What APS rebates are available for AC and cooling upgrades?
Think in three buckets. The first is a one-time rebate, paid after you buy and install equipment. The second is an ongoing program, like a demand-response credit that runs each summer. The third is bill assistance or outside money, such as income-based help or state and federal programs.
APS describes the second and third buckets clearly. It lists Cool Rewards, smart-thermostat offers, and Energy Support bill savings for eligible customers as current residential programs.[2]
APS does not list a residential AC or heat pump replacement rebate among them. Some contractor pages still advertise one, and others say it ended.
Treat any equipment rebate claim as unconfirmed until you see it on aps.com.
Why you'll see conflicting rebate info
Contractor and aggregator pages often go stale when a utility changes a program. A page can look current and still describe an offer that no longer exists.
Ask your contractor to show the rebate in writing from APS before it goes into your quote.
Are you actually an APS customer?
Many addresses in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, and parts of Scottsdale and Phoenix are served by SRP, not APS. Look at your bill before you chase anything. If SRP sends it, see SRP AC rebates instead.
If you are replacing equipment, the AC replacement and installation page covers sizing and install help.
What is the APS Cool Rewards program?
Cool Rewards is an ongoing demand-response program. It is open to eligible APS customers with an internet-connected smart thermostat controlling central air conditioning. APS may run up to 20 conservation events each summer between June 1 and September 30, and the program provides enrollment and seasonal participation bill credits.[1]
During an event, APS can nudge your thermostat up. In return you get credits on your bill.
How it works
How Cool Rewards works
Step 1: APS calls an event
Up to 20 events between June 1 and September 30
Step 2: Your smart thermostat adjusts up
Step 3: Credits appear on your bill
That is all it is. It does not pay toward a new condenser, heat pump, or full system.
Before enrolling, read the event rules on the program page. Look for how often events occur, how far the thermostat can move, and what happens if you opt out or the thermostat loses internet.[1]
Pro tip
Read the event rules before enrolling so you know how far the thermostat can move and what happens if you opt out.
Are there APS thermostat rebates?
APS points customers to smart-thermostat offers, and its residential page says qualifying purchases may include free in-home installation when you enroll in Cool Rewards at checkout.[2] Check the current offer and any amount on the live APS and APS Marketplace pages, since terms change by year.
Two things get confused here.
A thermostat purchase discount lowers the price of the device. The Cool Rewards enrollment incentive is a bill credit for letting APS adjust your thermostat during events. They are separate programs with separate triggers.
Side by side
Thermostat discount versus Cool Rewards
Thermostat purchase discount
- Lowers the price of the device
- Triggered by buying the thermostat
Cool Rewards enrollment incentive
- Bill credit on your account
- Triggered by letting APS adjust your thermostat during events
Ask whether one device can receive both before you buy.
Confirm the thermostat works with your existing air conditioning system and that it qualifies for Cool Rewards before you pay for it.
Checklist
Before you buy a thermostat
0 of 4 ticked
Tick them off as you go. Nothing is saved or sent.
Is there an APS insulation rebate or other APS discounts?
Check the APS website for whether an attic insulation or weatherization rebate is currently available before you schedule work. A state energy page has listed an APS efficiency rebate program covering building components such as duct sealing, but listings like that can lag behind program changes.
Ask APS directly. Do not rely on a contractor blog for percentages or timelines, because those are not APS terms.
Ductwork repair, sealing and replacement is a legitimate efficiency fix on its own merits, even without a rebate attached.
Bill assistance is not a rebate
APS also lists Energy Support bill savings for eligible customers.[2] Income-based help, including Crisis Bill Assistance, works differently from a rebate. It reduces or covers what you owe, and it is not tied to buying equipment.
Which rebates can you stack, and what else is out there?
The table below separates the programs. Confirm every stacking rule with the program administrator before you buy.
| Program or rebate | One-time or ongoing | What it covers | Who qualifies | Stacks with other offers? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS equipment rebate (AC or heat pump) | One-time | Not confirmed on current APS residential pages | Confirm on aps.com | Do not assume; get it in writing |
| Cool Rewards | Ongoing, seasonal | Bill credits for allowing thermostat adjustments[1] | Eligible APS customers with a connected smart thermostat on central AC[1] | Separate from equipment offers; ask APS |
| Thermostat offer | One-time purchase offer | Smart thermostat, possibly with installation tied to Cool Rewards enrollment[2] | Eligible APS customers | Ask whether it pairs with Cool Rewards credits |
| Insulation or weatherization | Not confirmed | No current APS offer confirmed here | Confirm on aps.com | Not applicable until confirmed |
| Efficiency Arizona HEAR/HOMES | One-time | Qualifying electric appliances and efficiency upgrades[3] | Eligible households; HEAR targets low-income or underserved homes[3] | Paused over federal funding uncertainty; verify status[4] |
| Federal tax credit | Annual tax filing | Check IRS pages for current rules | Check IRS | Confirm with a tax professional |
Arizona reported that Efficiency Arizona was paused because of federal grant funding uncertainty, so confirm availability on the state page before treating HEAR or HOMES as real money.[4]
Keep invoices, model numbers, and the AHRI certificate for any claim.
Key takeaways
- Cool Rewards pays bill credits, not equipment costs
- No APS AC or heat pump replacement rebate is confirmed
- Efficiency Arizona was paused, so verify its status
- Confirm every stacking rule before you buy
What paperwork and contractor steps come before you claim?
Order matters. A claim can fail when the installer's license or permit record does not match the invoice. This sequence is our guidance, not an APS rule:
- Verify the contractor's active ROC license.
- Confirm your city's permit rule.
- Get a written contract with the license number and dates.
- Buy and install.
- Submit paperwork with the invoice, model numbers, and AHRI certificate.
License and contract
Look for an R-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration license, which covers installing and repairing comfort cooling and heating systems.[5] Verify it on the ROC Contractor Search at roc.az.gov, or follow our guide to verifying an HVAC contractor's license.
Permits by city
Rules differ. Phoenix generally needs no permit for a like-for-like replacement unless size, capacity, or location changes. Mesa needs none if the new unit uses the same or less electricity. Scottsdale requires a Minimum Mechanical Permit.
For Tempe, Chandler, and Glendale, check with your city. Details are in AC replacement permits across the Phoenix area.
Cancellation rights
Door-to-door "rebate" pitches are common. Arizona's home solicitation law gives you a three-business-day cancellation right with a written notice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the APS Cool Rewards program?
It is an ongoing summer demand-response program for connected smart thermostats on central AC, with bill credits in return.[1] See the Cool Rewards section above.
Is there a tax credit for buying Energy Star appliances?
Federal credits have changed in recent years, so check IRS pages and a tax professional for current rules. See the stacking section.
How do I apply for APS rebates?
Start on aps.com to find the program that fits, then follow the steps in the paperwork section. Keep invoices, model numbers, and the AHRI certificate.
Does APS offer rebates for appliances?
APS points customers to smart-thermostat offers.[2] Confirm any other appliance offers on aps.com.
Does APS have an insulation rebate?
Verify on aps.com before counting on it.
Does APS offer rebates for thermostats?
APS lists smart-thermostat offers tied to Cool Rewards enrollment.[2] Amounts and terms vary, so check the live page.
Offers change by year, so check aps.com for current terms before you sign anything.
Questions
- Arizona Public Service. "Cool Rewards." https://www.aps.com/en/About/Sustainability-and-Innovation/Technology-and-Innovation/Cool-Rewards. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Arizona Public Service. "Arizona Public Service Residential Home." https://www.aps.com/en/Residential/Home. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency. "Efficiency Arizona." https://resilient.az.gov/resiliency-programs/energy-programs/energy-affordability/efficiency-arizona. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency. "Efficiency Arizona Program Paused Due to Federal Grant Funding Uncertainty." https://resilient.az.gov/news/efficiency-arizona-program-paused-due-federal-grant-funding-uncertainty. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors. "License Classifications." https://roc.az.gov/license-classifications. Accessed October 16, 2026.
