM to 7 PM, you avoid paying the higher on-peak rate for that energy. The value of self-consumption is always greater than the export credit, so a system sized to your actual usage outperforms one that simply exports the maximum surplus.

APS also offers the Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays with Demand Charge. That version adds a fee based on your highest usage spike during peak hours in a given month. For a solar home, this can be tricky: one afternoon with panels underperforming and the AC running hard can set a charge that outweighs weeks of careful management. Visit aps.com/plans to compare both versions using your actual usage history.

What your solar exports earn

When your system produces more than your home uses, the surplus goes to the APS grid. APS credits your account at the Resource Comparison Proxy rate. For homes whose systems interconnect between September 2026 and August 2027, that rate is $0.05554 per kWh, locked for 10 years from interconnection.

That credit is intentionally lower than what you pay for grid power. The practical implication is that exporting a lot is less valuable than using your own solar directly. A system designed around your actual consumption, not the maximum roof coverage, usually delivers a better financial outcome than one that generates a large surplus and exports most of it.

For a detailed explanation of how credits accumulate month to month, see How APS Calculates Your Monthly Solar Export Credit.

APS and EV charging: the dedicated EV plan

APS does offer a dedicated EV rate plan: the EV Overnight Charging 11pm-5am Weekdays plan. You must have an EV to enroll; call APS to sign up. If you have an electric vehicle, this plan is worth comparing directly against the standard TOU plan using your actual charging habits.

The core trade-off with any EV-specific plan is predictability. An overnight charging window is straightforward if your car's timer works and you use it. If you travel frequently or cannot always set a scheduled start, a more flexible TOU plan may reduce the penalty for off-schedule charging.

A few habits that apply regardless of which plan you choose:

• Use your EV's built-in charge scheduler to avoid on-peak hours automatically.

• Avoid manual charging during the afternoon on-peak window.

• If you also have solar, afternoon panel production can offset on-peak load at home even if the car is not plugged in until later.

Visit aps.com/plans to compare the EV Overnight Charging plan with the standard Time-of-Use plan for your usage profile. The right choice depends on how consistently you can charge within the EV plan's window versus how much you would save on off-peak grid power.

For a side-by-side look at how EV charging fits into APS billing, see Can Phoenix Solar Owners Charge an EV During APS Off-Peak Hours and Come Out Ahead in 2026?.

Financing solar in 2026

The Section 25D residential solar credit ended after 2025. Homeowners who buy with cash or a loan in 2026 receive no federal credit on that purchase. A prepaid solar lease works differently: the leasing company owns the equipment and can claim the 48E commercial credit on qualifying systems, passing the savings along as a 30 percent price reduction. This is not tax advice; consult a tax professional.

Phoenix Valley Solar compares bids from vetted installers so you see real project costs side by side, not one number from one company. Learn more at about page or reach us at contact page.

Check your current plan at aps.com/plans, then run your last 12 months of usage through the solar calculator to see which plan combination lowers your annual bill. The answer depends on your load, your roof, and how much you can shift off-peak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the APS E-12 rate plan in 2026?

E-12 is now a frozen legacy plan at APS, meaning it is no longer offered to new customers or to anyone who switches away from it. If your bill shows E-12 and you are considering solar or a plan change, confirm your status at aps.com/plans before modeling any changes.

What are APS on-peak hours in 2026?

On current APS residential time-of-use plans, on-peak hours fall on weekdays year-round, with weekends always off-peak. Check aps.com/plans to confirm the exact window for your current plan, as frozen legacy plans may have different hours.

What does APS pay for solar energy sent back to the grid?

For homes that interconnect between September 2026 and August 2027, APS credits exported solar at $0.05554 per kWh through the Resource Comparison Proxy rate, locked for 10 years. The RCP rate is set each September and applies to customers connecting in that period.

Does APS have an EV rate plan?

Yes. APS offers the EV Overnight Charging 11pm-5am Weekdays plan, you must have an EV to enroll; call APS to sign up. Compare it to the standard Time-of-Use plan at aps.com/plans using your actual charging habits to see which one lowers your annual bill.

Can I have solar and an EV on the same APS plan?

Yes. Many APS homeowners with solar also have an EV and manage both on a single plan. The right choice depends on whether you can consistently charge within the EV plan's overnight window. Use the PVS solar calculator and your recent bills to compare options before switching.