APS Receives EPA's Highest Honor: ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award19:34 EDT Wednesday, March 21, 2012 PHOENIX (Business Wire) -- Arizona Public Service Company's customer programs continue to receive national recognition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for the third straight year, awarded the Arizona utility an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. From the 20,000 participating organizations in the ENERGY STAR program, only a select few are given a Sustained Excellence Award. According to the EPA, to receive the award, organizations must exhibit outstanding leadership in the Agency's ENERGY STAR program year after year. This year, APS received the award for its ENERGY STAR Homes and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs. The APS ENERGY STAR Homes program encourages builders to construct homes that meet or exceed stringent EPA efficiency standards, resulting in homes that are at least 20 percent more efficient than standard homes. Today, 40 builders across Arizona — including the 20 largest in APS's service territory — are participating in the program. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program helps customers improve the comfort, efficiency and safety of their homes by lowering the cost of a standard home energy audit. Through the program, customers pay $99 instead of the standard $400 cost. In 2011, 4,300 customers had their ductwork and windows evaluated for leaks, home air-conditioning units inspected and insulation measured. “We take pride in the EPA's continued recognition of our work to help our customers manage their energy bills,” said Tammy McLeod, APS Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. “Today, APS looks at energy efficiency as a way to meet the increased electricity needs of customers — much in the same way we look at building a new solar, natural gas or other power plant.” APS's accomplishment was recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 15. “APS and all our ENERGY STAR award winners are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our climate, our health and our future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. Over the past 20 years, American families and businesses have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from more than 350 million vehicles with help from ENERGY STAR. APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW). APSMedia Contact:Steven Gotfried, 602-250-3040Website: aps.com/newsroom