San Antonio Council Decision on CPS Energy Surplus Ignores Climate Crisis, Rising Energy Bills
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio City Council today rejected using a $50 million surplus from high energy prices to fund a package of long-term local solutions to address the climate crisis and rising energy bills. Advocates had asked the council to invest it in home weatherization and climate change mitigation programs to lower utility bills and prepare the city for weather extremes. The council instead opted to give CPS Energy customers a one-time rebate on a future bill. DeeDee Belmares, climate justice organizer for Public Citizen, issued the following statement:
“This was a disappointing result that does not address the underlying problem: climate change. Hotter summers mean San Antonians will continue to set electricity use records as they struggle to keep their homes cool. The one-time credit the council approved today will be forgotten when ratepayers see their energy bills again climbing in the summer months or during other extreme weather events like Winter Storm Uri. The climate crisis is here now, and defeating it requires smart, long-term solutions — that is not what the council voted for today.”