CPS ENERGY CONTINUES FIGHT TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS FROM EXCESSIVE FUEL & PURCHASED POWER COSTS FROM FEBRUARY 2021 WINTER STORMS
FEBRUARY BILLS DO NOT INCLUDE EXORBITANT WINTER STORM CHARGES; COMPANY’S BILLING PROCESS TO RESUME MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021
(SAN ANTONIO) – March 5, 2021 – CPS Energy continues to fight for customers to keep their bills affordable while pursuing prudent business practices that ensure the utility and San Antonio remain financially stable and strong. CPS Energy will begin releasing the February 2021 bills on March 8, 2021. CPS Energy is currently assessing the validity of the additional fuel and purchased power costs from the winter storm and is currently not passing them through to customers.
As a precaution, CPS Energy officials suspended billing for customers on February 19 to confirm that energy bills did not, at this time, include any rate changes or fuel adjustment costs related to the historic winter storm, and to ensure that billed usage is based on actual meter reads and not estimations. That important step has been completed; February bills do not include any additional exorbitant fuel or purchased power charges from the winter storm.
Additionally, CPS Energy is also reviewing the accounts of customers who were most impacted by the February 2021 extreme winter storm and expects to provide helpful credits in those cases. The company’s credit plan will be announced in the next 30 to 45 days.
Electronic and paper bills will begin to be released on Monday, March 8. Depending on a customer’s billing cycle, it could take until Saturday, March 13, 2021 for a customer’s delayed bill to be sent. As a result, customers may receive their February bill close to their March bill. CPS Energy’s Energy Advisors are standing by to work with all customers to discuss their bills and to assist with helpful payment arrangements. Additionally, no late fees will be charged to customers for their February bills or in the case of a customer being on a payment plan.
AutoPay was reinstated on February 26, 2021. Customers wishing to stop automatic payments can cancel AutoPay through Manage My Account or by calling CPS Energy at 210-353-6110.
“We know our community is concerned about their bills and we want them to know we’re here to help and protect them. We are assuring customers that their February bills are accurate and do not currently include any extreme weather-related fuel & purchased power expenses,” said Paula GoldWilliams, President & CEO of CPS Energy. “While we must and will pay all justified and legitimate business costs, our CPS Energy team will continue to fight to maintain our commitment to Affordability.”
CPS Energy is taking steps to mitigate customers’ future bills from the potential impacts of the storm-related fuel costs. There are multiple mitigation options being considered and pursued, including:
- Federal and State financial assistance;
- Regulatory intervention;
- Policy help at the Federal & State level; and
- Negotiation and other actions, as needed.
Information was shared this week on CPS Energy’s actions to mitigate and protect customers against extreme costs from the February 2021 weather disaster.
CPS Energy is committed to Customer Assistance
CPS Energy’s suspension of energy disconnections announced in March of 2020 is still in effect and late fees are waived on unpaid balances for customers who participate in a payment plan. Customers who are experiencing a financial hardship are encouraged to promptly contact the utility’s knowledgeable Energy Advisors for information about a variety of available money-saving and general assistance programs, as well as to learn about community resources for utility bill assistance. Customers with questions about how to read energy bills can find help here or by calling 210-353-2222.
The Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP) is a partnership of CPS Energy, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. REAP provides energy bill assistance twice a year to those in need. REAP gifts are tax deductible contributions and benefit customers at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines. Giving to REAP is easy. Customers can add a few dollars to their utility payment and indicate that amount, whether paying online or by paper, or can use the “Donate to REAP” link on the CPS Energy website to donate by debit or credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay. Mobile donations can also be made by texting “REAPSATX” to 41444.
The utility’s new Energy Angels program fills a need not currently met by REAP. The Energy Angels program allows an individual to give the gift of energy to a specific individual or business account. This financial gift is not tax deductible, but the recipient is not required to meet an income-qualifying threshold. The gift will appear on the recipient’s bill as a credit to their account. “Energy Angels,” the company’s term for the passionate and caring gift-givers who want to and can do more to help others, can notify their recipient about the gift or choose to remain anonymous.
To help customers during the COVID-19 pandemic and winter storm disaster, CPS Energy is actively making phone calls to customers to share bill assistance and REAP information with them. Customers can also call 210-353-2222 directly or visit cpsenergy.com/assistance.
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