Tagged: CPS Energy

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.

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.  

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.

CPS spokeswoman Yvonne Casanova said the system will continue to be tested through the end of February. Over the next week or so, during regular business hours, customers who have signed up for alerts on the CPS website should receive a test message.

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.