Yesterday, the Chamber’s Executive Committee directed Chamber staff to develop a policy statement opposing the CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System (SAWS) petition drives. The policy statement will be presented to the Board of Directors next Thursday for consideration.
A local coalition called Our Power PAC launched the “Recall CPS”
petition to overhaul CPS Energy. The petition calls for an election next May to amend the City Charter to include provisions applicable to CPS Energy, its management, and its policies in the public interest. Major provisions include:
- Making the Mayor and City Council the Board of Directors;
- Closing the Spruce coal-fired power plant by 2030 and removing coal entirely from their portfolio, as well as dropping fossil fuels, including natural gas, by 2040;
- Setting higher rates for residential and commercial customers who use more power, and lower rates for those that use less; and
- Establishing an advisory commission to review everything from policies and procedures, to types of fuel used, to billing, to rate structure.
The SAWS Act PAC also launched "The Saws Accountability Act"
petition which calls for an election next May to amend the City Charter to include provisions specifically applicable to SAWS and incorporate specific requirements related to management.
Major provisions include:
- Establishing term and pay limits for the General Manager;
- Term and pay limits for SAWS Trustees;
- Ethics and lobby reform; and
- Independent audits of projects valued at more than $1 billion, including Vista Ridge.
Only 20,000 signatures are required to get each of these propositions on the May 2021 ballot. Count on your Chamber to keep you updated on the actions taken by the Board of Directors next week. For more information, contact Stephanie Reyes, Vice President of Public Policy at 210-229-2162 or by email at sreyes@sachamber.org.
