May 2023
Member Spotlight
Throughout 2023, SECC will recognize one member every month, providing an organizational profile and highlighting the member's accomplishments in the smart energy space.
About Tucson Electric Power
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) provides the energy behind Tucson's economy.
TEP goes beyond providing safe, reliable power to more than 442,000 customers in the Tucson metropolitan area. The company is accelerating its transition to cleaner energy resources through a cost-effective plan that supports reliable and affordable service from increasingly sustainable resources.
A healthy economy supports a strong community, so TEP works closely with companies to support their future electric needs. The company supported the creation of nearly 1,300 jobs in Southern Arizona in 2022 as part of its ongoing support for local economic development.
Going Green
With 62 wind turbines installed on 24,000 acres in southeast New Mexico, Oso Grande serves as TEP’s single largest renewable resource. The 250-megawatt (MW) system generates enough energy every year to serve about 90,000 homes. The 12.5-MW solar array at Raptor Ridge has been generating clean energy for homeowners and renters participating in TEP’s GoSolar Home program since June 2022.
These and other large scale renewable systems are part of a cleaner energy portfolio that is helping TEP work toward eliminating carbon emissions as soon as possible. After recent expansions of its wind and solar power systems, more than 25 percent of the community’s power is now coming from carbon-free renewable resources, helping advance TEP’s plans to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2035.
Electrification Efforts
TEP’s Transportation Electrification Plan provides technical assistance and incentives for customers to increase access to electric modes of transportation. Programs to serve residential, retail and commercial buildings are underway. Programs to serve schools, non-profits and disadvantaged communities in TEP's service area are under development, as are other innovative studies and programs to prepare the territory for this growth.
Managing Demand
Recognizing that customers are a critical piece of responsibly managing the grid, TEP's broad mix of energy efficiency programs for residential and commercial customers are designed to help save energy and keep rates affordable for everyone. From 2011-2022, customers partnered with TEP to achieve cumulative lifetime savings of about 20.2 million tons of CO2 emissions, 9,669 million gallons of water and 21 million MWh of electricity. TEP’s robust portfolio of energy efficiency measures includes a popular shade tree program and a proposed Pay as You Save program awaiting regulatory approval.
TEP is also exploring new opportunities to partner with customers on energy management solutions that better match consumption to clean energy output and grid conditions. TEP is launching a pilot program in summer 2023 to provide incentives to allow occasional adjustments to their thermostat when the demand for energy is high.
Powering Community
For more than 130 years, TEP has remained true to a vision of improving the quality of life in the communities they serve. A local leader in community service, volunteerism forms the heart of TEP’s corporate culture. The company supported 190 charities in 2022 through $1.4 million in donations and nearly 13,000 volunteer hours.
TEP’s financial, in-kind and volunteer contributions have significant, measurable impact in their community. Their contributions are funded with company resources, not with customers’ rates.
They focus philanthropic investments in four specific areas:
Through these investments, they help feed the hungry; provide shelter, direction and hope for homeless teens and adults; and educate youth in science, technology, engineering and math. They also support teachers by providing school supplies, classroom grants and funding for field trips.
