Arizona's Cholla Power Plant Repowering Plan to Meet Energy Demand
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Growing Energy Demand: Arizona's energy needs are projected to rise significantly, prompting APS to convert two units of the Cholla Power Plant to natural gas, which is expected to add approximately 380 megawatts of energy, enough to power about 61,000 homes, thereby ensuring reliable and affordable electricity service.
- Economic and Job Impact: The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and provide several dozen permanent positions once operational, further stimulating the local economy and generating meaningful tax revenue, enhancing the economic impact of the Cholla plant in the region.
- Community Support and Investment: APS Vice President Johnny Penrod emphasized that repurposing the Cholla Power Plant will continue to support the communities that have long backed the facility, enhancing the reliability of power supply while providing affordable energy services, reflecting the company's commitment to the community.
- Future Construction Plans: The construction for the gas conversion is expected to begin in 2028, with a target in-service date in 2029, and the project will undergo formal permitting and planning processes while maintaining community outreach through open houses and newsletters to ensure transparency and engagement.
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Analyst Views on PNW
Wall Street analysts forecast PNW stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 106.300
Low
85.00
Averages
94.14
High
99.00
Current: 106.300
Low
85.00
Averages
94.14
High
99.00
About PNW
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation is an electric utility holding company. The Company operates through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS). It is engaged in regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses and related activities, and includes electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. It owns or leases approximately 6,257 megawatts (MW) of regulated generation capacity and holds a mix of both long-term and short-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for additional capacity. Its portfolio includes biomass, biogas, coal, energy storage, geothermal, natural gas, solar, and wind. It includes natural gas power plants located throughout Arizona, consisting of Redhawk, located near Palo Verde; Ocotillo, located in Tempe; Sundance, located in Coolidge; West Phoenix, located in southwest Phoenix; Saguaro, located north of Tucson; and Yucca, located near Yuma. It also includes oil-only power plants, which include Douglas and Yucca GT-4.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Arizona's Cholla Power Plant Repowering Plan to Meet Energy Demand
- Growing Energy Demand: Arizona's energy needs are projected to rise significantly, prompting APS to convert two units of the Cholla Power Plant to natural gas, which is expected to add approximately 380 megawatts of energy, enough to power about 61,000 homes, thereby ensuring reliable and affordable electricity service.
- Economic and Job Impact: The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and provide several dozen permanent positions once operational, further stimulating the local economy and generating meaningful tax revenue, enhancing the economic impact of the Cholla plant in the region.
- Community Support and Investment: APS Vice President Johnny Penrod emphasized that repurposing the Cholla Power Plant will continue to support the communities that have long backed the facility, enhancing the reliability of power supply while providing affordable energy services, reflecting the company's commitment to the community.
- Future Construction Plans: The construction for the gas conversion is expected to begin in 2028, with a target in-service date in 2029, and the project will undergo formal permitting and planning processes while maintaining community outreach through open houses and newsletters to ensure transparency and engagement.
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- Sales Growth Outlook: The company maintains its 2026 sales growth guidance at 4% to 6% while projecting long-term growth of 5% to 7%, reflecting management's confidence in future demand, particularly amid the semiconductor industry's expansion.
- Infrastructure Investment: The ongoing Redhawk expansion project will add approximately 400 megawatts of natural gas capacity, with new resources expected to come online between 2029 and 2031, enhancing the company's ability to meet future customer demand.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved $1.15 billion in revenue for Q1, an 11.7% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $70 million, reflecting robust business momentum that may attract more investor interest.
- Future Earnings Guidance: Pinnacle West estimates its 2026 earnings per share will range from $4.55 to $4.75 on a weather-normalized basis, providing clear profit guidance that enhances market confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
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- Revenue Growth: The company achieved total operating revenues of $1.15 billion in the first quarter, up approximately 11.65% from $1.03 billion in the prior-year quarter, reflecting strong performance amid recovering market demand.
- Full-Year Earnings Outlook: Pinnacle West reaffirmed its consolidated earnings guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting earnings per share in the range of $4.55 to $4.75, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance despite a challenging market environment.
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- Strong Customer Growth: The company achieved a customer growth rate of 2.2%, alongside a weather-normalized sales growth of 9.4%, indicating a robust recovery in the Arizona economy, with energy consumption significantly increasing after experiencing record warm winter and spring temperatures.
- Summer Reliability Planning: The company is actively preparing for the upcoming peak summer season by enhancing wildfire mitigation measures and conducting equipment maintenance to ensure safe and reliable power supply for all customers, which is not only a core responsibility but also a strategic objective.
- Future Financial Outlook: Pinnacle West estimates its earnings per share for 2026 will range from $4.55 to $4.75 on a weather-normalized basis, reflecting confidence in future growth, particularly against a backdrop of sustained customer demand and improving market conditions.
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Arizona's Cholla Power Plant Repowering Plan to Meet Energy Demand
- Growing Energy Demand: Arizona's energy needs are projected to rise significantly, prompting APS to convert two units of the Cholla Power Plant to natural gas, which is expected to add approximately 380 megawatts of energy, enough to power about 61,000 homes, thereby ensuring reliable and affordable electricity service.
- Economic and Job Impact: The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and provide several dozen permanent positions once operational, further stimulating the local economy and generating meaningful tax revenue, enhancing the economic impact of the Cholla plant in the region.
- Community Support and Investment: APS Vice President Johnny Penrod emphasized that repurposing the Cholla Power Plant will continue to support the communities that have long backed the facility, enhancing the reliability of power supply while providing affordable energy services, reflecting the company's commitment to the community.
- Future Construction Plans: The construction for the gas conversion is expected to begin in 2028, with a target in-service date in 2029, and the project will undergo formal permitting and planning processes while maintaining community outreach through open houses and newsletters to ensure transparency and engagement.
See More
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- Nike Stock Decline: Nike shares have fallen nearly 20% over the past three months and are down 48% from the August 2025 high, making it the worst performer in the Dow Industrials, only better than Chevron, indicating significant weakness in its market position.
- Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date, Nike's stock is down about 35%, and no other Dow constituent has performed worse in the past 12 months, highlighting the challenges it faces in the highly competitive sports apparel market.
- Constellation Brands Struggles: Constellation Brands, the maker of Corona and Modelo beers, has seen its stock drop nearly 8% in the last three months and is down 21% from its July 2025 high, reflecting pressure in its market segment.
- Healthcare Sector Strength: The healthcare sector has risen nearly 8% in the past month, with Moderna's stock surging 47%, indicating a strong recovery in the sector and investor confidence in its growth potential.
See More
Pinnacle West Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings and Growth Outlook
- Strong Financial Performance: Pinnacle West reported earnings of $0.27 per share for Q1 2026, a significant recovery from a loss of $0.04 per share in Q1 2025, driven by higher transmission revenues and favorable weather conditions, indicating a positive market rebound.
- Sales Growth Outlook: The company maintains its 2026 sales growth guidance at 4% to 6% while projecting long-term growth of 5% to 7%, reflecting management's confidence in future demand, particularly amid the semiconductor industry's expansion.
- Infrastructure Investment: The ongoing Redhawk expansion project will add approximately 400 megawatts of natural gas capacity, with new resources expected to come online between 2029 and 2031, enhancing the company's ability to meet future customer demand.
- Contracting Model Progress: Management indicated that subscription model contracts are expected to be filed in 2026, and while negotiations are ongoing, this initiative aims to convert uncommitted load into long-term contracts, thereby improving revenue stability.
See More
Pinnacle West Capital Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Pinnacle West Capital reported Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.27, surpassing expectations by $0.26, indicating strong profitability that boosts investor confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved $1.15 billion in revenue for Q1, an 11.7% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $70 million, reflecting robust business momentum that may attract more investor interest.
- Future Earnings Guidance: Pinnacle West estimates its 2026 earnings per share will range from $4.55 to $4.75 on a weather-normalized basis, providing clear profit guidance that enhances market confidence in its long-term growth prospects.
- Long-Term Growth Target: The company aims for 5% to 7% long-term sales growth through 2030 while advancing grid expansion and regulatory strategy, demonstrating a proactive approach to future market opportunities.
See More
Pinnacle West Capital Corp Reaffirms 2026 Earnings Guidance
- Financial Performance Review: Pinnacle West Capital Corp reported a net income of $32.92 million for the first quarter, translating to earnings of $0.27 per share, a significant recovery from a net loss of $4.64 million or $0.04 per share in the same quarter last year, indicating a rebound in profitability.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved total operating revenues of $1.15 billion in the first quarter, up approximately 11.65% from $1.03 billion in the prior-year quarter, reflecting strong performance amid recovering market demand.
- Full-Year Earnings Outlook: Pinnacle West reaffirmed its consolidated earnings guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting earnings per share in the range of $4.55 to $4.75, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance despite a challenging market environment.
- Stock Price Movement: In pre-market trading on Monday, PNW's stock was priced at $100.64, down $2.95 or 2.85%, indicating a cautious market reaction to the company's earnings report.
See More
Record Heat Drives Sales Growth for Pinnacle West Capital Corp.
- Significant Performance Improvement: Pinnacle West Capital Corp. reported a net income of $32.9 million for Q1 2026, translating to $0.27 per diluted share, a substantial recovery from a net loss of $4.6 million in Q1 2025, reflecting an increase of approximately $38 million primarily due to higher transmission revenues and customer growth.
- Strong Customer Growth: The company achieved a customer growth rate of 2.2%, alongside a weather-normalized sales growth of 9.4%, indicating a robust recovery in the Arizona economy, with energy consumption significantly increasing after experiencing record warm winter and spring temperatures.
- Summer Reliability Planning: The company is actively preparing for the upcoming peak summer season by enhancing wildfire mitigation measures and conducting equipment maintenance to ensure safe and reliable power supply for all customers, which is not only a core responsibility but also a strategic objective.
- Future Financial Outlook: Pinnacle West estimates its earnings per share for 2026 will range from $4.55 to $4.75 on a weather-normalized basis, reflecting confidence in future growth, particularly against a backdrop of sustained customer demand and improving market conditions.
See More
