CPS Energy Rate Hike
Last week, against the backdrop of the most dangerous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council voted to increase our CPS Energy rates. During a period that has found teachers, students, service workers, and the highest rate of city employees out on COVID leave, we are being urged to stay home, to stop the spread, but no further federal assistance is coming. Instead, residents of San Antonio are being forced to bear the brunt of CPS Energy’s mismanagement.
We commend our DSA endorsed City Councilmembers, Jalen Mckee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo, for voting against the rate hike. Other Council Members gave lip service to the idea of reforming CPS Energy, without using their power to force any committed change. The Council discussion made clear who is listened to: it’s the CEOs and business executives who run a utility which we, the people, own. Who knows if Rudy Garza will be here to see any of these commitments through? Former CEO Paula Gold Williams certainly isn't, but we, the working class ratepayers of San Antonio will be here.
Since the fallout of Winter Storm Uri, it was clearly only a matter of time before the cost of the storm would be pushed onto working class people. On the first CPS Energy Board of Trustees call following the storm, over 140 people delivered public comments identifying the failures of CPS Energy. At nearly every single CPS Rate Adjustment Town Hall, the choice of the people was overwhelmingly clear, no rate hike. Instead, a majority of City Council voted against the will of the people. We are repeatedly told that our public input is valued, and like clockwork, our representatives vote against our interests. It’s made obvious again that the majority of our City Council is unwilling to govern with the tenacity our living conditions call for.
This is why the only action the people of San Antonio have left is direct democracy. Last year, Recall CPS nearly collected enough signatures to put CPS Energy reform on the ballot. Next year, it appears we have no other choice. If our elected officials refuse to represent the will of their constituencies, we need a ballot measure that allows the voters of San Antonio to choose the best way forward for CPS Energy. We hope you will join us in that fight. DSAUSA.org/join
