SAN ANTONIO – CPS Energy released a report on Wednesday highlighting the impacts of the utility’s ongoing strategic plan on the community last year.

The 23-page document showcases measures to address energy equity, increase sustainability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a pivotal moment for the future of energy,” CPS Energy president and CEO Rudy D. Garza expressed in the report. “As energy needs grow and change, we are stepping up to meet those needs while staying connected with our community.”

The report’s first page introduces the strategic plan, known as Vision 2027, and discusses a widely debated topic from earlier this year: rate increases.

The 4.25% rate increase went into effect on Feb. 1, resulting in an average $4.45 monthly increase for residential customers.

“Rate hikes are never easy, but City Council stepped up to ensure that CPS Energy is adequately funded to maintain its resilience, enhance its sustainability, and offer top-notch service to its customers,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg remarked in the report.

A key element in powering the city’s future, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions, involves replacing or retrofitting current fossil fuel generation methods according to the Vision 2027 strategic plan.

“I’m proud of the work CPS Energy did in 2023 to serve our community while staying focused on our mission of evolving into the utility our community will need in the future,” Garza stated in the report. “Our Vision 2027 strategic plan will continue to lead us through this transformative period.”

Resiliency, in its various forms, is a recurring theme in the report.

The utility emphasizes its dedication to environmental stewardship and bolstering infrastructure resilience.

There is also a focus on continued alignment with the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP).

The plan, adopted in 2019, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement, the plan noted.

CPS Energy, in order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, aims to achieve the following goals: a 41% reduction by 2030 and 71% by 2040, as outlined in its report. Additionally, the utility plans to phase out aging units to incorporate more renewable energy sources.

As of January 2024, the utility holds renewable resource stakes in:

• 1.049 megawatts of wind energy
• 552 megawatts of utility-scale solar
• 10 megawatts of battery storage resource

You can view the CPS Energy report below:

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