SCIP customers, these local resources could help pay your bill
Customers of a unique power company serving rural Gila, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties have long faced reliability issues and high bills .
The San Carlos Irrigation Project provides electricity to more than 10,000 residential customers. Unlike most other power companies in Arizona, it is not regulated by the state Corporation Commission. Instead, SCIP is overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
That means it operates under a different set of rules regarding rate increases, service requirements and more. SCIP's rates shot up suddenly at the end of last summer , leaving some facing charges totaling upward of $1,000.
Under public pressure, the utility ultimately walked back the increase. But state leaders and federal lawmakers say customers still have few protections against future unexpected rate hikes. And they are still paying more than the state average for electricity.
The Arizona Republic worked with Solari, a nonprofit that runs the state's human services call center , to compile a list of resources that may help SCIP customers facing high power bills.
Use the list below to identify utility assistance options based on your zip code. Some zip codes are only partially served by SCIP, but resources are available for you regardless of your electric provider.
Casa Grande (85122, 85193 and 85194)
Utility assistance resources available in the Casa Grande area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Coolidge (85128)
Utility assistance resources available in the Coolidge area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Dudleyville (85192)
Utility assistance resources available in the Dudleyville area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
Gila County Community Action Program — Globe: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631
Gila County Community Action Program — Payson: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631 (ext. 8650)
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Nation's Finest — Flagstaff: 928-266-1984
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Eloy (85131)
Utility assistance resources available in the Eloy area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Hayden (85135)
Utility assistance resources available in the Hayden area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
Gila County Community Action Program — Globe: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631
Gila County Community Action Program — Payson: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631 (ext. 8650)
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Nation's Finest — Flagstaff: 928-266-1984
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Kearny (85137)
Utility assistance resources available in the Kearny area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Mammoth (85618)
Utility assistance resources available in the Mammoth area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
Tri-Community Food Bank: 520-487-2010
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Marana (85658)
Utility assistance resources available in the Marana area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — Central: 520-297-6049
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — Northwest: 520-297-6049 or 520-797-3029
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — South: 520-297-6049
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Pima County Community Assistance Division: 520-724-2460 or 520-724-2667
PPEP Human Services Department — Marana: 520-741-4397
PPEP Human Services Department — Tucson: 520-741-4397 or 520-770-2506
Primavera Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance: 520-623-5111
Project Action for Veterans: 520-300-5229 or 520-308-3093
The Salvation Army Social Services — Tucson: 520-792-1111
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
Tucson Indian Center Emergency Financial Assistance Program: 520-331-7130 or 520-884-0240
Maricopa (85138 and 85139)
Utility assistance resources available in the Maricopa area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Oracle (85623)
Utility assistance resources available in the Oracle area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
Tri-Community Food Bank: 520-487-2010
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Red Rock (85145)
Utility assistance resources available in the Red Rock area include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
CAHRA Case Management Program: 520-466-1112
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Saddlebrooke and Catalina (85739)
Utility assistance resources available in the Saddlebrooke and Catalina areas include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — Central: 520-297-6049
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — Northwest: 520-297-6049 or 520-797-3029
Interfaith Community Services Financial Assistance Program — South: 520-297-6049
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
Pima County Community Assistance Division: 520-724-2460 or 520-724-2667
PPEP Human Services Department — Marana: 520-741-4397
PPEP Human Services Department — Tucson: 520-741-4397 or 520-770-2506
Primavera Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance: 520-623-5111
Project Action for Veterans: 520-300-5229 and 520-308-3093
Saint Vincent de Paul — Tucson Diocesan Council: 520-624-9102 or 520-628-7837
The Salvation Army Social Services — Tucson: 520-792-1111
Tohono O'odham Department of Health & Human Services: 520-383-6000 or 520-383-6250
Tucson Indian Center Emergency Financial Assistance Program: 520-331-7130 or 520-884-0240
San Carlos Apache Tribe (85542 and 85550)
Utility assistance resources available in the San Carlos and Peridot areas include:
Arizona Department of Economic Security Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: 866-494-1981
Gila County Community Action Program — Globe: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631
Gila County Community Action Program — Payson: 800-304-4452 (ext. 8650) or 928-425-7631 (ext. 8650)
Helping Hands for Freedom Financial Assistance: 602-845-1390
Nation's Finest — Flagstaff: 928-266-1984
Operation Homefront Critical Financial Assistance Program: 877-264-3968
United Way of Pinal County: 520-836-0736
Did we miss your ZIP code?
The Republic wants to provide a full list of utility assistance resources for all SCIP customers.
If we missed your zip code, let us know. Email reporter Sasha Hupka at .
All Arizonans can find information about local utility assistance resources by calling 211 or visiting arizona211.org .
Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at . Follow her on X: . Follow her on Instagram or Threads: . , Republic Recount .
