Got a client on APS Schedule E-32 in Phoenix. Their July usage jumped from 485 kWh to 679 kWh compared to last year. Building is same size, no equipment changes. Is 40% increase typical for Arizona summer? Seems high even with the heat dome.
APS Phoenix office showing 40% increase in summer usage - normal?
That's definitely high. I see 15-25% increases in Charlotte during heat waves but 40% suggests equipment issues. Check if any cooling equipment is cycling improperly or if there's a phantom load from faulty ballasts.
Had similar jump with PSE&G client in Newark. Turned out to be a bad compressor drawing double the amps. The meter doesn't lie - something changed even if it's not obvious.
APS has good historical data tools. Pull 24 months of usage and graph it. Look for the inflection point where usage pattern changed. That'll tell you exactly when the problem started.
Sarah's instincts are correct - 40% is outside normal variance. The key with usage anomalies is methodical comparison: same period prior year, same month prior 3 years, and degree-day adjustments. Something mechanical changed.