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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR UTILITY BRIEFING.
IF EVERYBODY COULD TAKE THEIR SEATS.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH VERY QUICKLY TODAY BECAUSE THE COUNCIL HAS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE'D LIKE
[1. Briefing by CPS Energy on the results of summer operational performance, the electrification of vehicles and the impact to the San Antonio market, and enabling innovation through new products and service. [Paula Gold-Williams, CPS Energy President and CEO]]
TO CONVENE SHORTLY AFTER 2:00, IF POSSIBLE.SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME.
I TRY TO COME IN EVERY OTHER MONTH.
IF I CANNOT COME, I DEFINITELY TRY TO SEND YOU SOMETHING IN WRITING.
AND, AS USUAL, I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED.
SO I'M GOING TO HIT SEVERAL TOPICS TODAY.
AND BUT I'LL TRY TO KEEP THEM RAPID.
THEY'RE ALL AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN MATERIALS.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME, OF COURSE AFTERWARDS I'M 100% AVAILABLE AND YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO START WITH RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU IS A LITTLE SHEET.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY IMPORTANT SHEET.
WE HAVE, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND THIS IS WHERE EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, YOU ALL APPOINT A MEMBER AND THEN WE HAVE AT-LARGE MEMBERS.
AND THE REASON I BROUGHT IT TODAY IS WE JUST HAVE COMPLETED A FULL SLATE.
SO WE HAVE ALL OF THE MEMBERS DESIGNATED, AND EVEN THE AT-LARGE MEMBERS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE MEMBER, I THINK, TERM OUT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A NEW AT-LARGE MEMBER TO APPLY.
WE CAN GET YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THAT IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY YOU KNOW WHO MAY WANT TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO US.
WE MEET WITH THEM MONTHLY AND THEY ATTEND A LOT OF OUR EVENTS.
THEY HELP US WITH OUR STRATEGIES AND FEEDBACK.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH IN TERMS OF ASSIGNING PEOPLE TO THAT COMMITTEE.
SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO I'M GOING TO HIT MULTIPLE TOPICS, ONE RELATIVE TO CPS ENERGY CONSTANTLY HAS AN OUTSTANDING INVITATION FOR YOU TO JOIN US IN ANY WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.
I WANT TO COVER SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN.
I'M GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE BOARD SEARCH THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED BY HOMER IBARRA.
ONE OF OUR TRUSTEES WHO IS TERMING OUT AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
HE HAS PARTNERED WITH OUR BOARD CHAIR, JOHN STEEN.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE, IN PARTICULAR WE FINISHED THE SUMMER, THAT IS OUR PEAK PERIOD, AND I WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT HOW THAT WENT.
SOMETHING VERY NEW THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, TARIFFS.
WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR NEW TARIFFS.
I WANT TO PREVIEW THAT WITH YOU.
MY STAFF IS COMING AROUND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT, AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF ME YOU CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY OR HAVE ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
BUT NEXT WEEK I PLAN TO COME FORWARD WITH A REQUEST FOR A NEW TARIFF THAT WILL HELP US INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN OUR MARKET.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH IF WE ARE ABLE TO EARN YOUR APPROVAL OF THAT TARIFF.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO END WITH A COUPLE OF KEY EVENTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.
SO WE HAVE, AGAIN, WE'RE COMPLETELY OPEN TO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH.
AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS ALWAYS SHOWN INTEREST IN OUR RENEWABLES AND TECHNOLOGY SIDE.
SO HE VISITED WITH US AT ONE OF OUR SOLAR FARMS. COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE ACTUALLY WENT OUT AND VISITED WITH OUR OVERHEAD LINEMEN TEAM, WHICH WAS GREAT.
HE ACTUALLY GOT A CHANCE TO REALLY EXPERIENCE OUR PPE, OUR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS OUR BUCKET TRUCK AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
JUST THIS WEEK ON MONDAY WE FORMALLY LAUNCHED THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM COUPLED WITH SOLAR, PARTNERED WITH SOUTHWEST RESEARCH AND WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIMENT OUR ABILITY TO WIELD A LARGER VOLUME OF POWER INTO THE ERCOT MARKET AND WORK HOPEFULLY WITH THE ERCOT GROUP THERE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO OPTIMIZE THAT AND GET US MORE READY FOR THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE.
COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL CAME TO THE FOURTH FLOOR.
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TRANSACT A LOT OF OUR ENERGY MARKET ACTIVITY.ONCE AGAIN, ALL OF OUR POWER ACTUALLY GETS PUSHED INTO THE MARKET.
WE COUPLE IT AND MATCH IT AGAINST ALL THE NEEDS OF THE CUSTOMERS HERE, AND THEN ANYTHING IN EXCESS GOES OUT TO THE BROADER MARKET FOR OPTIMIZATION.
AND THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THAT AND SHE GOT A TOUR OF THOSE OPERATIONS.
AND, ACTUALLY WE HAD THIS GREAT EVENT.
COUCILWOMAN GONZALES AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL CAME IN TO OUR ORGANIZATION, THE HISPANIC ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE A WONDERFUL GROUP THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS AGO AND THEIR MAIN MISSION IS TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL GRANTS TO STUDENTS ALL ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO A PROFESSIONAL GROUP, SO THEY HAVE A LECTURE SERIES.
AND I WAS ABLE TO SIT ON THAT AND IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY ENGAGING.
I THINK I HEARD AND LEARNED SUCH AMAZING STORIES FROM TWO LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATION WAS EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF THE CANDOR SHOWN IN THAT MEETING.
AND THEN I WANTED TO END THIS SECTION WITH APPRECIATION FROM ALL OF YOU IN TERMS OF SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT OUR OPEN BOARD POSITION THAT WE HAVE.
AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE IT AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES WHERE IN NEWSLETTERS THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN SHARED OUT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
LAST YEAR WE HAD -- RIGHT ABOUT THIS TIME WE WERE AT THE SAME PLACE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES.
AND WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH LAUNCHED A SIMILAR PATTERN.
WE HAVE DONE INTERESTED CANDIDATES.
BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE, MANAGEMENT WAS THERE.
IT WAS KIND OF AN EFFORT TO GIVE ONE-ON-ONE, EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT CPS ENERGY AND EXPLAIN ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE REGARDING THE MATERIALS.
VERY MUCH IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE POSITIONS.
THIS IS A PRETTY INTRICATE CHART HERE, BUT THE MAIN POINT IS WE ACTUALLY HAD A DEADLINE SEPTEMBER AND WE HAD A LITTLE UNDER TEN CANDIDATES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15, AND THE DEADLINE IS ON FRIDAY.
AND THEN THE BOARD, THE COMMITTEE WILL GET TOGETHER AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WORKS AND WORK WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD IN TERMS OF DO WE THINK THAT THE CANDIDATE POOL IS STRONG ENOUGH OR BROAD ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY KICKOFF THE PROCESS.
ONCE THE CANDIDATE POOL IS COMPLETED, THE BOARD ITSELF, THEY TAKE OVER.
THEY DO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND BRING PEOPLE IN.
THEY WILL BE DOING THAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FALL.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT THEY'LL HAVE A CANDIDATE BY THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS END OF JANUARY.
AND THEN BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD AFTER THAT -- TO THE COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS CHART BEFORE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE.
I THINK A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WE PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE ON OUR SIDE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 7,000 MEGAWATTS OF CAPACITY THROUGH VARYING TYPES OF ENERGY PRODUCTION.
BUT WE ALSO COMPARE TO WHAT THE CAPACITY IS OVERALL IN THE ERCOT MARKET.
AND SO THERE'S OVER 70,000 MEGAWATTS OF CAPACITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE ERCOT SYSTEM.
AND WHAT WE LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT IS IT IS A COMPLETE PARTNERED SYSTEM.
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPLY THE STATE -- IF A PLANT WERE TO GO DOWN HERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SERVED.
WE ALSO DO HAVE A RESERVE MARGIN.
WE HAVE ABOUT 1300 MEGAWATTS OF RESERVE MARGIN.
WHAT'S CRITICAL ABOUT THAT IS WE COMPRISE ALMOST 20% OF THE RESERVE MARGIN OF THE STATE.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT MUNICIPAL POWER TYPICALLY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IS HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY THAT WHAT IT REALLY IS BUILT FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE A PLANT DOWN WE COULD STILL SERVE OURSELVES WITH OUR OWN PORTFOLIO.
BUT WHEN IT'S NOT ALSO NEEDED BY OUR CUSTOMERS, IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE STATE.
THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHART.
THE ESSENCE OF IT IS TO SAY WE HAVE HAD AN INTERESTING WEATHER PATTERN THIS YEAR.
WHILE SEPTEMBER WAS WET, AND TODAY WE'RE EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT SHOWERS, IT WAS REALLY HOT IN JULY.
AND SO WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT JULY IS THAT IT HAD 20 DAYS OF
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ABOVE NORMAL HOT TEMPERATURES.SO WHERE WE WOULD NORMALLY PEAK IN AUGUST, THIS PAST YEAR WE PEAKED IN JULY.
AND SO IT ACCOUNTED FOR A LOT OF STRESS ON THE SYSTEM AND ALL THE ASSETS.
WHAT THIS CHART ALSO INDICATES IS FOR US, OUR PLANTS PERFORMED WELL.
THERE WAS A HUGE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE ERCOT SYSTEM TO ASK OPERATORS TO DO AS MUCH PLANNED MAINTENANCE AS POSSIBLE WELL BEFORE WE GOT TO THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANTS WERE PERFORMING OURS IN PARTICULAR, PERFORMED EXTREMELY WELL.
OUR FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS WERE KIND OF THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE HAD IN EXECUTION, BUT WE ALSO HAD SOME VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE FOR RENEWABLES.
RENEWABLES PERFORM AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENCY BUT THEY DID PERFORM WELL IN COMPARISON TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPACITIES.
AND WHAT THIS CHART SHOWS, IT KIND OF SHOWS THE PEAK FOR EACH MONTH IN THE SUMMER.
AND ULTIMATELY STILL WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OVER 5,000 MEGAWATTS, WHICH IS A PRETTY STRONG PEAK IN COMPARISON TO THE 7,000 OF OUR CAPACITY.
AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO TAPER OFF AND CONTROL IT IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
THE MAIN WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS WE DID HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN ON CONSERVATION THIS YEAR.
WE ADVERTISED ASKING PEOPLE TO CONSERVE.
WE HAVE A DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPUSES, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THEY CAN DIAL UP THEIR THERMOSTATS AND REDUCE THEIR USAGE.
AND SO THAT HAS HELPED US HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL SUMMER.
I HAVEN'T HAD THIS SECTION IN MY PRESENTATION BEFORE.
BUT I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES HEADLINES KIND OF PERMEATE THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE ULTIMATELY FOR YOU.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WATCH.
AND THEN WHEN WE SEE THEM WE KIND OF SAY WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE AND DO WE HAVE A RISK HERE AND HOW DO WE MITIGATE FOR THOSE RISKS? THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
ONE IS RECENTLY THERE WERE SOME EXPLOSIONS IN A GAS SYSTEM.
AND THEY WERE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THAT, OBVIOUSLY, PUTS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY ON NOTICE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
THE OVERALL INVESTIGATION IS STILL BEING DONE AND WE THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THE SPECIFICS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHAT WE DID IS WE MADE SURE THAT WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO TEST FOR THE RELIABILITY AND THE FLOW, THE VALIDATION, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE RISKS OF EXPLOSIONS IN OUR SYSTEM.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE INVESTED IN THE [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS YEAR AND THAT IS DEPLOYED AND IT IS GOING AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
IT HELPS US LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.
IT ALLOWS US TO PINPOINT ANY ISSUES.
IF THERE IS A LEAK IT ALLOWS US TO, EVEN ON MILES OF PIPELINE, WE'RE ABLE TO TELL EXACTLY WHERE THAT LEAK OCCURS AND DO A VERY TARGETED EFFORT IN TERMS OF REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.
SO AS MORE INFORMATION IS KNOWN, WE'LL ACTUALLY, AGAIN, LOOK AT OUR PROCESS AND PROCEDURES.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOOD IN TERMS OF OUR SYSTEM INTEGRITY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE WAS A HEADLINE ON COAL.
AND COAL USUALLY HAS A FLY ASH POND.
AND ON THE EAST COAST THERE WAS A SITUATION WHERE THE FLY ASH POND, BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN COMING OFF THE EAST COAST, ALL OF THE RAIN FLOODED THAT POND AND THAT POND SPILLED OVER.
WE DO HAVE A WET FLY ASH POND.
IT IS NOT CLOSE TO A WATER OR A FREE-FLOWING TRIBUTARY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE PROCESS OUR FLY ASH VERY QUICKLY.
IT IS REPROCESSED AND IT HELPS MAKE ROADS.
AND SO WE MITIGATE THE RISK OF ANY SPILLAGE FROM THAT.
SO ULTIMATELY THOSE ARE TWO THINGS, AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO BENCHMARK WHAT'S HAPPENING ON A BROADER SCALE.
AND THEN MAKE SURE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS WELL MAINTAINED.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU'VE ALSO SEEN SOME OF THE DEVASTATION THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN NOTED IN THE NEWS.
YOU KNOW, THE HURRICANES ARE BACK AND IT'S HURRICANE SEASON.
THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED HERE.
BUT BY FAR A LOT OF EXPOSURE HAPPENS ON THE EAST COAST.
GEORGIA, THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA.
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THE APPA AND SOME OF THE SYSTEMS AROUND THE NATION HAVE PUT US ON CALL.AND SO WE DO EXPECT, MAYBE NOT FOR THIS ONE, BUT WE DO EXPECT, AS HURRICANE SEASON PROGRESSES, WE WILL SEND MORE PEOPLE OUT.
THIS IS A REMINDER THAT WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF A COMMITMENT TO PUERTO RICO LAST YEAR.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEM.
THEY REINSTITUTED THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT WAS.
SO WE SUSPECT ANY SEVERE HURRICANE SEASON FOR THEM MIGHT BE PRETTY DEVASTATING AND WE STAND READY TO COME HELP THEM.
I THINK WE KNOW THE PROCESS AND THE FLOW.
I THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND MUCH QUICKER.
BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY IN CONTACT ON THAT.
NOW, I'M GOING TO GET TO SOME NEW STUFF.
SO, YOU'VE SEEN THIS KIND OF GRAPHIC BEFORE BUT I ACTUALLY WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE AND SHOW YOU A VIDEO FOR OUR SMART CITY KIND OF PROMOTION.
AND WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING THIS AT INDUSTRY MEETINGS AND MEETINGS WITH CUSTOMERS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH SAWS THIS WEEK, WHICH WAS, I THINK, THE SECOND ONE IN OUR HISTORY.
AND ALSO WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW THIS IN TERMS OF WE ARE PROPOSING TO SAWS LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON THIS SMART CITY EFFORT IN TERMS OF MOVING THEM FROM OLD ANALOG METERS TO DIGITAL METERS.
THIS IS KIND OF JUST A GENERAL ASPECT OF SMART CITY AND NEW VISION.
MY PROPOSAL, THE PROPOSAL OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM IS THAT WE ACTUALLY MODIFY THIS TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE WATER AS A POTENTIAL AREA OF AN INTEGRATION INTO OUR SMART CITY EFFORT.
THIS WAY WE WOULD HAVE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER.
IT IS A UNIQUE ABILITY FOR US TO DO IT EXTREMELY WELL, SINCE WE ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HAVE THE SAME MISSION, THE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.
AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS BETWEEN OUR TWO BOARDS I WILL BRING YOU MORE UPDATES ABOUT HOPEFULLY OUR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT AND GET THEM LAUNCHED IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.
WHAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS IS A -- I TALK ABOUT SMART CITY.
YOU HAVE SEEN THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
WE KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING, AND WE'RE MOVING FROM ONE-WAY SYSTEMS, ANALOG, ACTIVITIES NOT A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE BEHIND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
TO NOW WE ARE INTEGRATING RENEWABLES.
WE ARE STARTING TO PUT IN THE DIGITAL METERS, SENSORS RELATIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
MORE AND MORE IS GETTING INVESTED INTO OUR NATURAL COURSE OF BUSINESS.
AND, IN FACT, I'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT SECTION WE ARE GETTING AND PREPARING FOR THE GROWTH IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE EXPECT.
IT WILL START OUT SMALL, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CREATE A PATHWAY TO BRING IN MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES INSIDE THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET TO GET READY FOR -- THEY THERE SHOULD BE A WE LOT MORE TECHNOLOGY COMING IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO WE AND SO WE TYPICALLY HAVE TARIFFS FOR EACH TYPE OF SERVICE THAT WE
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PROVIDE.AND FOR THE MOST PART THEY DON'T CHANGE.
WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL TARIFFS, AND COMMERCIAL TARIFFS, WE HAVE LARGE COMMERCIAL TARIFFS, AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE DON'T NORMALLY DO MUCH HERE.
BUT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT WE NEED A WAY TO CREATE A NEW SERVICE OPTION.
SO THAT AS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, OR KIOSKS, OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CUSTOMERS WANT TO HAVE ENABLED BY POWER, WE HAVE A VEHICLE TO DO THAT.
AND SO WE CALL UP THE NEW SERVICE OPTION, AND IT IS BROADLY JUST A VEHICLE FOR US TO SHAPE SOMETHING WITH A CUSTOMER THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH BEN AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE CREATED A STRUCTURE THAT IS FOCUSED ON THEM PAYING FOR THE COST THAT WE HAVE TO INCUR TO SERVICE THEM, AND THEN ONCE WE TEST IT, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT REALLY WORKS FOR THEM, AND IT COULD BE A PILOT THAT LASTS ANYWHERE FROM SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, WE FIRM IT UP WITH BEN AND THEN WE COME BACK AND HAVE YOU ACTUALLY APPROVE A FORMAL TARIFF, AND THEN AS WE GROW THE BUSINESS, THAT TARIFF IS IN PLACE.
IT IS NOT A RATE INCREASE ON ANY EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
IF PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING SERVICE, THAT IS UNAFFECTED.
IT IS FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND NEW SERVICES THAT CUSTOMERS WANT.
AND SO THIS IS JUST A SMALL GRAPHIC.
WE COME UP WITH A PRODUCT OR SERVICE, WE PILOT IT THROUGH THE MSO, ONCE IT IS PROVEN OUT, THEN WE COME BACK AND TELL YOU THAT IT IS COMPLETELY DONE.
THE CUSTOMERS ARE SATISFIED, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO LAUNCH IN.
THE OTHER WAY THAT WE WOULD DO IT IS WE WOULD GIVE A FORMAL TARIFF, WE LAUNCH IT, AND THEN WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND EDIT THE TARIFF AGAIN.
SO WE WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING THAT WAS A BIT MORE CONSTRUCTIVE.
WHEN WE'RE HAVING THE PILOTS, I WILL COME BACK PERIODICALLY AND TELL YOU HOW IT'S GOING.
DO WE HAVE TO MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS, DO WE RUN INTO SOME PROBLEMS ABOUT IT BEFORE WE GET TO THE END, WHEN YOU GET A GFORMAL RECOMMENDATION FROM US.
AND THIS IS JUST A PREVIEW, THEN.
WE'LL HAVE A BIT OF A PRESENTATION GOING BACK OVER THIS NEXT WEEK, AND I WILL BE HERE ON OCTOBER 18 STH TOTH TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A CUSTOMER THAT HAS APPROACHED US, AND THEY WANT TO PUT IN FAST CHARGING STATIONS.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE ABOUT 150 EXISTING CHARGING STATIONS.
THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
THE OLDER TECHNOLOGY, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
THEY'RE VERY ECONOMICAL, IF NOT A BARGAIN PURCHASE.
THEY WERE PUT OUT THERE, WE GOT A FEDERAL GRANT AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE.
AND EVEN AT 150 UNITS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE.
SO WE ARE STARTING TO HAVE COMPANIES COME FORWARD AND SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, AND BE ABLE TO PUT IN MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO SOMEBODY SAYING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY FULL OF APPROPRIATELY CONVENIENT GAS STATIONS.
WELL, NOW WE'RE MOVING FROM JUST HAVING GAS STATIONS TO HAVING ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS.
AND SO THIS IS JUST IN RESPONSE TO THE TREND THAT WE SEE GLOBALLY ACROSS THE NATION, AND GETTING SAN ANTONIO READY FOR THAT.
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, I THINK I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.
BUT ALONG THOSE LINES, WE HAVE STARTED ELECTRIFYING OUR FLEET VEHICLES.
WE ADDED DUAL-FUEL VEHICLES IN CHARGING STATIONS.
WE ALSO PUT CHARGING STATIONS IN AT THE NEW CENTER ON 281.
SO IT IS BECOMING MORE OF A DEMAND IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE LAUNCHING INTO IT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.
WE THINK THIS IS THE UPSIDE POTENTIAL FOR OUR BUSINESS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO SELL ELECTRICITY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THAT'S VOLUME WE DON'T HAVE TODAY THAT WE WILL HAVE TOMORROW.
A QUICK ESTIMATED PROJECTION OF THAT GROWTH.
AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED IT EARLIER, IF YOU HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND OVERALL, IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS CHART, THIS IS PROBABLY -- I SHOW IT EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, THE QUESTION IS HOW FAST WILL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND ELECTRIC BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC STORAGE IN GENERAL TAKE OFF.
WE HAVE SEEN THE PRICES COME DOWN.
THEY HAVEN'T COME DOWN TREMENDOUSLY, SO IT'S A NO-BRAINER.
THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE INVESTMENT.
BUT WHAT THIS CHART SAYS IS, WE'RE UNSURE.
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MODERATELY FAST, OR IT COULD BE A VERY FAST GROWTH IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT.BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING A MOVE NOW SO WE CAN BE MORE PREPARED FOR HOWEVER FAST THAT NEEDS TO GO.
AND SO ULTIMATELY, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENABLE THIS, IF WE CAN HELP GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE.
THE THIRD PARTIES ACTUALLY INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE SUPPLY THE POWER, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE UP TO THE CHARGING STATION.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT, WHAT IS INTERESTING TO THE DESIGN, IS IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF CHARGING AT PEAK.
IF IT'S AT PEAK, IT ENCOURAGES US TO MAKE MAJOR INVESTMENTS.
IT STARTS TO PUSH US TO THINK ABOUT PROBABLY UNNECESSARY.
TO HAVE THE BEST CONVERSATION OF EVS WHERE YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU'RE NOT OVERSTEPPING THE NEED FOR DEMAND ON POWER, WE WILL BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CHARGE OFF PEAK.
AND FOR US, THE HOURS BETWEEN 4:00 AND 9:00 ARE PEAK.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN MOST OF THE DEMAND IS DRIVEN.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IT VERY, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, OR AT NIGHT, WHERE IT IS MORE ECONOMICAL AND MORE BALANCED IN THE DEMANDS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WELL, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE THAT WE WOULD PUT THROUGH THE NSO, IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT APPROVED.
MY LAST BIT OF ITEMS, I'M VERY CLOSE TO BEING DONE, I DID ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR WORK WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT OF BIG ACCOUNTS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
>> BY YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, BUYING OUR PRODUCTS AND SUPPORTING US, THAT WILL GET THE WORD OUT MORE TO OTHER BIG CORPORATIONS IN THE CITY, OR CORPORATIONS THAT MAY WANT TO MOVE HERE, THAT WHAT WE DO HERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PRODUCTS WE MAKE, THE GOOD-QUALITY PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, THEY WON NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, THEY WON BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED A VERY COMPETITIVE PACKAGE AS WELL.
THEY COMPETED WELL AGAINST NATIONAL FIRMS AND STILL GAVE US THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WITH A GREAT MISSION.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, ONCE AGAIN, CREW IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT STEMMED OUT OF COUNCIL FEEDBACK FOR US TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, TO BE THERE TO HELP PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF CUSTOMERS THAT WERE RECENTLY HELPED BY ONE OF OUR CREW TEAM MEMBERS.
ACTUALLY, ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAD ACTUALLY GOTTEN SCAMMED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER LIKE WE NORMALLY DO WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO GET THEM MORE HELP.
SO OUR PEOPLE DO THIS ALL THE TIME, AND INCREASINGLY, WE'RE STEPPING UP OUR COVERAGE OF THAT.
HERE, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS ONE, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINED IN SAFETY ALL THE TIME.
IN PARTICULAR, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, THERE'S A BIG REFRESH IN TERMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH SUMMER SERVICE AND HOT TEMPERATURE.
WELL, THEY ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO NOTICE A GENTLEMAN IN THE STREET WHO PASSED OUT, AND WERE ABLE TO GET HIM MED CAL ATTENTION, AND THEY WERE FEATURED ON THE NEWS.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED ON, LOOK FOR, AND EVEN IF IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR ENERGY DELIVERY, THEY'RE OUT THERE THINKING ABOUT THE PROTECTION FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS DELIVERING GOOD SERVICE.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT WE DO, CHRIS HAS BEEN OUR COO.
CHRIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN TERMS OF THE TECHNICAL REBUILD OF PUERTO RICO AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
BUT HE ALSO WAS RECENTLY NAMED
[00:30:02]
TO A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION, WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING EVEN MORE BROADLY.THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL.
THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT OF WORK DONE ON THE ISLAND.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT, AGAIN, IS THINGS THAT WE LEARN IN THE REDO PUERTO RICO WILL HELP THE NATION.
AND THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE.
I MEAN, CHRIS AND MARIA GARCIA WERE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN AUDIO].
WE RECENTLY GOT A NATIONAL AWARD AND RECOGNITION FOR SOME ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS, AND WE ARE STILL NUMBER ONE IN OUR REGION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SERVE LOCALLY, AND TO SERVE WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
ONE THING YOU DIDN'T REALLY COVER THAT I THINK COUNCIL WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE DISCUSSION THAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY AT THE JOINT MEETING.
ALSO, IF YOU COULD MENTION THE DESIGNATION BY D.O.E. AND DOD ABOUT OUR PARTICULAR UTILITY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT ON A NATIONAL SCALE.
WHAT WE DO HERE IS NOT JUST AFFECTING OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO A LARGER PICTURE.
SO, YEAH, WHAT WE -- WHEN WE HAD THIS MEETING FOR THE SECOND TIME, BOTH BOARDS HAD A QUORUM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT DOING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN S.A.W.S. AS A WATER COMPANY AND US AS AN ENERGY COMPANY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER, WHERE WE'RE SPENDING DOLLARS DIRECTIONALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION, SHOULD ENABLE US TO LEVERAGE OUR INVESTMENTS, SHARE IN THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND THEN PASS THOSE BENEFITS BACK ALONG TO THE COMMUNITY.
OVERALL, THERE ARE -- WE DID PUT SOME SOLAR PANELS ON ONE OF THE S.A.W.S. INSTALLATIONS.
AND WE'RE LOCKING AT A STUDY TO ADD ADDITIONAL RENEWABLES, TOO.
THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS FOOTPRINT OUT THERE WITH UNUSED LAND, AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT FOCAL POINT FOR US, AGAIN, IS BACK TO THE DIGITAL METERS.
AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT A PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF THEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO POTENTIALLY USE OUR BACKBONE IN OUR NETWORK AND ATTACH THEIR METERS TO IT, AND HELP FROM THERE.
I MEAN, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE TECHNICALLY BETWEEN THE TWO METERS, BUT THE -- WHAT THEY COULD DO IS PAY FOR JUST THE TRANSACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE WHEN WE'RE SENDING SIGNALS BACK AND FORTH.
AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE TO BE INVESTED IN THEIR OWN SEPARATE SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE ECONOMICS AROUND THAT, TO SEE IF WE CAN REALLY MAKE THAT WORK.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK WE HAVE A LIST OF ABOUT 15 ITEMS THAT WERE ACTIVELY DISCUSSING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO, AGAIN, REACH ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONSOLIDATION.
THERE'S NOT -- ON OUR PART, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE TO PULL THE TWO TEAMS TOGETHER FORMALLY.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE REASON WHY IS, WHEN WE DO THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF DEBT ON BOTH THE BOOKS.
AND YOU HAVE TO GET A PROXY AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE SYSTEMS. HEAVEN KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT THE GOVERNANCE WOULD BE.
SO WE THINK THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF TIME.
IT WOULD COST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DO A PROXY EFFORT, TO ASK TO BE ABLE TO COMBINE.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GET INTO THE REAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK THE BOARDS BOTH HAD A REALLY ENGAGING CONVERSATION, AND WE DON'T NEED PAPER, WE NEED PRODUCTION AND ACTIVITY.
RELATIVE TO THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE FBI, AND MANY OTHER AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVE BEEN STEPPING UP OUR CONNECTION AND EFFORT WITH THE MILITARY LOCALLY, PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON CYBER.
AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AN INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESILIENCE AROUND THE GRID, AS WELL AS THE RESILIENCE AROUND ALL THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS IN THE CITY, ARE COVERED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE MILITARY IS HOME HERE.
[00:35:01]
IT'S A PERFECT PLACE.THEY HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST CYBER INSTALLATION IN THE NATION.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THEM, GROW THAT INDUSTRY BOTH FROM THE MILITARY SIDE AND THE PRIVATE SIDE.
AND WORKING WITH SHERYL AND CRAIG AND BEN OVERALL, BECAUSE THEY'RE HELPING US THINK ABOUT IT NOT JUST FROM CPS ENERGY AND THE MILITARY, BUT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM S.A.W.S. PERSPECTIVE, AND THE RIVER AUTHORITY AND EVERY OTHER ENTITY THAT WE CAN, BECAUSE IF WE CAN PARTNER AND PROVIDE THAT UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP HERE, WHICH I FEEL WE CAN DO, THEY THINK THAT IS A BIG VALUE DRIVER.
AND WE HAD MULTIPLE GENERALS ACTUALLY IN THIS MEETING ROOM WITH THE MAYOR HOSTING US, TALKING ABOUT WHERE ALL THOSE SYNERGIES ARE AND WHAT OUR POTENTIALS ARE.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PORT.
THE WAY CPS ENERGY, THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT, IS WE HAVE A CYBER COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE STRENGTH AT THE PORT, WE HAVE STRENGTH AT THE MILITARY BASES, UTSA IS DOING AN AMAZING EFFORT TO PUSH THEIR INVESTMENT IN CYBER.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ANNEX LOCATION CLOSE TO OTHER MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR DATA CENTER AND SOME OTHER MAJOR CUSTOMERS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN.
WE CAN OFFER A WONDERFULLY RESILIENT DIVERSIFIED OFFERING TO THE MILITARY IN TERMS OF TECH, AND IN TERMS OF CYBER.
DID I HIT THOSE TWO POINTS, SIR? ANYTHING ELSE?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
YEAH, I MEAN, I DID WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT, THOUGH, THAT CPS ENERGY REMAINS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
AND SO IT INFORMS OUR DISCUSSION LOCALLY ABOUT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO THE CONVERSATIONS WE BEGIN TO HAVE WITH THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING THE WAY WE GOVERN THIS BODY, OR GOVERN CPS ENERGY THE WAY WE HANDLE OUR MUNICIPAL FINANCES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
ONCE YOU BEGIN PUSHING ON CPS, YOU BEGIN AFFECTING WHAT THE NATION BELIEVES NOW IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PIECES OF ENERGY UTILITY IN THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR ASSETS ARE CONNECTED TO IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT FOR OUR COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I WANT TO JUST COMMEND CPS FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS, PARTICULARLY FOR ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND YOU HAD HER PICTURE UP THERE, SANDY MODDETTE.
SHE IS JUST REALLY A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE OF CPS.
SHE WILL COME OUT WHENEVER I'M HAVING SOME KIND OF ACTIVITY IN MY DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S A SATELLITE OFFICE MEETING, OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHATEVER.
SHE'S REALLY GREAT REPRESENTING CPS.
AND SHE WILL SIT THERE AND HELP PEOPLE SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S GREAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO DO IS COMMEND YOU ALL ON THE EPIC CENTER.
I KNOW THERE ARE STILL SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON TO FINISH ALL THE STRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK IT REALLY HOLDS A LOT OF POTENTIAL, AND IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, RECON FIGURING, REUSING AN OLD POWER PLANT AND GIVING IT SOME NEW LIFE IN THIS AREA.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD FACTORS CPS IS DOING.
I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION, AND IT'S -- I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE RIGHT NOW, BUT ARE WE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MICROSOFT OVER THEIR TARIFF?
>> WELL, WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THEM, AND GIVEN THEM PATHWAY TO GET A MORE ECONOMICAL TARIFF.
THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WANTED MORE THAN WHAT WE OFFERED.
WE HAVE BOTH AGREED TO CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO EACH OTHER, TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HELPFUL.
BUT WE PUT A REALLY GOOD OFFER ON THE TABLE.
SO I THINK WE'RE -- IF THEY WANT TO OPEN UP ANYTHING ELSE AGAIN, WE'D BE GLAD TO TALK TO THEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, LET ME REMIND YOU THIS IS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING FURTHER THAN WHAT IS OPEN --
>> COURAGE: IF IT'S STILL ONGOING IS ALL.
I'M SHOCKED -- WELL, NO, NOT ANYMORE.
>> JUST PREPARING MY QUESTIONS HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL LA, FOR YOUR BRIEFING.
I APOLOGIZE, I STEPPED OUT FOR A SECOND.
I MISSED THE BEST PART WHERE THE PICTURES WERE UP.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WELCOMING THE COUNCILWOMAN AND I TO THAT MEETING THAT YOU HAD.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THE STORY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, I
[00:40:01]
STRONGLY RECOMMEND ASKING FOR A RETELLING OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IT.
SO, COULD YOU -- I THINK I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS, HOW LONG WILL THIS PILOT PROGRAM BE FOR? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GO BACK AND DO THE EVALUATION?
>> WE EXPECT THIS ONE TO GO ON ABOUT A YEAR.
SO WE'LL COME BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE YEAR TO GET STARTED.
IT HASN'T OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED YET.
WE NEED TO GIVE THE NSO, AND THEN WE EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO THEM, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THE SYSTEM.
SO BY THE TIME THEY GO OPERATIONAL, IT WILL BE A YEAR FROM THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL COME FORWARD, BACK TO YOU.
I THINK IT'S BRILLIANT THAT YOU'VE PRICED IT DIFFERENTIAL ALLI ON THE CAPACITY YOU HAVE AVAILABLE.
CAN YOU TELL ME P A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF -- I GUESS COMBUSTION SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU HAVE THAT CAPACITY? YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY BEFORE 4:00 AND AFTER 9:00 P.M.
WHERE DO YOU ANTICIPATE DRAWING FROM? AND I TOOK A TOUR OF YOUR BUYING FLOOR, BUT WE MOSTLY TALKED ABOUT NATURAL GAS, SO THIS WOULD BE ELECTRICITY.
>> WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS ABOUT THAT, THAT AT NIGHT, OUR WEST COAST WIND PRODUCES THE MOST.
AND SO WE EXPECT INCREASINGLY MORE TO COME FROM WIND.
BUT IF IN THE INSTANCES THAT PLANT, YOU KNOW, THE WIND STOPS BLOWING, WE WOULD BE USING OUR GAS PLANTS MORE THAN LIKELY.
BUT WIND, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE WASTED ENERGY.
BECAUSE THE WINDS ARE READY TO GO AND THERE'S NOTHING TO CONSUME IT.
IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WERE CHARGING THEN AND WE COULD BE CONFIDENT THAT THE PRIMARY SOURCE WOULD BE WIND.
BUT WE'RE EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
I WANTED TO ALSO ASK REGARDING YOUR ROOTLESS SOLAR PROGRAM.
COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THAT IS?
>> SO, THE ROOTLESS SOLAR PROGRAM IS ONGOING.
THIS IS WHERE ULTIMATELY WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR A THIRD PARTY TO PUT THE INVESTMENT ON THE -- I'M SORRY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SOLAR.
WE HAVE SELECTED AN ENTITY TO TAKE ON AND GIVE US ANOTHER FIVE MEGAWATTS OF COMMUNITY SOLAR.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE COMMUNITY SOLAR.
I THINK WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT THE RIGHT STRUCTURE IS.
THEY'VE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS, AND WE'VE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS.
WE CAN GET A QUICK BRIEFING UPDATE TO YOU, NOT QUITE FINALIZED, BUT WE PICKED THE PARTY, NOW WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
WE DON'T USUALLY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT A LOT OPENLY IN CASE THOSE THINGS FALL APART, BUT THERE WERE OTHER ENTITIES IN THAT POOL THAT WERE READY TO DO THAT WITH US AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD FROM THERE.
I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW A TIME LINE.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS -- WHEN WOULD SOMEONE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING BE ABLE TO DO SO?
>> THE INTERESTING THING IS, I THINK THE FIRST TIME -- WE'LL DO THE CAPACITY, AND WE'LL LET PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE.
AND THAT KIND OF WENT REALLY FAST.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS POST THEM ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT WE'LL GET IT TO YOU WHEN WE OPEN UP THE SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE WE WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT PROMOTION PIECE.
SORRY, BACK TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND CHARGING.
CAN YOU TELL ME, IN TERMS OF THE VW SETTLEMENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR MONEYS BEING AVAILABLE, DO YOU SEE YOURSELF LINING UP, SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THAT WITH ANOTHER PARTNER OR ON YOUR OWN.
>> WE ARE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY ON THAT.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE, BEEN THERE.
A LOT OF IT IS BEING HANDLED BY, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE COLLECTIVE GROUP.
AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO JOIN IN AND BE AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WE DID PROVIDE A SUPPORTING LETTER, AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS.
SO, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE -- ABOUT CLIMATE AND YOU'RE SEEING A 48% REDUCTION, THAT'S WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE, 48% REDUCTION.
DO YOU SEE CPS DOING ANY OTHER BIG THINGS AS PART OF OUR CLIMATE ACTION IN THE ADAPTATION PLAN? ANY MEASURES THAT ARE GETTING ROLLED INTO THAT? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE?
>> I ABSOLUTELY -- I MEAN -- I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO REFER TO.
WE DEFINITELY DO THINK THAT EVS IS HUGE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD, I MEAN,
[00:45:03]
WE'RE GETTING KIND OF SMALL OFFERS.BUT WE REALLY WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO, LIKE A BROAD INVITATION TO THE WORLD TO HELP US THINK ABOUT ADDING MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ON THE HORIZON THAT WE WANT TO DO, AND ARE GOING TO SHAPE IN THOSE MINDS.
AND THEN I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALSO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AT THE TABLE AS WE CONTINUE TO BE ON YOUR COMMITTEE, AND WE STAND ABSOLUTELY READY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL.
YOU KNOW, EVS ARE KIND OF AT THE NEXUS OF THE ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION, RIGHT? SO WE THINK THERE'S JUST MORE THAT WE COULD BE CREATIVE WITH.
DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP AFTERWARDS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I CAN GIVE YOU AS EXAMPLES FROM THERE.
WE'LL BE STARTING THE OPEN HOUSES, THIS ROUND OF OPEN HOUSES ON THE ADAPTATION PLAN THIS WEEKEND.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE IS -- THE FIRST ONE IS THIS SATURDAY, RIGHT, AT YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
THE MAYOR WILL MAKE AN APPEARANCE THERE.
>> NOW, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE BARRAGE, BUT IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE GET THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MY QUESTION IS REALLY ABOUT THE CAC.
>> SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I HAVE THIS BIT OF CONUNDRUM, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND -- SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES WITH THE CITY.
I THINK WE'RE IN THE 80S IN TERMS OF CITIZEN FORMED COMMITTEES.
AND WE FOLLOW OUR OWN PROCESS FOR HOW WE COMPRISE Tā HEM.
SOME OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME OF THEM AREAR AT-LARGE.
BUT ALL OF THEM FOLLOW AN OPEN MEETING PROCESS, RIGHT? WE POST THE AGENDA, EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
AND CITIZENS ARE -- IF THEY'RE AWARE OF THEM, THEY CAN GO AND LOOK THAT UP.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS FUNCTIONS VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM THAT.
>> AND SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? I'M GETTING THE SENSE THIS IS MORE LIKE A FOCUS GROUP.
OR IS IT REALLY LIKE A -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FUNCTION OF THIS, AND WHY IT WOULD BE SO DIFFERENT FROM A STANDARD CITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
>> I CAN DEFINITELY GIVE YOU MY IMPRESSIONS.
INTERESTINGLY, I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ WHO WAS ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS CREATED.
AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AN AVENUE FOR PUTTING SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A CITIZENS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR DISTRICT CLOSER TO CPS ENERGY, AND BE THE CONDUIT FOR INFORMATION.
AND THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.
I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK WE COULD AT CPS ENERGY IN MANAGEMENT DO A MUCH BETTER JOB, BECAUSE I THINK WE KIND OF LET THAT BREAK A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO THE CAC MEMBERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMING TO EVENTS, AND THEY DO GET ALL BRIEFINGS ON OUR STRATEGIES.
THEY GET INFORMED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
THEY GIVE US FEEDBACK AT THE SAME TIME.
AND IT HELPS US SHAPE -- TO COME HERE AND DO AN NSO, OR THINK ABOUT EVS, OR TO THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE FLEX PATH.
SO THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY INTEGRATED INTO BEING ANOTHER SOUNDING ARM.
AND THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ALWAYS CONNECTED TO COUNCIL, BUT THEY ARE OUT.
AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAD A CAC MEMBER COME TO THE SOUTHWEST RESEARCH LAUNCH.
THEY GO OUT TO THE NUCLEAR LOCATIONS, AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
AND SO WHAT I THINK WAS THE VISION AT THE TIME WAS THAT THAT PERSON COULD ALSO BRING INFORMATION BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COME TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVENTS, AND ALSO BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT CONSTITUENTS AND BACK TO US.
AND SO THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF HOW IT WORKED.
AND IT WAS INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS BY EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THEN WE HAD AT-LARGE MEMBERS.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INQUIRY ALSO FROM COUNCILMAN COURAGE ON THIS, THAT HAS BEEN THE DESIGN.
RECENTLY, COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS INQUIRED TO OUR BOARD CHAIR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IS IT TIME FOR A REFRESH, AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO, AND WHAT THOUGHTS ARE HAPPENING.
SO I THINK THERE IS A DISCUSSION NOW AT THE BOARD LEVEL TO LOOK
[00:50:01]
AT THE CAC.BUT THE -- BUT THAT WOULD BE THE BOARD KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL TO TRY TO FIGURING OUT WHAT WE COULD DO THAT.
AND THE SPECIFIC TOPIC WAS ABOUT CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO TELL HIM THAT YOU ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
NO, I THINK YOUR EXPLANATION IS VERY HELPFUL.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE BOARD.
BUT I WOULD BE OPEN TO A REFRESH ABOUT WHAT THAT FUNCTION IS.
>> SO NOW I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S THE DIALOGUE WE SHOULD HAVE DIRECTLY WITH YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
>> JOHN IS DEFINITELY LEADING THE EFFORT ON THAT AND I WOULD SUPPORT HIM IN ANY WAY YOU WOULD LIKE, AND YOU AS WELL.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN TREVINO?
PAULA, I WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT THE URBAN LIGHTING PLAN HERE VERY SOON.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR HELP, WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE TODAY.
WE THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO PREVIEW IT, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET YOU ON THE CALENDAR TO PREVIEW THAT PLAN.
AND I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE EXCITING TO THINK THAT WE HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING THE LESSONS LEARNED AND HOW THIS CAN BE APPLIED IN THEIR DISTRICT, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND REALLY HELP TO PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO LIGHTING IN OUR CITY, IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF LIGHTS, AND, OF COURSE, ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE.
BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
>> WE DEFINITELY THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL FORM OUR ABILITIES TO BETTER SERVE.
PAULA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, AGAIN, OFFERING US THIS VENUE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT A FEW THINGS, WHICH IS GOOD.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE CHECK POINTS, AND SOMETIMES WE MEET WITH INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY ASK ABOUT THE INITIATIVES WE'RE WORKING ON.
ONE RECENTLY WAS SENATOR MENENDEZ.
I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE IDEA.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO ASK YOU.
IT'S ONE THAT I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK IT MIGHT WORK, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF YOUR SIDE.
WHICH IS THIS IDEA OF TAKING A PART OF THE CITY TO CONCEPTUALLY FIGURE WHAT A PARADE OF HOMES WOULD LOOK LIKE, OR WHAT DEVELOPMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE, AND THE ELEMENTS THAT HE'S USED IS GREEN ROOFS, OR, I'M SORRY, SOLAR PANELS SUSTAINABLY BUILT WITH PERHAPS A PRIVATE DEVELOPER, IN A WAY THAT THAT PROVIDES SOME SORT OF PROOF OF CONCEPT THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE SOME SCARY IDEA TO BUILD A HOME IN THIS WAY.
BECAUSE I KNOW FROM MAJOR DEVELOPERS, IT REALLY IS AN OFF-THE-SHELF, THIS IS THE PLAY BOONG, AND DON'T MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS.
I THINK THE SCARY PART IS FINDING OUT WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT.
HOW FAR ALONG IS THAT THINKING, OR HOW VAGUE IS THAT IDEA AT THIS POINT AND HOW FEASIBLE IS THE QUESTION?
>> I THINK THERE'S A TON OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT IT.
IN REALITY, I THINK WE STARTED A LITTLE BIT MORE REFRESHING OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT SCHOOLS, AND ARE WE DOING ENOUGH WITH THE SCHOOLS LOCALLY, AND IS THERE MORE.
SO THE FOCUS ON THAT, AND TO REFRESH THAT AGAIN, AND WE'RE DOING THAT.
ON OUR LIST ALSO IS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE, IN TERMS OF A HOME OR A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T SEE SENATOR MENENDEZ GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.
>> TREVINO: I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOME CONCRETE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.
WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR EVEN WITH POTENTIAL HOME DEVELOPERS.
I THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE CITY TO PLAY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING BONDS IN THE FUTURE, WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT NOT ONLY ARE SUSTAINABLE, THEY'RE HOMES OF THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO AFFORDABLE.
I THINK WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT POLICY MAKERS AND GETTING THEM ALL IN THE ROOM, IF YOU ARE FOCUSED JUST ON ONE SUBJECT MATTER, THAT IS JUST YOUR SUBJECT, AND AT CPS, AND I CARE ABOUT ENERGY AND RATES, AND IF YOU'RE THE CITY YOU MIGHT NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAME.
LET'S PUT ALL THOSE TOGETHER THAT WORKS WITH THE PRIVATE DEVELOPING COMMUNITY AND WITH THE CITY, AND ITS PURSUITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CPS AND ITS PURSUIT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SUPPORT.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE QUESTION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I BROUGHT IT UP.
THE OTHER IS, I WANT TO PAY A COMPLIMENT, AGAIN, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH FOLKS, AND THEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE QUESTION OR THE COMPLIMENT UNTIL YOU GET TO SEE THEM.
SO I WAS MEETING WITH SOME GROUPS OF FOLKS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNITY
[00:55:01]
ACTION PLAN.AS THAT PLANNING IS GOING THROUGH.
AND THEY CAME IN TO DISCUSS THE CITY SAN ANTONIO'S PURSUIT TOWARD RENEWABLE.
AND THE QUESTION OF WHERE IN THE FUTURE DOES THAT EXIST, WHERE WE CAN HAVE HALF OF OUR PORTFOLIO LOOK MORE LIKE RENEWABLE, AND SHUTTING DOWN COAL PLANTS.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE KIND OF AUDIENCE I HAD IN MY OFFICE WHEN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
AND I SAID WHO AT CPS REALLY GETS IT, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE.
UNDERSTANDS NOT ONLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, BUT THE ECONOMICAL CONCERN.
AND THEY SAID, CHRIS HUSTER GETS IT.
AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE THE RESPONSE, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN CHRIS DRIVE A CONCRETE TRUCK TO WORK.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE AN EVER-PRESENT ISSUE FOR THIS COUNCIL, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CONSTITUENCY THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE LEADING IN THIS CAUSE.
AND I THINK THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY BRING TO ME ARE ABOUT BOLD ACTIONS, THAT SOMETIMES REQUIRE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO THE TYPE OF TRANSITION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE AS A UTILITY INTO THE FUTURE.
BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT GETS IT.
IN THEIR TERMS. THIS IS A TOUGH AUDIENCE TO SATISFY.
BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND GIVING THEM THE TIME AND THE SPACE TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS.
THE GREATEST FEAR I HAD TO THE REACTION TO THAT QUESTION IS, NO ONE GETS IT.
AND NO ONE EVEN SITS DOWN AND MEETS WITH US.
THAT IS 100% UNTRUE, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD IT.
THIS WAS BEHIND A CLOSED-DOOR MEETING.
I ASKED THEM TO BE CANDID WITH ME, AND THEY WERE VERY CANDID AND SAID WE HAD AN AUDIENCE WITH THEM, AND THEY'VE BEEN OPENMINDED WITH THE DISCUSSIONS.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY ELECTRONS AND MOLECULES LOVE EVERYONE.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PASSIONATE FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE ENJOY MEETING WITH THEM, AND WE'VE PROBABLY BEEN GOING FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
PLUS, THEY DO HAVE CHRIS' PHONE NUMBER ON SPEED DIAL.
SO WE VERY MUCH -- I SEE MARIO OVER THERE.
HE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE, AND REALLY PAYS ATTENTION TO A LOT OF THINGS WE DO, IN ADDITION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, EVEN ON THE GAS SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS.
SO WE DEFINITELY VALUE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET FROM THEM, AND FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE'LL STAY COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO THEM, AND GIVING THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.
AND THEN SHAPING GOOD SOLUTIONS.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THEY HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT SPRUCE.
I'LL END BY SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER CHRIS REALLY DRIVES A CONCRETE TRUCK OR BIKES TO WORK.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: PAULA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NO, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE'RE DONE.
NO, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR A GOOD CONVERSATION.
AND WE ARE NOW CLOSING OUR CPS BRIEFING, AND RECONVENING OUR REGULAR "A" SESSION MEETING.
AS PART OF THAT WE'RE RECESSING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO -- PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO CODE 551.072, REAL PROPERTY.
AND THE TIME IS NOW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.