On Wednesday, your Chamber launched our latest advocacy push in support of our local utilities—the NOPE Campaign. This election season, two petitions are being circulated challenging the structure and efficiency of our publicly owned water and power companies in San Antonio, San Antonio Water System and CPS Energy. These petitions are incredibly misleading, filled with half-truths and fabrications, and only gain support through installing fear and doubt of two of the best run public utilities in the United States. Taking the first two letters of “No” and “Petition”, the NOPE initiative was born.
“These petitions, if they make it to the May ballot, will hurt the quality, value, and confidence we receive from CPS Energy and SAWS,” San Antonio Chamber President & CEO Richard Perez said. “When it comes to availability, affordability, and environmental conservation, our utilities are well-run, economically strong, help the most vulnerable, and have a steadfast commitment to the environment.”
Joining Richard at this press conference were President and CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Cristina Aldrete and President and CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Marina Gonzalez. All three speakers lauded the virtues and successes of SAWS and CPS Energy in all areas of focus, including cost, quality of service, environmental impact, and transparency. While there is still room for improvement, these petitions are not the solution best for San Antonio.
“Can we improve? And the answer of course is always yes,” Gonzalez said. “We always need to work together to find the best solution for our citizens. And that is exactly what CPS Energy and SAWS are doing. They’re working hard every day to make sure our community has what they need to succeed and survive.”
When it comes to supporting our public utilities, we let the facts speak for themselves. CPS Energy and SAWS both offer some of the lowest rates in the entire country, not just Texas. Additionally, both organizations offer affordability plans, so even the most economically disadvantaged residents will not have to worry about making payments on their electric and water bills. Particularly during COVID-19, neither company will turn off someone’s utility due to a missed payment and has no plans to resume doing so in the future.
When it comes to the quality of the power and water received, CPS and SAWS win again, with the former producing the largest amount of solar energy in the state and committing to cut carbon emissions by at least 80% in 20 years. All of this is made possible without a base rate increase for the last six years. Similarly, SAWS has held superior ratings from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) since 1936, dramatically reduced the anthropogenic stress put on the Edwards Aquifer, and secured water in San Antonio for the next 60 years without issue.
Accusations of mismanagement also fall through, as SAWS and CPS are not only financially sound but also generate millions of dollars annually through public works projects, infrastructure maintenance, community outreach, and high paying jobs—all while still maintaining the lowest rates in the country.
We implore our members and local residents to say NOPE to the petition drives targeting SAWS and CPS Energy. Changing our well-run utilities will be terrible for all San Antonians. Get the facts and learn the real impact of our public utilities by visiting www.nopetitionsa.com for more information.
