Phoenix, Arizona
Electricians in Phoenix
Phoenix is divided between two electric utilities, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, sometimes street by street. They have different service requirements, rate plans and solar rules, so an electrician's first question is which one serves the address.
- Licensing
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Permits
- City of Phoenix Planning and Development
- Utilities
- APS or SRP, by address
- Dominant load
- Air conditioning
- Main hazards
- Extreme heat, monsoon wind and lightning
What extreme heat does to electrical equipment
Outdoor panels in full sun
Most Phoenix houses have the main panel outside. Breakers are rated at a set ambient temperature and can trip below their rating on a west wall in July.
Attic wiring
Attic temperatures well above outdoor air reduce how much current a cable may carry, which affects circuit sizing.
Air conditioner disconnects and contactors
Among the most frequently failed parts in summer.
Working hours
Attic and rooftop work is scheduled for early morning in summer for the electrician's safety.
APS and SRP
Arizona Public Service
- Investor-owned, regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission
- Serves much of north and central Phoenix
- Its own service entrance and meter requirements
Salt River Project
- A public power district governed by its own elected board
- Serves much of the east valley and parts of Phoenix
- Its own service specifications, rate plans and solar terms
Your bill shows which one serves you. For a service upgrade, the contractor applies to that utility and builds to its specification.
Licensing and permits
Arizona licenses the contracting business through the Registrar of Contractors and does not license individual electricians, so the Registrar's record is the one to check. It shows the license class, bond and any complaints.
The City of Phoenix issues electrical permits and inspects. Arizona has no statewide electrical code, so Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and Maricopa County each adopt their own edition and amendments.
Work that is typical of the valley
- Panel upgrades for added air conditioning or EV charging
- See panel upgrades.
- Pool and spa equipment
- Pump circuits, bonding and GFCI protection have their own code article and are closely inspected.
- Solar and battery interconnection
- Backfeed breakers and utility-specific disconnect requirements.
- Monsoon damage
- Microbursts take down service masts and trees fall on overhead drops between July and September.
- RV and workshop circuits
- See dedicated circuits.
Confirming Phoenix requirements
Check the contractor with the Registrar and permit rules with the city. For the rest of the state, see electricians in Arizona.
Phoenix electrical questions
Why does my breaker trip only on the hottest afternoons?
Heat lowers the point at which a breaker trips, and air conditioners draw more when it is hottest. A panel in direct sun makes both worse. See breaker keeps tripping.
Is my address APS or SRP?
Check your bill, or ask either utility. The boundary does not follow city limits.
Can the panel be moved indoors?
Sometimes, but the utility sets where the meter and service disconnect may go, so it is decided with them.
Reach an electrician in Phoenix
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