SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 5, 1998


                         ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          Arizona                      1-4473                   86-0011170
- ----------------------------         -----------          ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission              (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)               File Number)         Identification Number)


400 North Fifth Street, P.O. Box 53999, Phoenix, Arizona               85004
- --------------------------------------------------------               -----
      (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)



                                 (602) 250-1000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                      NONE
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5. Other Events

Competition

ACC Rules.  In December 1996,  the Arizona  Corporation  Commission  (the "ACC")
adopted  rules that  provide  for a  framework  for the  introduction  of retail
electric  competition.  On August 4, 1998,  the ACC  adopted  amendments  to the
rules.

         The major components of the amended rules, which apply to all "Affected
Utilities," including the Company, are outlined below:

      +   Each Affected Utility is expected to provide competitive  generation
          service  to 20% of its 1995  retail  peak  demand by  January 1, 1999.
          Customers  eligible  for the 20%  phase-in  beginning  January 1, 1999
          include (a) customers  with  specified  loads of at least 1 MW and (b)
          customers with load demands of at least 40kW that are aggregated  into
          a combined load of at least 1 MW. In addition,  the rules require 100%
          of  retail  customers  (including  residential  customers)  access  to
          competitive services beginning January 1, 2001.

      +   Prior to January 1, 2001,  residential  customers  will have access to
          competitive  services through a quarterly phase-in of one-half percent
          of residential customers per quarter beginning January 1, 1999.

      +   The rules  establish  that the ACC shall  allow  Affected  Utilities a
          "reasonable   opportunity"  to  recover  unmitigated   stranded  cost.
          Affected   Utilities   are   still   expected   to  take   reasonable,
          cost-effective steps to mitigate stranded costs.

      +   Absent a waiver from the ACC,  each  Affected  Utility  must  separate
          itself of all  competitive  generation  assets and  services  prior to
          January  1, 2001.  The  separation  must be either to an  unaffiliated
          party or to a separate corporate affiliate or affiliates.

      +   The rules contain "affiliate  transaction rules" generally prohibiting
          an  Affected  Utility and its  competitive  electric  affiliates  from
          sharing personnel,  office space,  equipment,  services,  and systems,
          except to the extent appropriate to perform certain permissible shared
          corporate support functions.

      +   The  rules  become effective  immediately upon filing with the Arizona
          Secretary of State; however, the ACC must complete a public process to
          formalize the amended rules within six months. The Company anticipates
          the completion of this process by year-end 1998 or early 1999.

      +   The rules contain a number of other  provisions and details related to
          operational issues,  such as solar power,  customer data standards and
          an independent system administrator or operator.


All Affected  Utilities are required to make the  following  filings in the next
several months:

      +   August 21, 1998 - proposed  plan for  quantification  and  recovery of
          stranded costs;

      +   September 15, 1998 - report "detailing  possible mechanisms to provide
          benefits, such as rate reductions of 3% to 5%, to all 'standard offer'
          customers";

      +   September   15,  1998  -  proposed  plan  for   residential   phase-in
          implementation;

      +    December 31, 1998 - affiliate rule compliance and restructuring plan.


                                   SIGNATURES



         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Company  has duly  caused  this  report to be  signed on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                          ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                                                   (Registrant)




Dated:   August 6, 1998                   By: /s/ Nancy C. Loftin
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Nancy C. Loftin
                                             Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel
                                             and Secretary