SRP doubles heat-relief funding
Image: SRP employees assemble heat-relief kits for distribution through nonprofit partners. Earlier this year, volunteers prepared 3,250 kits containing items such as cooling towels, sunscreen, bottled water and hydration supplies to help residents cope with extreme summer temperatures. (Salt River Project/Submitted)
Salt River Project is increasing its support for heat-relief efforts to more than $1.3 million this year — more than double the funding it provided last year. The investment will primarily support HVAC repair and replacement assistance for residents through nonprofit partners, while also funding cooling centers, heat-relief kits, tree-planting initiatives and other programs aimed at helping vulnerable communities withstand extreme summer temperatures.
“We live here, we work here and so we want to give back here as well,” SRP Community Engagement Senior Manager Clare Felix said. “We try to do as much as we can to help nonprofits in our community do even more good to help our customers and our surrounding communities — it’s absolutely part of the fabric of SRP.”
The $1.3 million in heat-relief funding will be distributed to SRP’s nonprofit partners — including AllThrive365, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Circle the City and other organizations. According to Felix, the organization committed approximately $500,000 last year and increased its investment this year in response to growing community needs.
Much of the funding will go toward supporting HVAC replacement and repair efforts through AllThrive365’s Healthy Homes program. The senior manager said that the service can be financially burdensome for lower-income households, costing anywhere from $5,000 to more than $10,000.
“The need is great — they have no shortage of people that are waiting for this repair and replacement assistance,” Felix said. “The quicker we’re able to get their funds out to them this spring, the sooner they’re able to be responsive to those needs this summer.”
She added that SRP chose to partner with AllThrive365 because of the impact demonstrated by the organization’s Healthy Homes program — helping residents to remain safe in their homes, make energy-efficient choices and manage utility costs. According to Felix, the thermostat temperature target that balances comfort with energy efficiency is between 78 and 80 degrees.
SRP’s approach to heat relief efforts extends into various other programs and initiatives. Earlier this year, the not-for-profit company assembled and distributed 3,250 heat-relief kits, which included cooling towels, hats, lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, bottled water, IV liquids and hydration packets. Nonprofit partners such as The Salvation Army have received funds to support Cooling Center efforts, serving unhoused populations and other residents seeking refuge from extreme heat.
Some of the funding will also support long-term heat mitigation efforts, such as tree-planting initiatives through Arizona Sustainability Alliance and SRP’s own shade tree programs.
Beyond seasonal heat-relief efforts, SRP also provides $5 million in year-round utility assistance through the SRP Bill Assistance Program, administered by Wildfire.
Maricopa County residents in need of assistance can contact SRP’s resource counselors through the Here to Help program. According to Felix, the service connects customers with programs, community resources and organizations that can provide additional support.
Looking to the summer months ahead, Felix said that SRP is committed to helping its customers access the resources they need.
“We never want a customer’s ability to pay their bill right now to be a barrier for them to ask for help,” Felix said. “We have so many different options and resources available, both internally at SRP and through our community partners.”
For more information or to receive assistance, visit srp.net/heretohelp, or call 602-236-8888