Some San Antonio residents are grappling with financial strain, while CPS Energy offers programs to aid conservation and bill management.
SAN ANTONIO — One CPS Energy customer who came to the east-side customer service center to pay her bill Thursday expressed frustration with the high bill that has followed the winter storm that socked the local area weeks ago.
The woman, who didn’t want to give her name, said she had just paid a bill in excess of $300.
“I had to pay it in full because I can’t afford to get behind, or pay a little bit of this because if it all catches up to you, and when it catches up to you, they’re going to turn it off,” she said.
The woman said she has read reports of a strong economy, but she’s not seeing it, especially now with an exceptionally high energy bill.
“When I hear that, it angers me. It upsets me, because I’m a real person. I’m not a rich person. I’m on a monthly income. I live paycheck to paycheck by the grace of God,” she lamented, adding she gets emotional about the topic. “We can’t afford to even save because you’re trying to stay alive and live your life. That’s what upsets me. And I know I’m not the only one!”
Milady Nazir, with CPS Energy, said that customer isn’t the only one paying a costlier bill after the wintry weather.
“We do see higher energy use with colder temperatures such as the ones that we experienced during Winter Storm Fern,” Nazir said, referring to the Weather Channel’s name for the January storm that impacted millions in the U.S.
Nazir said there are ways to keep costs down.
“Conservation is really important. During Winter Storm Fern, we saw that we were asking the community to conserve between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. because we have a color-coded conservation system, and during those times we ask customers to set their thermostat at 68 degrees,” Nazir said. “If you do what you can to conserve during those hours, it really makes a difference to your bill.”
Beyond conservation during peak times, Nadir said customer support is important and available through a variety of programs.
“We have, for example, the fixed payment plan. You pay the same amount every month, so you don’t get that sticker shock,” Nazir said. “We have the affordability discount program. We have senior waivers and we have military waivers as well.”
Nazir said the Casa Verde assistance program helps customers weatherize their homes, adding she said all of these services can be accessed by visiting a service center, calling on the telephone or by applying online.
There’s also a way to track energy usage every day.
“We have the My Energy portal so you, as a customer, can know what you’re paying every 15 minutes,” Nazir said. “That way, when the bill comes it’s not necessarily a shock, because you know the energy you’re using every day.”
Information on other utility assistance provided by the City of San Antonio is available here.