(Reuters) - Pinnacle West Capital Corp posted a quarterly profit from year-ago loss on Thursday, on the back of customer growth, increased sales and new rates.

Utility companies use General Rate Case (GRC) proceedings to increase consumer electricity prices to ask for an increase in rates on the basis of its total cost of providing service.

The Phoenix, Arizona-based utility said it also benefited from the utility's 2019 rate case and higher income due to the sale of a former subsidiary along with the impact of new retail base rates which took effect on March 8.

Through its principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service, the company provides retail electricity service to approximately 1.4 million Arizona homes and businesses.

Pinnacle said net income attributable to common shareholders rose to $16.9 million, or 15 cents per share, for the quarter ended March 31, from a net loss of $3.3 million, or a loss of 3 cents per share, a year earlier.

"The first quarter proved to be a strong start to our year and continued to build on the momentum of a growing and diverse customer base," said Pinnacle West Chief Executive Officer Jeff Guldner, in a statement, citing 1.8% year-over-year customer growth and weather-normalized sales growth of 5.9%.

Pinnacle expects its 2024 earnings forecast to be in the range of $4.60 per share to $4.80 per share on a weather-normalized basis.

Its revenue was $951.7 million, up from $944.9 million a year earlier. It, however, missed analysts' estimate of $981.8 million, according to LSEG.

(Reporting by Roshia Sabu in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)