Arizona Public Service (APS) is encouraging its customers to be prepared for summer heat.

“We do the hard work to make it easier for our customers to prepare for summer,” Stacy Derstine, APS vice president of customer service and chief customer officer, said. “Customers expect their lights to turn on at the flip of a switch - whether it’s 60 degrees outside or 115. We are ready for the summer heat, and there are a few things we want our customers to do as well to ensure they are ready to enjoy a safe and cool summer.”

APS is offering several tips to help customers be better prepared for summer.

The tips include signing up for notifications at aps.com/alerts. The APS notification center provides up-to-the-minute information via text or email regarding outages, usage and billing. These tools can also help customers manage their energy costs.

Customers should check their air conditioner's condition. APS recommends performing an advanced AC tune-up every six years. In the Phoenix area, the ideal months are April through October when temperatures are above 75 degrees. APS offers a $95 incentive per system if the work is performed through a participating contractor.

Customers should also prepare for monsoon season with an emergency supply kit that contains nonperishable food items, water, a first aid kit, a battery-operated radio, flashlights, extra batteries and any necessary medications. Also, keep your APS account number in a place you can find it so you can report an outage without speaking to a customer associate. During a storm, stay a safe distance from structures and power poles. Always assume that downed power lines are energized; stay at least 50 feet away from them.