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>> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 2:05 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2026, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO B SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. >> CLERK:
[ BRIEFING ONLY ]
MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANKS, MADAM CLERK.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE STEP PROGRAM, PROGRAM
YEAR 4. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU.
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS OUR STEP PLAN, WHICH FOCUSES ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CONSERVATION AND REDUCING UTILITY COST FOR CUSTOMERS.
PROGRAM WAS ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN 2009 TO REDUCE ENERGY DEMAND, AND ON JUNE 16TH OF 2022, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR STEP PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IN, AND ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF GOALS THAT -- THAT FRANK AND HIS TEAM WILL COVER. THAT CURRENT STEP ORDINANCE IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF JULY OF 2027, SO OVER THE COMING MONTHS, CPS WILL BE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S PROGRESS, PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL, AND ULTIMATELY WILL RETURN NEXT YEAR FOR COUNCIL FEEDBACK AND COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. SO I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO FRANK AND HE'S GOT HIS TEAM HERE THAT WILL COVER THE PRESENTATION.
FRANK? >> ALMAREZ: GREAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO CHAT ABOUT STEP. I SHOULD MENTION THAT I WANT TO PASS ALONG THE REGRETS OF OUR BOARD CHAIR, FRANCINE RAMIRO WHO WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT, SHE HAD AN UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT BUT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN HERE. SHORTLY YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM BEN JORDAN AND ANA LOZANO ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF OUR CURRENT FIVE-YEAR STEP PROGRAM.
I WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO AWK ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN JUST FOR A MINUTE.
AS ERIK JUST MENTIONED, IT WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN 2009 AS PART OF A VISION 2020 PLAN, AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME WAS WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE, YOU KNOW, RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE AND CLEANER, A LOT LIKE OUR CURRENT GOALS. VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED IN THAT REGARD, BUT THE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THAT WE ARE USING TO ACHIEVE THOSE ENDS, YOU KNOW, HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME. AT THE TIME, OUR GOAL WAS TO HAVE A REDUCTION OF 771 MEGAWATTS, WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A COAL PLANT OR A THREE-ON-ONE COMBINED CYCLE PLANT THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE US TO BUILD A GENERATING STATION. SO WE MET THAT GOAL IN ADVANCE OF THE TARGET -- IN ADVANCE OF TIME AND ON BUDGET -- BELOW BUDGET. AND IT WAS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT AT -- WHEN I STARTED WITH CPS ENERGY IN 2011, WE WERE STILL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DEVELOPING JUST BEYOND THE GOAL ITSELF HOW ARE WE -- WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT INTO OUR GENERATION PORTFOLIO AND BUILD PROGRAMS AROUND ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS. IT REALLY STARTED AS AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM, BUT HAS CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVED. THE PORTFOLIO INCLUDED AT THAT TIME THINGS LIKE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REBATE PROGRAMS, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY PROJECTS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF DEMAND RESPONSE, AND SOLAR INCENTIVES, AMONG OTHER PROGRAMS. LATER WE CONDUCTED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF STEP AND ENGAGED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS COUNCIL TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM. AND WE HEARD VERY CLEARLY THAT OUR INITIAL -- THE ITERATION FROM THE START, THE GOAL, WE WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH THAT GOAL, BUT ALSO ADD A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS.
AND WE WERE CHARGED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT EQUITY, AFFORDABILITY AND THEN PROGRAM DESIGN, HOW WE REACH MORE CUSTOMERS AND SO ON.
SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS HELPED SHAPE THE STEP PROGRAM THAT WAS REAUTHORIZED IN 2022. AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS REBRANDED TO SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW ENERGY PROGRAM, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR OUR PROGRESS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DEMAND REDUCTION.
SO THIS $350 MILLION FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM WILL BE CONCLUDING NEXT YEAR AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITS PERFORMANCE AND ENGAGE WITH YOU AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE PROGRAM SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
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SO WITH THAT, I'LL INTRODUCE BEN AND ASK HIM TO WALK THROUGH THE CURRENT ITERATION OF STEP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND HAVING A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,ONCE AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, FRAC FRANK, FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IELD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A YEAR 4 UPDATE ON THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM, SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M BEN JORDAN, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND I'LL BE PASSING IT OFF TO ANA LOZANO AND SHE'LL REALLY DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM AND GOALS AND METRICS AND REALLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PROGRESSING MOVING FORWARD. SO ON THE AGENDA TODAY, WE'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR PLAN, ALONG WITH INFORMATION ON EACH PROGRAM PERFORMANCE, THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE NEW INITIATIVES WE LAUNCHED THIS PAST YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WITH NEXT STEPS AS WE MOVE TOWARD THE ITERATION OF THE PROGRAM. SO ON THIS SLIDE, YOU KNOW, THE STEP PROGRAM IS REALLY -- IT'S BEEN A PART OF OUR LONG-TERM GENERATION PLAN, YOU KNOW, SINCE -- AS FRANK MENTIONED, SINCE 2009. YOU KNOW, IT'S A MULTIPRONGED STRATEGY THAT SUPPORTS OUR MISSION TO SAFELY POWER OUR COMMUNITY WITH RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND CLEANER ENERGY.
AND AS FRANK MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SINCE 2009, OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY REACH ITS DEMAND FOR ENERGY AND CONTINUE TO BE A KEY STRATEGY IN OUR GENERATION PLAN.
YOU KNOW, AS AVERTCALLY INTEGRATED MUNICIPAL UTILITY, CPS CAN LEVERAGE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS TO BE -- YOU KNOW, DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAMS, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT 240 MEGAWATTS OF A DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAM THAT WE CAN USE THAT IS INTEGRATED INTO OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT PEAK POWER AND THAT ENERGY MOST, AND SO THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THOSE KIND OF INITIATIVES.
SO FROM OUR RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 240 MEGAWATTS THAT WE LEVERAGE, AND THAT RANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW THE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING AND WHAT THE MARKET IMPLICATIONS LOOK LIKE. SO, YOU KNOW, LASTLY, OUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION SUPPORT, OUR EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS AND SUPPORT WITH OUR CAP, CLIMATE AD CAPTAIN PLAN THAT YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH , AND THIS REALLY SUPPORTS OUR TARGETS TO THE MISSION TO 2030 TO REDUCE BY 41% AND 71% IN 2040, AND THEN TO ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY IN 2050. SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST TO KIND OF TEE IT UP THAT THIS PORTFOLIO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- WE'LL GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT THE BENEFITS AND -- TO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT, IT COSTS TWICE AS MUCH TO PRODUCE NEW ENERGY OR PURCHASE NEW ENERGY FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S REALLY THE STORY THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR, ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, 25 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT REALLY SUPPORT THAT INITIATIVE. AND REALLY THE BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, BRING UP -- I'LL BRING UP ANA TO REALLY DIG INTO A LOT MORE OF THE DETAILS, THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE, BUT BEFORE I DID THAT, I WANTED TO REALLY THANK THE TEAM THAT SUPPORTS THIS PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN A REALLY ONGOING EFFORT WITH OUR -- WITH OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH, ALONG WITH OUR INTERNAL STAFF, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY ON THE FRINGES AS CPS ENERGY AS A WHOLE, SO I'LL PASS IT OFF TO ANA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
AS BEN AND FRANK MENTIONED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND COUNCIL, THIS FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2022 AS A $350 MILLION PROGRAM. I HAVE TO PRESS IT. $350MILLION PROGRAM, AND IT WAS A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM. SO AS A MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY, WE EXIST TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS CORE TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AND DESIGNING THIS PROGRAM WAS NO DIFFERENT. AND AS FRANK ELUDED TO, THE GOALS THAT ARE ENLISTED HERE ON THIS SLIDE WERE DERIVED FROM COMMUNITY INPUT AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND THE INPUT OF OUR COUNCIL, SO THESE ARE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS. THERE'S A DEMAND MANAGEMENT GOAL, WHICH IS CORE TO THIS PROGRAM, AS IT WAS IN THE FIRST PROGRAM.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE 410 MEGAWATTS OF INCREMENTAL DEMAND.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 100,000 HOMES. WE WERE ALSO CHALLENGED TO INCORPORATE BILL SAVING, SO THAT'S KILOWATT HOURS.
THAT IS CONSUMPTION, WHAT SPINS THE METER, AND OUR GOAL -- AND IT'S AN ANNUAL GOAL -- IS TO REDUCE 1% OF ENERGY USED IN A YEAR.
OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE IT BY 1% THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
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CONSERVATION EACH AND EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED TO DO OUR PART TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION BY OUR COMMUNITY, TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND SO THAT IS A GOAL OF OURS. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LOAD AND NO-COST PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, BUT OUR METRIC FOR THIS IS WHRZIZATION, OUR CASA VER DA PROGRAM. WE HAVE A GOAL TO WINTERIZE 16,000 HOMES IN FIVE YEARS. WE ALSO APPROACH AND OFFER THESE PROGRAMS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND OF COURSE WE HAD AN EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOAL. OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE -- AVOIDED CARBON, AND THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 400,000 CARS OFF OF THE ROAD. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS. THERE ARE OVER 25 PROGRAMS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND, AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A PATH FOR ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, SO WHETHER YOU OWN OR RENT A HOME, YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, YOU RUN A SMALL BUSINESS, A LARGE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, WANT TO DO YOUR PART TO CONSERVE ON PEAK DAYS, OWN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY, OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A PATH FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE. AND THIS PORTFOLIO IS ALWAYS DYNAMIC, IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WITH THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE INTRODUCED AND THE NEED OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS OUR SCORE CARD TO DATE. AGAIN, THIS PROGRAM TOOK EFFECT AUGUST 1ST OF 2022, AND SO THIS IS A FOUR-YEAR SNAPSHOT, WHICH ENDED 31ST OF 2026, SO THIS SUMMER. SO FOUR YEARS INTO THE PROGRAM, 80% OF TIME ELAPSED. NOW, THE FIRST FOUR GOALS HERE ARE POLICY OBJECTIVES THAT ARE IN ORDINANCE, AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE 410 MEGAWATTS OVER FIVE YEARS. TO DATE, WE ARE 82% OF THAT GOAL. 337 MEGAWATTS REDUCED. AGAIN, BILL SAVINGS, THAT'S AN ANNUAL GOAL. WE HIT IT THIS YEAR AND THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS. NOW, REDUCING BARRIERS, AGAIN, OUR METRIC IS WEATHERIZATION, AND NEW TO THIS PROGRAM WE INCORPORATED MULTIFAMILY WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM WHICH IS NEW TO OUR COMMUNITY.SO BETWEEN THESE TWO, OUR GOAL IS TO WEATHERIZE 36,000 HOMES OR RESIDENTS. TO DATE WE'RE AT A LITTLE UNDER 12,000.
SO WE'RE TRACKING BEHIND GOAL, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHY WE HAD A PAUSE IN OUR CASA VERDE PROGRAM AND WE LAUNCHED A MULTIFAMILY LAST YEAR, BUT WE VL A REALLY -- HAVE A REALLY HEALTHY PIPE LPIPELINE AND IT WILL BE A GOAL FOR US IN YEAR 5. NOW, RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THIS IS A GOAL THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE WANT TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE INVESTMENT. AND SO OUR INTERNAL GOAL WAS TO TRY TO DOUBLE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY OUR COMMUNITY.
SO OUR TARGET WAS 1.9. SO FOR $350 MILLION INVESTED, OUR GOAL WAS THAT OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVED $665 MILLION IN BENEFIT.
AND THAT IS THROUGH LIFETIME-AVOIDED COST OF GENERATION AND ENERGY.
TO DATE WITH THE 337 MEGAWATTS REDUCED AT YEAR 4, WE'VE ACTUALLY REALIZED $1.15 BILLION OF SAVINGS AND RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.
AND THAT REALLY IS DRIVEN BY THE RISING COST OF GENERATION AND PROCURING ENERGY. NOW, TO EXPAND ON THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED ANNUALLY BY A THIRD PARTY.
A THERD THIRD PARTY WHO SPECIALIZES IN MEASURING AND VERIFYING ENERGY-SAVINGS PROGRAM. THEY EVALUATE EVERY PROGRAM IN OUR PORTFOLIO, EVERY MEASURE THAT WE INSTALL AND EVERY DOLLAR SPENT.
AND EVERY YEAR, THEY PRODUCE AN ANNUAL WORT THAT IS SHARED WITH OUR CITY AND ALSO PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE EVERY SUMMER.
THERE'S A MEASURE THAT WE USE TO TRACK OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, IT'S CALLED UTILITY COST TEST OR UTC. THE AVERAGE FOR THE PORTFOLIO OVER FOUR YEARS IS 4.3. AND SO THE LIFETIME-AVOIDED COST TO DATE OF ENERGY AND CAPITAL COST IS AT 1.15.
AND SIMPLY PUT, FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE INVESTED IN THIS PROGRAM, OUR COMMUNITY HAS SEEN A $4.30 RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.
WE ALSO HEARD IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE REACH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE HAVE SENT OVER 10 MILLION E-MAILS TARGETED TO CUSTOMERS AND THE PROGRAMS THEY ARE BEST QUALIFIED FOR. WE HAVE ALSO ATTENDED THROUGH OUR INTERNAL TEAMS AND OUR PARTNERS OVER 3,000 EVENTS, AND HAVE INTERACTED WITH OVER 110,000 ATTENDEES. WE ALSO HAVE OVER 200
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TRADE ALLIES WHICH ARE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, CONTRACTORS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, WHO HELP BRING AND DELIVER THESE PROGRAMS TO OUR CUSTOMERS. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT THEM, AND THERE ARE OVER 200 PARTICIPATING TODAY. AND NEARLY 50% OF ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATED IN A STEP PROGRAM LAST YEAR. SO THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION BY COUNCIL DISTRICT. AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE DISTRICTS. STARTING WITH 1 AND 2 AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATED IN. SO FOR 1 AND 2, FREE HVAC TUNEUPS LED THE PACK IN THOSE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE TWO DISTRICTSES, FOLLOWED BY 3 AND 4 WAS OUR NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.THERE'S A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION THERE AND WE'RE INCENTIVIZING THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES THERE, 20% ABOVE CODE, SO THAT MEANS CUSTOMERS IN THOSE HOMES WHO PURCHASED NEW HOMES ARE GETTING THE MOST EFFICIENT HOMES POSSIBLE. 3 AND 4 ALSO HAD REALLY STRONG WEATHERIZATION PARTICIPATION, BUT DISTRICT FIVE LED THE PACK WITH WEATHERIZATION. AND THEN 6 AND 7 AND 8 HAD A LOT OF HVAC REBATES IN ADDITION TO WIFI THERMOSTAT PARTICIPATION. SO WHAT THE PARTICIPATION TRENDS SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY SHOW US IS THAT OUR EFFORTS TO OFFER PROGRAM THAT MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE -- ARE BEING MET. AND SO THIS IS INCENTIVES BY DISTRICT. SO WHILE 40% OF THE PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATED IN DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5, AND 60 IN 6 THROUGH 10, THE SPEND PER PARTICIPANT WAS ALMOST DOUBLE FOR DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5 AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMS, THOSE WERE THOSE LOW TO KNOW-COST PROGRAMS, AND SO THE SPEND PER PARTICIPANT IS NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH IN DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEW TO OUR STEP PROGRAM AND NEW THIS LAST YEAR. AND SO THIS IS THE MULTIFAMILY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.
WE HEARD -- WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CASA VERDE PROGRAM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THAT BROUGHT WEATHERIZATION TO MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS WHO LIVE IN A HOME, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE ARE CUSTOMERS WHO LIVE IN APARTMENTS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM WEATHERIZATION.
AND SO WE LAUNCHED THIS MULTIFAMILY PROGRAM. WE JUST LAUNCHED IT LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVE HAD -- THANK YOU. WE HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD SUCCESS. WE WEATHERIZED 25 COMPLEXES.
AND THIS IS AN INCOME-QUALIFYING PROGRAM.
SO IT IS FOR THE CUSTOMERS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
IF A COMPLEX IS A NONPROFIT OR CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT AT LEAST 25% OF THEIR TENANTS RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF INCOME ASSISTANCE, WE WILL WEATHERIZE THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR FREE. EXCUSE ME.
AND TO DATE, WE HAVE WEATHERIZED ALMOST 4,000 UNITS AND HAVE 9,000 UNITS IN QUEUE. AND SO WHAT THIS TELLS US IS THERE IS DEMAND.
THERE IS DEMAND AND IT IS A -- AND THERE IS DEMAND AND IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM TO OFFER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. AND AT THIS TIME, IF WE WERE TO WEATHERIZE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD IN OUR PIPELINE, THAT WOULD GET US 80% TO GOAL. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE A FOCUS OF OURS IN YEAR 5. FOLLOWING THAT IS OUR RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM KNOWN AS OUR CASA VERDE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT LAST YEAR WE TOOK A PAUSE TO REEVALUATE THE PROGRAM, AND WE LOOKED FOR WAYS THAT WE COULD ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THE CONTRACTORS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THIS ATTRIBUTED TO OUR PERFORMANCE GOAL WHERE WE ARE TO GOAL, BUT JUST LIKE MULTIFAMILY, THERE'S A CONTINUED NEED AND A HEALTHY PIPELINE. IN FACT, WE RECEIVE OVER 1,000 APPLICATIONS A MONTH FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND SO SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS WERE AN EXPANDED CUSTOMER CHOICE.
NOW CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE THE TRADE OUTLET THAT THEY WANT TO WORK IN THEIR HOME AND THEY ALSO GET A CHOICE OF THE WORK THAT IS PERFORMED.
WE WORKED TO STREAMLINE THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS. AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS HAD NOT CHANGED ANT IT WAS VERY MANUAL FOR A LONG TIME.
NOW THROUGH SYSTEM INTEGRATION SO THE ENTIRE PROCESS CAN BE COMPLETED IN ONE SITTING. A CUSTOMER CAN APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND IN THE EXACT SAME PROGRAM KNOW THAT THEY QUALIFY AND SELECT THEIR TRADE ALLY TO PARTICIPATE AND DO THE WORK. THTHIS IS A REBATE PROGRAM, BUT THE REBATES ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE CONTRACTOR, SO THAT ELIMINATES ANY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON OUR CUSTOMERS. SO SINCE OCTOBER OF 2025, THROUGH JULY 31 THIS SUMMER, WE WEATHERIZED 2000 HOMES. AND ON AVERAGE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN CUSTOMERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM SEE AN
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ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS OF ABOUT $450. SO NEW TO THIS PROGRAM ALSO IS COMMUNITY SOLAR, AND THIS IS IN LINE WITH OUR GOAL TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND INVEST AND SUPPORT NONTRADITIONAL SOLAR PATHS, AND SO THIS IS COMMUNITY SOLAR WE LAUNCHED THROUGH SOLICITATION AND AWARDED A 50 MEGAWATT COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, AND THIS WAS LAUNCHED JUST THIS LAST SUMMER. AND SO THIS EXPANDS ON THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM THAT WE HAD LAUNCHED IN THE PAST.THEY WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANTED MORE OPTIONS TO PARTICIPATE, AND SO WE HAVE COMMITTED TO UP TO 50 MEGAWATTS TO COMMUNITY SOLAR.
THIS ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOLAR WITHOUT NEEDING IT ON -- TO HAVE IT INSTALLED ON THEIR ROOF. SO FOR CUSTOMERS WHO LIVE IN APARTMENTS, WHO RENT A HOME, WHO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE TERRITORY OR WHO JUST DON'T WANT TO OWN OR MAINTAIN A SYSTEM, THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR THEM. IT'S ALSO, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS A CPS ENERGY PROGRAM, TODAY IT IS ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF A ROOFT SOLAR SYSTEM, SO IT'S A GREAT OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO TRY SOLAR AND THEY CAN BIAS LITTLE AS ONE PANEL OR UP TO 100% OF THEIR CONSUMPTION.
AGAIN, CPS ENERGY IS BUYING ALL OF THE ENERGY GENERATED FROM THOSE PANELS AND WE ARE CREDITING CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE GENERATION. SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER PATH FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO INVEST IN SOLAR ENERGY. ALSO NEW THIS YEAR IS AN EXPANDED ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAM. THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN INDUSTRY EXPERT WEAVE GRID WE OFFER INCENTIVES FOR CUSTOMERS TO CHARGE OFFPEAK, SO AFTER 10:00 P.M.
WE DON'T WANT EVERYBODY TO COME IN AT 5:00 AND PLUG IN THEIR CAR AND ADD TO THE PEAK COMMAND THAT OUR COMMUNITY SEES, SO WE INCENTIVIZE CUSTOMERS TO CHARGE OFFPEAK, WHICH IS AFTER 10:00 P.M., AND WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS. CUSTOMERS CONTAIN FULL CONTROL AND THEY CAN OPT OUT OF ANY EVENT AT ANY TIME. LASTLY, NEW TO THE PORTFOLIO THIS YEAR, PROGRAM YEAR 4, IS OUR STEP INNOVATION HUB.
AGAIN, IN SUPPORT OF OUR GOAL TO BE INNOVATIVE, FROM TIME TO TIME WE ARE APPROACHED WITH IDEAS FROM -- FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, FROM STUDENTS, FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE IDEAS ABOUT NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES, PROGRAMS OR EVEN JUST OUTREACH INITIATIVES, HOW TO BEST REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE CREATED A PATH FOR THAT THROUGH THIS INNOVATION HUB. AND SO ANYBODY CAN SUBMIT AN IDEA, IT COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR TEAM, WE EVALUATE IT AND IF THERE ARE SAVINGS THAT WE CAN CLAIM, IF IT SUPPORTS OUR GOAL THROUGH STEP, WE WILL INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR STEP FORT POLIO. AND THIS IS LIVE AND IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE AND OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS. SO WHAT'S NEXT? THIS IS OUR ROADMAP TO FISCAL YEAR 2028. WE ARE IN OUR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT -- PROGRAM, OUR COMMUNITY INPUT, AGAIN, WHY WE EXIST IS TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR INPUT IS WHAT WILL HELP DRIVE THE DESIGN OF WHATEVER COMES NEXT. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN IN ACTIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MODE SINCE THE SUMMER. WE ATTEND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, WE HAVE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT WE MEET WITH AND WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING ALL OF THAT DATA. WHAT WE HAVE ALSO DONE IS LAUNCHED A FORMAL SURVEY AND THAT WAS JUST LAUNCHED AS WELL.
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, IT'S ONLINE AND IN-PERSON, AND WE WANT AS MUCH FEEDBACK AND INPUT AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN LATER THIS YEAR, OR EARLY NEXT YEAR, WE WILL START COMING AND CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE FOR WHAT COMES NEXT. THERE IS A MILESTONE IN OUR ORDINANCE, IN THE STEP ORDINANCE, THAT SAYS THAT SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE END OF THIS PROGRAM WE APPROACH THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC UTILITY HERE AT THE CITY WITH OUR INTENTION TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM. AND SO WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL. AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE AND WE HOPE TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION -- WE WILL BRING A RECOMMENDATION, WE HOPE TO GAIN CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE NEXT STEP PROGRAM. AND WITH THAT, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A TRANSITION OVER THE SUMMER. AGAIN, THIS STEP PROGRAM SUNSETS JULY 31ST. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, IF POSSIBLE, AND IF APPROVED, IS TO HAVE A PROGRAM BEFORE THAT SO THAT THERE IS PROGRAM CONTINUITY AND IT DOESN'T INTERRUPT SERVICE FOR OUR TRADE ALLIES AND OUR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
SO AS I REFERENCED, WORK IS UNDER WAY TO SUPPORT WHATEVER COMES NEXT.
AND THAT WILL BE DICTATED BY OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
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AND SO WE'VE BEGUN STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE ENGAGING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, LIKE OUR CPS ENERGY, COMMUNITY INPUT COMMUNITY, OF COURSE OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND CITY COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE INPUT SESSIONS THAT ARE SCHEDULED, ALONG WITH ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND, OF COURSE, SURVEYS THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED.AND OUR GOAL IS TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION FOR CONSIDERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR. THIS IS THE SURVEY, THIS SURVEY LIVES ON OUR WEBSITE, AGAIN, AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND THE GOAL REALLY IS TO UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER'S PROGRAM AWARENESS, DO THEY KNOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIKE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, UNDERSTAND -- BETTER UNDERSTAND ANY ENGAGEMENT BARRIERS THAT EXIST, AND THEN WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN DEVELOPING THIS NEXT ITERATION.
SO THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY FOR US IS THAT STEP CONTINUES TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH LOWER BILLS, AVOIDED GENERATION, AND REDUCED EMISSIONS. AND WORK IS WELL UNDER WAY FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT AND WE WILL BE SEEKING CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US AT ANY TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ERIK, CAN YOU REFRESH US, HOW WAS 350 MILLION DETERMINED, HOW WAS THAT AMOUNT DETERMINED LAST
TIME? >> WALSH: I'M SEARCHING, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: DO YOU WANT TO PHONE A FRIEND? JEFF'S OVER THERE.
>> WALSH: JEFF, DO YOU -- YEAH. >> CPS DETERMINED THAT BASED ON PROGRAM, THEY LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO
DO, THAT WAS KIND OF THE ESTIMATED VALUE. >> THAT IS RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A MODEL OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, WHAT THEY COST, WHAT THEY WILL YIELD IN SAVINGS, AND WE BROUGHT FORTH WHAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD ACHIEVE. WE THOUGHT WE COULD ACHIEVE 410 MEGAWATTS WITH $350 MILLION. AND IT WAS ALSO BASED ON A LOT OF THE HISTORICAL
COST AND ACTIVITY IN OUR PREVIOUS STEP PROGRAM. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.
>> WALSH: SO I THINK THEY'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD AS THEY COME -- AND NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC UTILITY'S OFFICE IN JANUARY AND THEN BACK TO COUNCIL FOR THE SPRING OR IN EARLY 2028, THEY'LL COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF THAT KILOWATT AND THE INVESTMENT.
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. IT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND IF WE WANTED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE, RIGHT, UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE OTHER GOALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CLIMATE GOALS THAT WE FORTUNATELY ARE NOT ON TRACK TO MEET, SO HOW MIGHT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS HELP US DO THAT, AND THEN WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATED COST WITH SOME OF THOSE METRICS, RIGHT? SO WHAT MAY BE HELPFUL ACTUALLY IS YOU'RE KIND OF THINKING ABOUT BRINGING THIS FORWARD, NOT ONLY TO THE BOARD, BUT ALSO TO THIS BODY, BUT WHAT ARE OPTIONS.
WHAT SH A SMALL, MEDIUM, HIGH, GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT
WE'VE GOT IN THE COMMUNITY. >> WALSH: AND ALSO MAYBE -- MAYBE IN TERMS OF A PROGRAM THAT IS SCALABLE FOR YOU ALL.
>> MAYOR JONES: YEAH. >> WALSH: -- TO SEE THE OPTIONS.
>> MAYOR JONES: YEP. THAT'S RIGHT. >> WALSH: ALL RIGHT.
>> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND MAYBE SOME OF THE INTERPLAY, THE NUMBERS ARE HELPFUL, BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GREAT PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE MADE ON THE MULTIFAMILY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME IS WHAT IS THE SCALE OF OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT -- IS IT NINE IN THE QUEUE, BUT DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING IN OUR COMMUNITY OF NO KIDDING THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE UNITS THAT REMAIN, THAT WE MAY WANT TO PROACTIVELY ENGAGE AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
>> WE DO. WE DO. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THROUGH TRADE -- LIKE THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PROPERTY MANAGERS, OPPORTUNITY HOME AS WELL, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS DEMAND. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A NUMBER TO SHARE, BUT WE HAVE -- WE DO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MARKET POTENTIAL IS, WHICH IS WHY WE LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM AND THE DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW IN THIS PIPELINE.
>> MAYOR JONES: WHAT WOULD BE -- THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL THEN, IS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, JUST GIVEN THE WIDE BENEFITS OF IT AND GIVEN THE RELATIVELY LOW BARRIER.
YOU SAID 25%. IF 25% MEETS IT, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO JUST GO AHEAD AND DO IT. SO THEN IT REALLY KIND OF BEHOOVES US TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AND NOT YOU, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY OWNER. SO TO HELP US KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE REALM OF POSSIBLE, HOW MUCH OF THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THROUGH THIS INITIAL STEP BECAUSE THAT, IN FACT, MAY BE ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE NEXT ITERATION, WHICH IS NO KIDDING, 100% OUTREACH OF RESPONSE FROM THOSE
[00:30:02]
PROPERTY OWNERS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY -- WHY WOULD THEY SAY NO, RIGHT? YEAH. I'M CURIOUS, WHO HASTAKEN YOU UP ON THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM? >> WHAT TYPES OF
CUSTOMERS OR HOW MUCH? >> MAYOR JONES: BOTH, ACTUALLY.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT ON ME, BUT WE DO KNOW EVERY CUSTOMER THAT HAS SIGNED
UP AND THE CAPACITY. I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.
>> IT IS MAINLY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, THOUGH, I WILL SAY THAT.
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. AND THIS IS -- UNDERSTAND KIND OF WITHIN THIS KIND OF SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE VERY LARGE ENERGY DEMANDS IN GENERAL, RIGHT, THAT THIS IS NOT WORKING TO ADDRESS.
SO WHILE WE MAY BE MAKING PROGRESS IN THIS REGARD ON THESE THINGS, THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING ELSEWHERE MAY BE KIND OF TOTALLY OUTSTRIPPING, RIGHT, THE REAL BENEFIT OR UTILITY OF SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER. NOT TO SAY THOSE AREN'T BENEFICIAL, BUT ARE THEY AS IMPACTFUL IN LIGHT OF THE OTHEREN TRANTS INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SUCH SIGNIFICANT DEMAND USERS. 2.0, RIGHT, MAY LOOK DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE, CERTAINLY MORE AMBITIOUS, BUT MAYBE SOME OTHER FACETS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT WE WERE NOT CONSIDERED IN 2022. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.
>> YEAH. THAT -- THE LANDSCAPE LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT DID IN 2022, AND WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. AND SOME OF THOSE -- BUT THEY ARE BAKED INTO OUR SCENARIOS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE LANDSCAPE LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT TODAY AND THE DEMAND THAT WE ARE SEEING IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM.
>> YEAH. AND MAYOR, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SIZING OF THE PROGRAM, THE POINT ABOUT SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, EACH OF THE COMPONENT PROGRAMS HAS A UCT, WHICH BY THE WAY, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, YOU COULDN'T BE BLAMED BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY NICHE IN TERMS OF UTILITY CALCULATION. I TRIED TO BREAK IT, BECAUSE I HATED THE IDEA OF HAVING A NEW CALCULATION, BUT IT'S VERY SIMILAR IF YOU'RE RELATED TO AN MVP OR PV OVER I RATIO, AND -- BUT EACH OF THE PROGRAMS HAS A METRIC LIKE THAT. AND ITS OWN KIND OF MARKET CAPACITY TO GO -- TO GO GET. BUT I DO THINK IT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT POINT. THE -- OVERALL, THE PROGRAM IS DELIVERING 4.3 TIMES RETURN ON INVESTMENT, SO IF WE CAN DO SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN RETURN AND SOMEWHAT LESS, BUT ALSO SCALE UP SOME OF THE ONES THAT DO SOMEWHAT BETTER, THEN WE CAN MAINTAIN A SIMILAR PROGRAM LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE THAT WE -- IT FIGURES PROMINENTLY INTO OUR CURRENT GENERATION PLAN, AND IT IS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD THINK ABOUT HOW TO SCALE IT FURTHER, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, EACH PROGRAM WILL HAVE ITS OWN MARKET DEPTH. AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN DO IT, IT ULTIMATELY IS GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HAS A FANTASTIC FINANCIAL RETURN, SO OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF INCENTIVE TO SCALE THIS PROGRAM -- WE RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU POINT OUT, UNFORTUNATELY, HOW QUICKLY COSTS HAVE RISEN IN THIS SPACE, SO FOR CONTEXT WHEN YOU KIND OF BRING THIS CONVERSATION TO US LATER ON, IF YOU WANTED A PRICE -- IF WE SIMILARLY WANTED TO JUST KIND OF DO WHAT WE -- ACHIEVE WHAT WE DID THIS TIME, WHAT WOULD BE THE COST OF THAT? I'M IMAGINING IT'S NOT 350 PROBABLY, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THAT.
AND I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE IT'S -- WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUFFICIENTLY ACCOUNTING FOR THE NEW COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOALS
THAT WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT. >> YEAH.
SO $350 MILLION IS ABOUT $70 MILLION A YEAR. IT'S EXACTLY $70 MILLION A YEAR. WE'VE RUN -- THE PROGRAMS THAT WE USE TODAY AT TO DAY'S COST, AND TO GAIN THE SAME SAVINGS, IT'S ABOUT $85 MILLION A
YEAR. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> THAT'S TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: HELPFUL. YEAH.
THANK YOU. LET'S SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN,
PLEASE? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, FRANK, FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND THE EFFORTS YOU'VE PUT FORTH AS THE NEW LEADER OF CPS. I'M VERY EXCITED, AND I TELL THIS STORY OFTEN, THAT I WAS PART OF THE GENERATIONAL PLANNING AS WE LOOKED FORWARD, AND WE DID TAKE A LOOK AT THE STEP PROGRAM BECAUSE WE -- WE SAW THE POTENTIAL THERE. AND SO IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR YOU GUYS TO HEAR -- TO BE HERE TODAY AND TELL US ABOUT THE SUCCESS.
I LIKE THAT THE DOLLAR IS FOUR-POINT -- $4.30, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
I THINK AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND WE DO LOOK AT OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND OUR CLIMATE GOALS, THAT WE DO LOOK AT HOW WE DO -- WE MOVE FORWARD. AND WHERE THE STRENGTHS ARE AND WHERE IS OUR DOLLAR GOING TO GET -- TO GO FARTHER. IN TERMS OF THE MARKETING
[00:35:01]
AND OUTREACH, I DID WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO YOUR CREW TEAM, THEY TURNED INTO DIGITAL NAVIGATORS, THEY ARE OUT IN THE SOUTH SIDE LION'S SENIOR CENTER WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND BASICALLY TAKING THEM THROUGH -- WE DID AN OVERVIEW, AND SAID THIS IS YOUR CPS, THEY WERE LIKE, WE WANT DO A DEEPER DIVE, WE WANT TO SHOW THEM WHERE EXACTLY TO FIND EVERYTHING ON THE COMPUTER, ON THEIR DEVICE, AND THEY WENT OUT THERE AND THEY DID THAT, THEY WERE EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH MY OLDER ADULTS, AND I JUST -- I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM? WHAT CAN I DO TO SAVE ENERGY? AM I PART OF THIS WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM? AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE -- I CAN ALREADY KNOW THE TEAM THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND BE LIKE, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT, COUNCILWOMAN? WEATHERIZATION, Y'ALL -- YOU ALL KNOW THAT IN DISTRICT THREE, MANY OF THOSE HOUSES ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND WE RUN INTO ISSUES WITH WHAT IT COSTS TO WEATHERIZE A HOUSE. SO I REALLY DO WANT TO SEE WHERE WE CAN IN TERMS OF OUR CODE, MOVING FORWARD, OF DO WE NEED TO SAVE EVERYTHING? IS IT STILL HISTORIC IF HALF OF IT IT'S SIDING AND NEW WINDOWS, AND HALF OF IT ISN'T AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE WEATHERIZATION PROJECT? OUR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND DOUG HEARS ME SAY THIS ALL THE TIME KNOW HOW TO CONSERVE, THEY DO.THEY JUST NEED TO BE MOTIVATED TO DO THAT. AND I THINK -- AUDIO] -- FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR WEATHERIZING, GETTING THAT HVAC CLEARED EVERY SEASON, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BUT HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THAT? AND I THINK IT IS BY SHOWING THEM HOW TO USE THE APPS, HOW TO GO ONLINE.
I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE FLYERS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD IN THE CPS BILLS, BUT LET'S SAVE SOME TREES AND KIND OF GET THAT OUT THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO ADJUST THIS PROCESS.
PETE, ANAFRI FROM DISTRICT FOUR WAS CRITICAL IN HAVING SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS. I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE THESE TEMPERATURES, AND THE DIFFERENCES GOING TO BE A COLDER WINTER OR HOTTER SUMMER, WHEN -- WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TURN ON THAT AC, HOW WE DO THAT.
AND AS Y'ALL KNOW, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT AC'S GOING OUT, IS SOME OF THE AIR CONDITIONER UNITS WE PUT WITHIN THE CITY FACILITIES, WE PUT WITHIN OUR HOMES, WERE NEVER MEANT TO RUN 10 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, BUT THEY'RE DOING THAT. AND SO HOW DO WE MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THAT AND HOW DO WE ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AS WE START BUILDING NEW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADJUSTMENTS WE MAKE AND DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER WITH YOU GUYS, AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SIT ON ANY ADVISORY BOARDS THAT -- I'M ALWAYS HERE AND MY RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS HERE TO GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, PLEASE.
PLEASE SIGN IN. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION, SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE STEP. I THINK THIS IS AN AMAZING INVESTMENT THAT FOLKS OVER TIME DECIDED TO INVEST, AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD SUPPORTERS, RIGHT, AT THE COUNCIL OR EVEN ON THE BOARD IN YEARS PAST.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN DOUBTED BEFORE OR MADE TO SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T WORTHY OF INVESTMENT WITH THE REVENUES. BUT I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND WE CAN GO TO SLIDE -- I THINK IT'S 9. PERFECT.
YEAH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I'M SURE MANY OF YOU WERE HERE AT THE TIME, MY PREDECESSOR HAD BROUGHT UP BEFORE WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE DOING OUR BEST TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM INTO DISTRICT FOUR SPECIFICALLY, RIGHT? AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF HER CHALLENGE THE LAST TIME AROUND WAS, YOU KNOW, SHE WANTED THAT. AND I AGREE WITH HER, RIGHT, WE NEEDED TO DO MORE BECAUSE THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE NUMBERS FOR D4, THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST PROGRAM YEAR. I MEAN, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE ADDED TO THAT, AND SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU ALL GET FOLKS PARTICIPATING INTO STEP?
>> I'M SORRY? >> MUNGIA: THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU GET FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE INTO STEP? WHAT ARE THE TOUCH POINTS THAT YOU GET PEOPLE TO
SIGNED UP FOR THIS? >> THERE ARE MULTIPLE PATHS THAT WE UTILIZE, SO WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY A LOT. AND SO I HEARD ABOUT OUR CREW TEAM, OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM IS SOMEWHERE EVERY DAY ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF PERSONAL INTERACTION.
AND IT'S BASED ON THE NEEDS OF EVERY CUSTOMER. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF
[00:40:03]
INDIVIDUAL OUTREACH. WE HAVE PARTNERS, OUR TRADE ALLIES, THE 200 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, ALSO HELP PROMOTE THE PROGRAM. AND SO WHEN THEY'RE CALLED TO A HOME FOR SERVICE OR THEY'RE OUT DOING THEIR BUSINESS, THEY PROMOTE OUR STEP PROGRAM AS WELL. AND THEN WE HAVE PARTNERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, STAKEHOLDERS WHO WE WORK WITH THAT ARE VERY GRASSROOTS AND KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY ALSO PROMOTE OUR PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE TALK JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE WE'RE INVITED, SO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATIONS, ANY TYPE OF MEETING, WE'RE ALWAYS PROMOTING.AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT TARGETED MARKETING AND ADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND
THAT AS WELL. >> MUNGIA: SO THERE'S WAYS WE CAN -- SO I THINK BASED ON 9 AND 10, I THINK SOME MORE DATA ON THESE POINTS WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US. ESPECIALLY IF I KNOW -- I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT, SORT OF WHAT PROGRAMS ARE MORE -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR MORE IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN TOWN. THAT'S FANTASTIC, I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT.
I THINK IT HAS TO BE A UNIQUE APPROACH TO INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES, I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW LIKE WHO'S ACCEPTING WHAT WHERE, AND HOW CAN WE -- MAYBE IN OUR OWN OFFICE, AT LEAST IN MY OFFICE, CAN WE TRY TO PROMOTE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF BUT THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF TO SIGN UP FOR. SO ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THAT ON SLIDE 10, KIND OF SEE WHAT THAT BREAKDOWN IS. AND I HAVE THIS -- GOSH, THIS HUGE DOCUMENT THAT WE GOT FROM YOU ALL, IT'S A REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THE REBATES FROM 2019, I GUESS, IN THE LAST REPORT, KIND OF DOING A SUMMARY ON THAT. AND SO THEY INCLUDED IN HERE, THERE ARE SOME HEAT MAPS, AND I THINK IF WE YOU WERE TO EXPAND UPON THAT AND INCLUDE SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IN THE HEAT MAP, IT WOULD KIND OF SHOW US WHERE THINGS ARE GOING. AND I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT A HEAT MAP, IT'S JUST A REGULAR MAP HERE, BUT IT'S GOT ALL THE DIFFERENT LITTLE DOTS AND DATA POINTS. THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S LIKE IN MY DISTRICT, I CAN GO TO 78242 MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE AS AN OFFICE CAN KIND OF GO AND TARGET. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT CREW, THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB, AND OSCAR IS FROM DISTRICT FOUR AND HE CONNECTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY SO WELL, SO I KNOW HE'S A LARGE PART OF HELPING GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS THE BOARD, SO I WANTED TO GIVE HIM A COMPLIMENT. ON SLIDE 11, REALLY GOOD -- MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID ABOUT HOW CAN WE LOOK AT WHAT THE SCALING OPPORTUNITY OF THIS IS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST HOUSING BOND, AND POTENTIALLY IN THE NEXT ONE, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON MULTIFAMILY UPGRADES TO EXISTING PLACES, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE IN THE MULTIFAMILY SPACE. I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE USUALLY PROBABLY OLDER MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX. SO DO YOU HAVE LIKE AN
AVERAGE AGE OF THE COMPLEX? >> I DO, AND I CAN GET
THAT FOR YOU. >> MUNGIA: OKAY. JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW.
I MEAN, THESE EXIST ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT I KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE ORIGINAL FIVE SQUARE MILES WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY LARGE CORPORATIONS, WE HAVE A LOT IN DISTRICTS 4 AND 5, ESPECIALLY IN THE QUINTANA AREA, AND THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE, SO THAT'S AWESOME TO SEE THAT.
AND SO MOVING ON TO SLIDE 13, THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, GLAD Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT AGAIN. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A POPULAR PROGRAM IN YEARS PAST, AND IT'S A WAY FOR SOMEONE TO CHIP IN, RIGHT, AND SOLAR WITHOUT MAYBE DOING THE PANELS ON THEIR ROOF OR SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT I WAS NOTICING THE BACKGROUND THAT -- SO ONE PANEL IS ABOUT $1,200 TO PURCHASE, RIGHT?
>> YES. >> MUNGIA: AND SO HAVE Y'ALL EXPLORED WAYS ON HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A SMALLER COST PER PANEL?
HOW DOES THAT WORK OUT? >> I WOULD SAY THAT THEY ARE -- THEY ARE -- THEY ARE LARGE PANELS. SO I THINK THEY'RE 675-WATT PANELS.
THE ONES BEFORE WERE 365. SO THEY WERE HALF THE SIZE, HALF THE CAPACITY OF THESE. THAT'S A LOT FOR AN A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER. THEY'RE LARGE PANELS. I WOULD ALSO SAY WITH SOLAR, WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT THE COST PER WATT. FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR IT AVERAGES ABOUT $4 A WATT. CUSTOMERS IN THIS PROGRAM WILL PAY $2 A WATT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE THE PROGRAM AT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP WITH MAYBE THAT DOWN PAYMENT, NOT JUST FOR ONE PANEL, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A COST TO SOLAR. IT IS NOT FREE. IT IS HALF THE COST OF A ROOFTOP SOLAR AND IT OPENS UP DOORS TO CUSTOMERS WHO MAYBE COULDN'T INSTALL A SYSTEM ON THEIR ROOF, BUT THERE'S STILL A BARRIER
BECAUSE THERE'S A COST. >> MUNGIA: YEAH. >> AND SO WE ARE THINKING CREATIVELY. THIS PROGRAM -- IT WILL TAKE US A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SELL OUT 50 MEGAWATTS SO IT GIVES US TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE THE CUSTOMERS WHO MAYBE CANNOT PAY UP FRONT FOR PANELS.
>> MUNGIA: YEAH. WELL, THAT'S A NICE RETURN, AND SO I HOPE
[00:45:01]
THAT PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT, SHOULD, WILL DO THAT, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT WAY TO INVEST IN SOLAR AND THEN ALSO GET KIND OF LIKE A LONG-TERM REBATE, SAVINGS ON YOUR BILL, SO I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE ALWAYS KIND OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC ON THIS. I -- YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED PETER, HE'S SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE, WHEN IT COMES TO CPS, HE WILL GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ON HIS OWN AND PRESENT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE, AND SO HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB, I'M GLAD HE'LL CONTINUE TO BE PLUGGED IN AND HE CAN ALWAYS GIVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM WHAT HE'S HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO.SO, YEAH, I'M LOOKING TO SEE THE SCALABLE OPTIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT'S EXPANDED IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BUY-IN ON THIS, AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO DO IT. AND I'M HOPING THAT WITH SOME OF THE RENEWABLES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, TOO, YOU KNOW, JITS KIND OF HARD NOT TO FEEL OPTIMISTIC AFTER THIS PAST WEEK, SO I'M HOPING THAT THINGS PROGRESS ON THAT AND WE CAN EVEN DO MUCH MORE THAN THIS IN THE FUTURE, INVEST MORE. SO THANK YOU VERY FOR FOR YOUR TIME.
APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE? >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR.
THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I OBVIOUSLY ALSO LOVE THE PROGRAM AND WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SHARED.
THE ONE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE IS IT'S NOT AS EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH REBATE A RESIDENT ACTUALLY CAN GET. SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT A CUSTOMER AND DETERMINE
HOW MUCH THEY CAN GET OFF OF THEIR BILL? >> SO THE REBATES ARE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT MEASURES, AND SO IT ISN'T PER CUSTOMER, IT'S BASED ON THE MEASURE THAT IS INSTALLED. SO IF IT'S AN HVAC, THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS BASED ON HOW EFFICIENT IT IS.
IF IT'S ATTIC INSULATION, IT DEPENDS HOW MUCH INSULATION THEY INSTALL.
SO IT'S PER MEASURE. >> KAUR: OTHER PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS USE TO
LOWER BILLS, WHAT IS THAT ONE CALLED? >> THE AFFORDABILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM. . >> KAUR: ADP.
BUT YOU GUYS WILL OFTEN COMBINE THOSE TO TRY AND GET A RESIDENT'S BILL AS
LOW AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT? >> WE WILL ALWAYS OFFER ALL THE PROGRAMS TO OUR
CUSTOMERS. >> KAUR: I LOOKED UP THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, AND SO IT HAS, LIKE -- IT TAKES YOU TO THE BIG SUN PAGE AND IT'S LIKE -- THIS IS HOW MUCH I CAN SAVE IS TAKING YOUR UTILITY FROM THE LAST YEAR AND SAYING -- I WISH THERE WAS A WAY THAT YOU COULD DO THAT VERY EASILY ON THE CPS PAGE FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS. LIKE IF YOU COULD GO IN AND PUT YOUR ADDRESS IN, PUT YOUR INCOME, AND YOU -- I MEAN, YOU GUYS SEE THE BILL, SO YOU COULD SEE, LIKE, BASICALLY ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT THEN YOU COULD SAY, IF YOU DID WEATHERIZATION, THIS IS -- YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS. AND -- LIKE AN EASIER WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OPTIONS A RESIDENT HAS. BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS CLEAR TO TRY TO GET SOMEONE SAVINGS AS IT IS WITH SAWS, AND I KNOW I COMPARE THEM, BUT IT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE TWO UTILITIES. SO IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT A LITTLE EASIER, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN ALSO, HEY, DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE MINUTE WHEN RESIDENTS CALL US, CAN I RUN THROUGH TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, AND WE COULD -- OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE ARMS CAN BE EVEN MORE SUPPORT FOR YOU ALL.
BECAUSE WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME. I HAD A CONSTITUENT THAT CALLED MY THAT HAD BEEN LIVING IN HER HOME FOR 80 YEARS ON A FIXED INCOME THAT HAD THIS GAS ISSUE I WAS TALKING TO HER ABOUT.
I FEEL LIKE I COULD OFFER HER, HEY, ARE YOU ON THE PROGRAM, CAN I SEE WHAT OTHER THINGS I COULD OFFER YOU, SO, YEAH, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TECH UPGRADES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO INVEST IN, BECAUSE THE WEBSITE -- AND I'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY.
AND MAKING IT JUST MORE USER FRIENDLY AS POSSIBLE I THINK WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, BECAUSE EVEN SOMETIMES FOR ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO PAY MY -- IT. SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONE THING THERE.
I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER'S IDEA ON A HEAT MAP, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I'M COMPARING THE UTILITIES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAWS IS TRYING IS LIKE THE TARGETED OUTREACH IN AREAS THAT ALWAYS -- LIKE THAT, WHERE I KNOW YOU CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY -- I KNOW THERE ARE MORE RULES. I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE'S REGULATION WHERE YOU CAN ONLY GIVE LIKE -- IS IT 5% OF REDUCTION? HE EXPLAINED THIS TO ME A LONG TIME, I THINK YOU CAN ONLY GIVE UP TO 5% OF YOUR CUSTOMER'S A
DISCOUNT, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT IT IS? >>
>> KAUR: THEY WERE EXPLAINING THIS TO ME, THAT YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE EVERY -- YOU KNOW, ALTHOGH WE PROBABLY -- THE AMOUNT OF POVERTY
[00:50:01]
THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT COULD QUALIFY, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS ELIGIBLE SUPPORT FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE UNDER ADP, AS I UNDERSTAND.STEP IS DIFFERENT, BUT UNDER ADP -- RIGHT? >>
>> KAUR: SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THAT -- YOU WERE TRYING TO FIND IT FOR ME, I KNOW I'M COMBINING THE TWO, BUT FOR ADP, WHAT'S THE MAX THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE? AND THEN THE LAST THING ON THE HOME EFFICIENCY, ALL OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES IS, IS ALSO, LIKE, SOME KIND OF PRIORITIZATION, I KNOW THIS WAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, BUT HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE WHAT -- WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT PRIORITIZATION OF CERTAIN OF THESE PROGRAMS? AND IS -- LIKE HOW ARE WE MEASURING SUCCESS IN TERMS OF WHEN WE DO HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS, KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, WHAT WE WANT TO PUT MORE MONEY TO FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
SO HOWEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE THAT AND KIND OF BRING IT BACK.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ECHO IS JUST ALSO MORE AWARENESS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE USUALLY ONLY COME TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN THEY REALLY NEED IT, BUT LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTRICAL -- I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE PROGRAM, I'M GOING TO GO APPLY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY AREN'T THINKING, OH, I DON'T NEED TO GO GET HELP FOR MY UTILITY ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY COULD STILL, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT FROM SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL ARE PROVIDING. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE MARKET -- AND HOW YOU MARKET THAT, RIGHT? I WONDER IF YOU GO TO EVERY CHARGE POINT STATION -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO THIS, BUT PUT LIKE A LITTLE NOTE, SAY, HAVE, HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CHARGER AT HOME? 10:00 P.M. TO 4:00 A.M. CHARGING GETS YOU AN
INCENTIVE -- OH, YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT? >>
>> KAUR: IT'S OKAY, YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ME. BUT -- YEAH, SO JUST MORE WAYS TO MARKET. AND FOR EACH PROGRAM, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? FOR THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, DO THEY -- IS IT A REDUCED RATE FROM WHAT YOU WOULD GET FROM A DIFFERENT SOLAR COMPANY?
>> IT'S NOT A RATE. IT'S BASED ON COST. AND SO THEY -- CUSTOMERS WHO PARTICIPATE WILL RECEIVE A 10 CENT PER KILOWATT HOUR CREDIT FOR THE GENERATION; WHEREAS IF I OWNED A ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEM, I WOULD JUST SEE A REDUCTION IN MY CONSUMPTION FROM CPS ENERGY.
>> KAUR: SO THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY INSTALLING THE PANELS, THEY'RE --
>> WE'RE GIVING CUSTOMERS A CREDIT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A SYSTEM ON
THEIR PROPERTY. >> KAUR: OH, INTERESTING.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I JUST -- COME BACK TO MORE MARKETING AND THINKING THROUGH HOW WE CAN GET TO AS MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. AND THE LAST THING I'LL OFFER IS LIKE MANY OF US DO NEWSLETTERS AND WE DO BOTH E-MAILS AND PRINTED.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST DO CPS EVERY MONTH, BUT I WONDER IF YOU HAVE SOME TARGETED SYSTEM TO SEND US, LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, LIKE I COULD -- I'M TOTALLY GOING TO SEND OUT THE EV PROGRAM. I HAV HAVE AN EV, YOU COULD APPLY FOR THIS. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. COUNCILMAN GALVAN, PLEASE?
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. OF COURSE, A BIG SUPPORTER OF THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY CONTINUE TO REDUCE ENERGY COST FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE OUR GRID REMAINS RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE AS WELL. A COUPLE QUESTIONS AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
OF COURSE, DEFINITELY ECHO THE SENTIMENT THAT YOU'VE SHARED AND THE REALITY THAT CPS IS EVERYWHERE, ALWAYS BEING IN THE COMMUNITY.
OUR FOLKS, STEPHANIE, IS AROUND WHERE THE CREW TEAM, I RUN INTO HER IN EVENTS I GO TO. I GUESS I WANTED TO ASK JUST ON SOME OF THE MORE TREND LINES OF IT, ON SLIDE 8, THE 50% OF CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATE IN STEP LAST YEAR, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE I GUESS YEAR-TO-YEAR, AND HOW HAS THAT CHANGED OVER TIME, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW UP IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> I'M SO SORRY, IS IT THE PARTICIPATION THAT CHANGES YEAR OVER YEAR?
>> GALVAN: YES. >> THERE'S PARTICIPATION IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
EVERY YEAR. >> GALVAN: OKAY. >> AND SO EVERY YEAR WE MAY SEE 400,000 CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATING, BUT THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATING.
AND, AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO EVOLVE THE OFFERINGS, WE WANT TO STAY FRESH. AND SO IF A CUSTOMER PARTICIPATES TODAY, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING ELSE LATER ON IN THE
YEAR. >> GALVAN: GREAT. AND IS THAT ILLUSTRATED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT ARE PUT OUT OR -- IS THERE A WAY THAT THAT'S
DISTRIBUTED I GUESS. >> PARTICIPATION IS IN QUARTERLY REPORTS AND ALSO MAPS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE
PARTICIPATING. >> GALVAN: YEAH. I WAS LOOKING AT THOSE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM. I WILL SAY, THIS IS JUST MY REQUEST, IF WE COULD BREAK THE MAPS OUT BY DISTRICT AND THAT WAY IT CAN BE A BIT MORE ZOOMED IN. IT LOOKS GREAT, BUT IT'S
[00:55:03]
A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR US TO -- >> YEAH.
>> GALVAN: I DO APPRECIATE THE BREAKOUT, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY INITIAL PROGRAM. EVEN THINKING ABOUT, OF COURSE, LIKE TO YOUR POINT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION ABOUT BARRIERS.
WE ALL KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT BARRIERS FOR RESIDENTS WHETHER IT'S THE HOME BEING FULLY STABLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ON SITE TO SEEING HOW THE COORDINATION WITH AHD OR ANY KIND OF WORK WE'RE DOING TO GET PEOPLE TO ACCEPT OR BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THESE PROGRAMS, BEING ABLE TO SEE THOSE TREND LINES ADJUST IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR DISTRICTS, AT LEAST FOR MINE ESPECIALLY, THINKING ABOUT TARGETING THIS APPROACH. I THINK A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS, A LOT OF THE HOMES ARE VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER SO THERE'S THE ABILITY TO QUALIFY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PARTS OF MY DISTRICT. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE THAT TREND LINE AND HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF COURSE HERE FROM THE
CITY AND ALSO AS COUNCIL OFFICE SIDE. >> OKAY.
>> GALVAN: AND I GUESS ON THAT NOTE, FOR CASA VERDE, THE SAME THING -- WELL, SIMILAR THING, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S TRACKED IN TERMS OF -- OR IF IT IS, ENGAGING FOLKS, AND THEN PEOPLE WHO ACCEPT THE PROGRAM OR WHO ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM OR WHO QUALIFY FOR IT, LIKE IS THERE A RATIO THAT WE SEE FROM THERE? I KNOW I'M GETTING GRANULAR, SO I --
>> I WOULD SAY AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE CUSTOMERS WHO APPLY AND QUALIFY GO
THROUGH THE PROGRAM. >> GALVAN: OKAY. GOT IT.
>> RIGHT. YEAH. >> GALVAN: OKAY.
>> AS LONG AS THEY QUALIFY, WE SEE THEM GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
AND THERE'S NO COST TO THEM. THERE'S ONLY BENEFIT FOR
THEM. >> GALVAN: RIGHT. I GUESS JUST TRYING TO SEE, RIGHT, IF THERE'S FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR SOME REASON, WHAT IS THAT BARRIER, RIGHT, THAT'S IDENTIFIED AND HOW IS IT ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK IT ALL STEMS BACK TO THE SIMILAR THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, JUST SEEING HOW THAT BARRIER'S BEING OOJ JUSTED OVER TIME.
PARTICULARLY IN AREAS THAT WE KNOW MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD WEATHERIZATION -- UNFOLDING, I GUESS, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HOR HAS BEEN UNFOLDING.
AND THEN I THINK THE LAST THING WAS ON SLIDE 13, THE COMMUNITY SOLAR, I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN I SAW THAT ONE ROLL OUT. I THINK I SAW IT IN THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT OR SOMETHING WHEN IT FIRST WAS OPENED.
WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT. I THINK IT WAS SUNDAY OR SOMETHING, I REMEMBER READING ABOUT IT, I GUESS MY THOUGHT SIMILAR TO WHAT I HEARD SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES, MAKING SURE WE'RE REACHING FOLKS WHO MAYBE CANNOT ACCESS THAT OR CANNOT AFFORD THE UPFRONT COST, RIGHT? IT'S ALWAYS THE ISSUE WITH SOLAR, IT'S REALLY GOOD AT LONG TERM, BUT THE INITIAL UPFRONT COST IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN DIFFERENT PLACES. HAS CPS EVALUATED OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR WHAT OTHER UTILITIES HAVE DONE TO HELP ADDRESS THAT GAP OR THAT NEED? BROAD QUESTION, I KNOW.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT IT? >> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A COST TO
SOLAR. >> GALVAN: OF COURSE. >> RIGHT, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHAT WE HAVE DONE, THERE ARE SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PROGRAMS WHERE THE UPFRONT COST IS REDUCED, YOU KIND OF PAY AS YOU
GO. >> GALVAN: SURE. >> WHAT WE HAVE HEARD -- AND BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LAST PROGRAM IS THAT CUSTOMERS LIKE TO OWN THEIR ASSET. THEY LIKE THAT THEY OWN A PANEL.
AND SO THIS IS A PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. >> GALVAN: GOT IT.
>> I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ON COMMUNITY SOLAR AND MAYBE THERE IS ANOTHER MODEL THAT COULD HELP WITH THAT.
I WILL ALSO SAY IN THE NEXT ITERATION OF STEP IN OUR ORDINANCE TODAY THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT SUPPORTS INCOME QUALIFYING PROGRAMS AND IT IS FOR WEATHERIZATION AND MULTIFAMILY. PERHAPS IN THE NEXT ITERATION THE LANGUAGE COULD BROADEN SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT INCOME-QUALIFYING CUSTOMERS IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, AND SO MAYBE IF THERE WAS -- THERE COULD BE MORE THAN WE COULD DO FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR FOR INCOME-QUALIFYING CUSTOMERS, AND SO THAT IS TODAY ALL WE CAN OFFER IS OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. AGAIN, BASED ON ORDINANCE. PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN
DO. >> GALVAN: YEAH, I GUESS -- WELL, WHEN YOU COME BACK, WE'LL HAVE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS CAN LOOK AT, WHAT WAS EVALUATED, I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S LIKELY THE SUBSIDY IN SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, I THINK ABOUT EVEN THE FINANCING OPTION, THE INTEREST RATE BEING HIGHER THAN THE YIELD FOR RESIDENTS WHO MAYBE JUST ARE ON A TIGHTER BUDGET, RIGHT? SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE AND WHO COULD BE THE BEST PARTNERS TO HELP SUPPORT THAT, AS IF WE HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, BUT TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S POINT ON CLIE MATYIZATION PROGRAM, HOW ARE WE UTILIZING SOME OF OUR RESPUN TO HELP ADDRESS THAT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND SEEING WHAT THAT CAN
YIELD. >> YEAH. AND I KNOW OUR PARTNER IS WORKING WITH A BANK TO HELP SUPPORT FINANCING OF OUR CUSTOMERS, ALL OF OUR
CUSTOMERS. >> GALVAN: RIGHT. >> AND SO THAT IS COMING
SOON. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. OKAY.
[01:00:01]
WELL, GREAT. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. I REALLY APPRECIATE AGAIN ALL THE HARD WORK Y'ALL DO EVERY DAY, BUT ALSO IN GENERAL AND IN PARTICULAR WITH STEP, IT'S A LONG ONGOING PROGRAM THAT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS UTILIZING THEM. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY HOPEFULLY GOOD NEWS THAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT TO GET YOU OFF THE RADAR OF THESTATE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ, PLEASE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THIS, TOO, AND SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS PROGRAM, AND I APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON COST EFFECTIVENESS, AND SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RATE INCREASES ANYWHERE, BUT HERE SPECIFICALLY, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHAT STEP IS DOING AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S AS STRONG AS IT CAN BE.
AND SO I ALSO WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SHOW THAT RETURN, HOW IT SHOWS UP TO FAMILIES ON THEIR BILL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL. SO MIGHT BE COMPLICATED, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH OF US IN THE ROOM HERE AND ENOUGH OF THEM IN YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT CAN FIGURE OUT JUST THE EASIEST WAY TO TELL THAT STORY SO FOLKS JUST CAN SIMPLY UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT SAVINGS THEY ARE RECEIVING. SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS CAN WORK ON.
AND I THINK WE'VE SAID THAT IN VARIOUS WAYS, BUT I WANT TO SECOND, AND THIRD SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST FROM THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE PROGRAM.
SO DO YOU -- BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES OR SCHOOLS, HIGHER ED, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR ISDS, EXCUSE ME, ARE THEY ENROLLED IN THIS?
OR HOW MANY OF THEM? HOW MANY ARE NOT? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. AND I'M GUILTY OF FOCUSING ON OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE.
SO NEW TO THIS STEP IS AN INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES -- SCHOOLS ARE VERY ACTIVE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THEM, THEY EARN INCENTIVES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SOME OF THEM LIKE THE BIG CHECK PHOTOOP, THEY USE THAT MONEY, RIGHT, AND THEY PUT IT RIGHT BACK INTO THEIR BUDGETS AND THEY COUNT ON IT.
SO THEY ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
AND WE HAVE A TEAM WHO WORKS WITH OUR COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, SO THEY ARE ACTIVE. IF IT'S 250 MEGAWATTS FOR DEMAND RESPONSE, HALF OF THAT COMES FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO THEY ARE AN ACTIVE PART OF OUR STEP PROGRAM GONGZ.
>> GONZALEZ: THAT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THAT SAVINGS LEM ALL OF THE RATEPAYERS. WE ALL HAVE LARGE EMPLOY ERS, BUT MY DISTRICT HAS A MEDICAL CENTER, UT SAN ANTONIO, USAA, SO THEY MIGHT HAVE THEIR OWN ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM, BUT IF THEY ARE PARTICIPATING, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO KNOW, AGAIN, SI SIMPLIFYING JUST HOW THIS HELPS OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. ALSO I THINK MY LAST QUESTION IS ON -- WHERE IS IT? ON THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, DO WE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR PLANS ON BRINGING BACK THE
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM? >> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER IN THE NEXT ITERATION OF STEP AND BUILD THAT IN, IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND
STAKEHOLDERS WANT. >> GONZALEZ: YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, IT WAS A
BENEFICIAL PROGRAM, OR -- WAS IT NOT? >> IT ABSOLUTELY WAS.
WE HAD A SOLAR REBATE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, OVER A DECADE.
AND LIKE ALL TECHNOLOGIES, IT WAS VERY COSTLY IN THE BEGINNING AND THE REBATE WAS PRETTY RICH, AND THEN AS COSTS STARTED TO COME DOWN, THEY WERE MORE ACCESSIBLE, THERE WERE TAX CREDITS.
THE MARKET HAS CHANGED TODAY, BUT TODAY WE HAVE OVER 500 MEGAWATTS OF COMMUNITY-OWNED SOLAR HERE FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, CUSTOMER-OWNED SOLAR, AND 50,000 CUSTOMERS HAVE INVESTED IN ROOFTOP SYSTEMS. SO THE MARKET HAS CHANGED SOME. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS IN ADDITION TO SOLAR, IT'S BATTERIES. AND THERE IS A DEMAND FOR BATTERIES AND HOW CAN WE
HELP INCENTIVIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY TODAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ELAINA BALL, I'M THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR CPS ENERGY. I DO WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT THE QUESTIONS AND THE ROBUST DISCUSSION HERE ARE YOU ALL ARE PROVIDING US SIGNIFICANT INPUT INTO THINGS YOU ALL SEE. I THINK AS WE GO THROUGH OUR STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND RECEIVE INPUT FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US INFORM PROGRAM DESIGN. I DO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND GO ON THE RECORD THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE DESIGN DECISIONS HERE IN THIS MEETING. THE INTENT HERE IS TO REALLY BRIEF YOU ALL.
WE REALLY WELCOME THE FEEDBACK. YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED THE
[01:05:04]
UCT AND OTHER THINGS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DESIGNING A PROGRAM, A SUITE OF PROGRAMS FOR STEP 3.0 THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THE VALUE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.MANY OF WHOM ARE LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. WITH REGARD TO SOLAR AND SOLAR REBATES, THIS IS A SOCIOECONOMIC AND AN EQUITY DISCUSSION THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE. I DON'T WANT TO SHUT ANY THOUGHTS DOWN BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THIS INPUT AND MUCH MORE AND DESIGN PROGRAMS ULTIMATELY TO MAKE THE DOLLARS GO AS FAR AS WE CAN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE IN THE MOST NEED THAT HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY
POVERTY AND BURDEN. THANK YOU. >> GONZALEZ: I FORGOT WHERE I WAS. OKAY. THAT WAS IT ON THE RESIDENTIAL. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR
REBATES? >> NO. >> GONZALEZ: AND THEN ON THE -- I THINK THE MAYOR MENTIONED THIS AS WELL BUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE BUT WE STILL HAVE LARGE LOADS AND DATA CENTERS COMING IN AND SO THAT DEMAND --D DEMAND WILL EXIST. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WHATEVER SAVINGS WE'RE MAKING ARE NOT BEING ABSORBED BY THE LARGE-LOAD DEMAND. IF THAT'S IN YOUR NEXT ITERATION OF YOUR PROGRAM OR HOW ARE YOU MAKING THAT PART OF THE NEXT ITERATION?
>> I WAS GOING TO SEE IF SOMEBODY WAS COMING UP. >> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU. AS YOU ALL ARE VERY AWARE, WE HAVE -- WE'RE BLESSED TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS GROWING AND WE'RE GROWING NOT ONLY IN THE FORM OF, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS. WE TALK ABOUT LARGE LOAD.
WE'RE GROWING ORGANICALLY. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO OUR AREA.
BUSINESSES ARE EXPANDIG, ARE RELOCATING OR ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES IN OUR COMMUNITY ENSURE WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR GRID IN A MANNER THAT CAN MEET THE DEMAND AND ALSO DO SO AS AFFORDABLY AS POSSIBLE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE COST OF ENERGY AND THE COST OF PROCURING OR BUILDING RESOURCES TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND, WE'RE SEEING THOSE COSTS GO UP AND IT'S A GLOBAL PHENOMENON AND CERTAINLY LARGE LOADS ARE CONTRIBUTING.
IN PRINCIPLE, AS THE COST TO BUILD OR BUY OR PROCURE ENERGY DOES TREND UP, IT ACTUALLY ENHANCES THE VALUE OF THE STEP PROGRAM. YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THE UCT.
>> GONZALEZ: I THINK WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE SAID, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION HERE BUT AGAIN IT JUST GOES BACK TO HOW DO I JUST SAY THAT TO MY NEIGHBOR, PEGGY? THAT SIMPLE. WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS NOT THAT. WHEN THEY SEE A DATA CENTER POP UP, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT LINE OF THOUGHT. SO THAT'S REALLY I THINK WHAT I'M ASKING -- AND I THINK I HAVE HEARD THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WHEREVER THIS GOES THAT WE CAN JUST SIMPLY EXPLAIN THAT TO RESIDENTS. WE'RE GETTING THOSE QUESTIONS EVERY DAY FROM
THEM. >> THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK AND WE'LL
INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN PRESENTING THIS TODAY.
I HAD A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS BUT OVERALL THE STEP PROGRAM SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. I KNOW WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MEETING THOSE MILESTONES.
ON SLIDE 5, THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS REALLY POPULAR, ESPECIALLY WITH RESIDENTS IN SOME OF OUR OLDER HOMES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THERE. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE IT IN THE FUTURE.
ON SLIDE NO. 6, Y'ALL'S METRICS, WHAT IS -- DO WE KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT SEEING AS
MUCH PROGRESS ON THE REDUCING BARRIERS? >> YES.
THAT IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS, BOTH OF THEM.
SO WE PAUSED THE PROGRAM, PROBABLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO TO REDESIGN IT.
WE REDESIGNED IT, RELAUNCHED IT, AND IT'S A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERING THAT PROGRAM FOR OVER A DECADE WITH VERY LITTLE CHANGES TO IT SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO MAKE CHANGES, UNDERSTANDING THE CUSTOMERS' EXPERIENCE AND THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED.
WE PAUSED FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THAT IMPACT THE PIPELINE AND THE DEMAND.
[01:10:03]
>> GAVITO: WHAT CAN OUR OFFICES DO TO HELP FOR THE REACH FOR THE NEW PROGRAM?
>> YOU CAN DEFINITELY HELP PROMOTE OUR PROGRAM. I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF ANYTHING IN A NEWSLETTER. I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR CREW MEMBERS, OUR TEAM. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WE'RE HAPPY TO
SHARE INFORMATION WITH EVERYBODY. >> GAVITO: QUICK SHOUT OUT TO JESS COPELAND. HE'S AMAZING. OUR RESIDENTS LOVE HIM.
WE LOVE HIM. HE'S AMAZING. >> I SHARE A FLOOR WITH ALL OF THEM AND THEY ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
>> GAVITO: ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD. ON SLIDE 10, I SAW THAT DISTRICT 7 WAS THE LOWEST FOR THE STEP INCENTIVES. DO WE KNOW WHY? IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN PARTICULAR TO HELP CHANGE THAT NUMBER?
>> I THINK IT WAS THE PROGRAMS THAT THOSE CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATED IN.
WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
AT A HIGH LEVEL, LOOKING AT WHAT I HAD, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE DRIVEN -- THE PARTICIPATION WAS DRIVEN BY HVAC TUNEUPS AND THERMOSTATS.
SO THE INCENTIVE PER THERMOSTAT IS LESS THAN OF COURSE A WHOLE-HOME WEATHERIZATION. WHILE PARTICIPATION WAS HIGH AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THESE PROGRAMS, THE INCENTIVES PER MEASURE WERE LOWER.
>> GAVITO: WE'RE EAGER TO HELP CHANGE THAT ON THIS METRIC AS WELL.
THE INNOVATION HUB SEEMS LIKE A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT LOCAL INNOVATORS AND START-UPS SO WE WANT TO PROMOTE ANY OF THOSE UPCOMING EVENTS OR THINGS THAT Y'ALL HAVE. THAT SOUNDS EXCITING. ON SLIDE 17, ANOTHER SHOUT OUT. WE JUST APPOINTED OUR NEW COMMUNITY INPUT MEMBER, JOHN WATSON. HE'S AN AMAZING DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT AND HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. HE HAD RECENTLY ADVOCATED FOR CPS ENERGY -- I HAVE HIS LONG, COMPLEX, AND VERY TECHNICAL E-MAIL. BUT HE HAD ADVOCATED FOR CPS ENERGY SUPPORTING A MICROGRID BATTERY STORAGE PILOT TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY BASED OFF OF THE LAST STORM. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED?
>> RESILIENCY, THE TOPIC OF RESILIENCY IS BEING CONSIDERED IN THE NEXT
ITERATION. >> GAVITO: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE MICROGRID BATTERY
STORAGE PILOT. >> JOHN'S BEEN A FANTASTIC MEMBER TO THE AUDIO] WORKING GROUP SESSION AND I THINK THE FULL COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING PUTTING A PROPOSAL TOGETHER THROUGH THAT INNOVATION HUB. WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT
THROUGH THE CIC SOON. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATT.
I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE US TO EXPLORE THAT OR TALK TO JOHN, AT THE VERY LEAST, TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT CAN OR CAN'T BE DONE. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING HE HAS ADVOCATED FOR FOR A WHILE. OTHER THAN THAT, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEXT ITERATION OF STEP AND, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY EAGER TO
HELP OUT WITH THIS. THANKS SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO THE CPS TEAM FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY WITH THE STEP PROGRAM. I KNOW THE CREW TEAM AND ANDREW, IN PARTICULAR, IS ALWAYS ENGAGING WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
IF ANYONE COMES IN FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE, HE'S ALWAYS WALKING THEM THROUGH THE MENU OF OPTIONS THEY MAY QUALIFY FOR. I JUST APPRECIATE ANDREW AND OF COURSE ELIAS IS HIS SUB. WE ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE HIS ON THE GROUND EFFORT, MEETING OUR RESIDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT AND BEING IN OUR FIELD OFFICE.
JUST CONNECTING THEM. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY EVENT YOU HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS SO MUCH VALUE WITH THAT INITIATIVE.
YOU ALL HAD ANY REBATE PROGRAM WITH ITS TABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT EACH REBATE PROGRAM. JUST REALLY FOUND A LOT OF VALUE.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE REBATE PROGRAMS YOU ALL OFFER.
WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH VALUE. I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SOME OF Y'ALL'S TEAM MEMBERS, WHO I TYPICALLY DON'T SEE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE NUMBERS RUNNING THE DATA. JUST A GREAT EVENT AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT POINT. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND YOU ALL HIGHLIGHTING THE INITIATIVE TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE BARRIERS WITH PROGRAMS. AND LOOK AT THE SLIDE WHICH HAS DISTRICT 5 AS ONE OF THE LOWEST PARTICIPATION WITH THE PROGRAMS AND SPEAKING TO ANDREW UNDERSTANDING WHAT SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS MAY BE, TO PARTICIPATION, I'M THINKING OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE REBATE PROGRAM. SOMETHING I HOPE YOU CONSIDER, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ELIGIBILITY AND THE PROJECT TIMELINE.
[01:15:02]
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH ONE OF THE REBATE PROGRAMS, APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MUST BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK.PROJECT MUST BE COMPLETED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1ST AND JANUARY 31ST.
BUT THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS THE 30 DAYS OF COMPLETION THAT THE DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED. FOR MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEY'RE OFTEN HAVING TO PLAN THEIR TRIP TO OUR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. GRATEFUL WHEN ANDREW CAN MEET THEM AT THEIR HOME.
I HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE OFTEN WE HAVE RESIDENTS COMING IN TO SCAN, PRINT, AND MAKE COPIES OF DOCUMENTS. I THINK BY EXPANDING THAT 30-DAY WINDOW IT WOULD ALLOW MORE D5 RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SCAN AND MAKE COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR THE REBATE PROGRAMS. I WAS LOOKING AT THE OCTOBER REPORT FOR STEP THAT YOU ALL PRESENTED. I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS, PRIMARILY FOR -- I THINK IT'S FOR SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES. I'M TRYING TO FIND THE SLIDE. SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE HEAT MAP AND THE DOTS. I WOULD BE CURIOUS -- I UNDERSTAND EDGEWOOD RECEIVED AN A + AWARD FOR BEING A GOOD PARTNER IN ENERGY SAVINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THOSE SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE UTILIZING THE PROGRAMS AND HELPING US REDUCE OUR ENERGY USAGE CITYWIDE.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS AS WELL -- AND I UNDERSTAND FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY BUCKET, THAT'S ALL PRECINCTS AND IT'S NOT DISTRICT SPECIFIC SO I DO SEE HOW THE ACCUMULATION IS MUCH HIGHER. IS IT PRIMARILY -- LIKE, WHICH INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOLS ARE UTILIZING THE REBATES? FOR ME, IT CAN HELP INFORM THE CONVERSATIONS I'M HAVING WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND JUST THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO COME TO LET DISTRICT TO UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES.
I DID WANT TO SHIFT OVER TO DOUG, IF I MAY. I KNOW OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND SCALE UP STEP PROGRAMS. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE IDENTIFIED ANYTHING THAT, AS COUNCIL, WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING HERE IN THIS CONVERSATION TO POTENTIALLY EXPAND AND/OR CONTINUE TO JUST SEE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK.
>> YES, COUNCILWOMAN. WE ARE ENGAGED WITH CPS ENERGY.
THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SA CLIMATE READY 2035 PLANNING PROCESS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY GAN DISCUSSING THE NEED TO ALIGN STEP WITH WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THAT PLAN. IT'S A GREAT TOOLBOX. AS THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED, I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COORDINATING AND THOSE PRIORITIES THAT
ARE BUBBLING UP ARE BUILT INTO STEP 3.0. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'LL SEGUE OVER TO THE CIC. JULIAN, GRATEFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. HE'S ALSO WORKED ON THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN.
HE PROVIDES US WITH A BUNCH OF -- EVERYONE VALUES HIS LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION ON THE CIC. AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE CONTINUES TO ASK THAT WE HIGHLIGHT IS HOW WE'RE TRACKING IN TERMS OF OUR STEP GOALS AND HOW THEY'RE HELPING US MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING FOR SUSTAINABILITY TO TAKE ON IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW
WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT TO COMMUNITY AND/OR CPS. >> I COULD ALSO HAD TO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN. YES, WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH CPS NOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR GOALS AND TARGETS ARE FOR THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THEIR PROGRAMS. AND THOSE CAN BE BUILT INTO OUR CLIMATE MODEL.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS THEY IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS, WE KNOW WHAT THOSE BENEFITS ARE
GOING TO BE FOR THIS CLIMATE PLAN. >> CASTILLO: AWESOME.
SOUNDS GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> WE TALK WITH DOUG A LOT.
>> CASTILLO: I APPRECIATE THAT. I DID ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT --E THE 25% UNITS OF AFFORDABILITY. BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE, IF POSSIBLE, TO SEE WHO ARE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX -- THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND/OR DEVELOPER THAT OWNS THE MULTIFAMILY UNITS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. I WOULD ENCOURAGE -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, ONE, TO COMMUNICATE TO THE DEVELOPERS AND MULTIFAMILY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VALUE IF THEY DO NEED WEATHERIZATION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT FURTHER SUBSIDIZING MARKET RATE WHEN IT COMES TO NEW CONSTRUCTION. AGAIN, IF WE ARE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE THAN 25% AS THE REQUIRED. BUT AGAIN, UNDERSTAND AND GRATEFUL WE ARE WEATHERIZING APARTMENTS. I GUESS THAT'S AN NHSD HOUSING CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF THE AFFORDABILITY GOING BEYOND 25%. I JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THIS INITIATIVE. AGAIN, ANDREW GIVES GREAT INSIGHT AS TO WHY FOLKS MAY
[01:20:03]
NOT QUALIFY FOR PROGRAMS. I'M HOPEFUL YOU ALL CAN CONSIDER EXPANDING THE TIMELINE TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATIONS. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FINDINGS AS TO WHY DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS MAY NOT BE QUALIFYING OR PARTICIPATINGIN THE PROGRAMS? >> WE CAN TAKE A CLOSER LO LOOK.
>> CASTILLO: APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. GREAT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. HOPEFULLY THIS WAS A GOOD SOURCE OF FEEDBACK AND APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON THE STATUS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS 3:26. WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PLEASE ENSURE WE HAVE A QUORUM SO WE CAN FORMALLY HAVE THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.