CPS Energy

ERCOT Predicts Another Grid-Busting Summer

Eileen Pace — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:04:52 +0000

National forecasters are predicting another hotter-than-normal summer. That could mean more of the rolling blackouts likes those San Antonio experienced in 2011.

Climatologists predict temperatures will be above normal this year and the power grid may not be able to keep up. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation projects the Texas grid will have the lowest percentage of power reserves this summer of any region in the country.

The Source: CPS Energy And Solar San Antonio Talk SunCredit

Paul Flahive — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:17:44 +0000

In the first segment:

The announcement that CPS Energy is considering changing the amount of money it would reimburse its solar generating customers - cutting it by nearly 40 percent - caused more than a stir in the solar community.

Solar Advocates Unite To Oppose CPS Energy's Solar Credit Changes

Joey Palacios — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:03:21 +0000

San Antonio’s solar power industry is collectively fighting back against a plan by CPS Energy to lower a credit given to solar energy users.

Solar interests are calling for CPS Energy to backtrack on its decision to introduce SunCredit, a program that would reduce an existing dollar-for-dollar credit on generating solar energy.

CPS Energy Plan To Change Solar Credit Rate Outrages Advocates

Joey Palacios — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:37:05 +0000

CPS Energy is replacing its solar credit system that pays solar energy users with another program that pays slightly less, leaving some solar energy organizations and customers outraged.

CPS Energy customers currently pay 9.9 cents per kilowatt used, but people with solar energy on their home or business receive the same 9.9 cents back as a credit on their bill for every kilowatt they generate in a process called net-metering.

First OCI Solar Farm Under Construction, Finished By Year End

Eileen Pace — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:26:34 +0000

Today CPS Energy and city officials joined OCI Solar Power executives in a toast to the first phase of construction on a mega solar power agreement that promises 800 jobs for the city over several solar farm locations.

Officials made a ceremonial first dig with shovels at the site of Alamo I, the first solar farm location, to symbolize the massive construction project that has already begun.

South of Loop 410 and IH-37, Alamo I will soon be buzzing with hundreds of solar panels that will generate 41 megawatts.

Customers To Get Customized Outage Alerts From CPS Energy

Eileen Pace — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:31:38 +0000

Since 2011, CPS Energy has been able to send out mass alerts to customers when widespread power outages occurred, coordinated by zip code.

But now their system is more sophisticated, and will notify individual customers when power outages more than 15 minutes occur at their specific address.

San Antonio & Austin Generate Four Times More Solar Energy Than Rest Of State

Joey Palacios — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:41:14 +0000

According to one nonprofit company, San Antonio and Austin generate the vast majority of solar energy produced in the state. As the expansion of solar moves across Texas, both cities are emerging as solar front runners.

San Antonio and Austin combined for 85 percent of the state’s solar energy installations. That’s according to a report from Environment Texas.

Staffing Issues At CPS Energy Partly To Blame For High January Bills

Ryan Loyd — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:14:03 +0000

Although it may be a mild winter -- even by San Antonio standards -- customers of CPS Energy, the city’s electric company, are experiencing huge spikes in their bills, specifically January.

CPS Energy confirmed staffing of meter readers has dropped, which contributed to increased estimated meter reads. The utility's Christine Patmon said staff members who are retiring are not being replaced, and the it recently finished negotiating contracts for meter readers.

You May Qualify For CPS Energy's Casa Verde Program

Eileen Pace — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:59:27 +0000

CPS Energy is looking for new applicants to its Casa Verde energy-efficiency program, a weatherization program designed to help families in need reduce their monthly utility bills.

CPS Energy provided no-cost home improvements to 800 CPS Energy customers last year.

CPS Spokesman Albert Cantu says the program offers free energy recommendations for the customer’s individual needs and home, and even sends workers to replace or upgrade items on the list:

CPS First To Get Smartphone App For Home Manager System

Eileen Pace — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:09:27 +0000

CPS customers will be the first in the nation to get a new mobile phone app to run their air-conditioning and electrical systems when it rolls out in February. San Antonio-based Consert, Inc. unveiled its new tablet device earlier this month at a utility company in Tennessee.

Consert Vice-president Jeff Ebihara said although customers have been able to access their Home Managers using their mobile devices, the new app makes the system more portable.