CPS Energy workshop highlights powerful partnerships with potential to change lives
Good teamwork produces winning results for sports teams. The same goes for CPS Energy and community partners that are interested in improving the quality of life for people in our community. Our team members frequently encounter customers who share they have various personal needs that go beyond helping them with an energy bill. Our team members in Community & Key Accounts Engagement and Customer Success stand ready to connect customers to other agencies that can help them with specific needs like food, clothing, healthcare services and more. These powerful partnerships with our community partners create an opportunity to change the lives of our customers.
Recently, CPS Energy hosted more than a dozen of our community partners, including SAWS, nonprofit organizations like SAMMinistries, and Bexar County and city officials for an agency appreciation and education event at our Energy Management Center. Maria Garcia, Vice President of Community & Key Accounts Engagement, said the Inaugural Partners in Power Workshop put CPS Energy’s People First philosophy into action, bringing these partners together to better serve our customers and community.
“There is more power when you bring more community agencies together,” said Maria. “When we work together, we’re able to make a greater difference.”
At the event, agencies learned about customer assistance and billing programs, the Customer Response Unit (CRU), safety and more. CRU, a specialized team that works directly with City Council, is constantly looking for ways to connect customers to partner agencies. The seven team members of the mobile unit travel throughout our service territory to meet one-on-one with customers to troubleshoot bill issues, help them enroll in assistance programs, and connect them to other community resources that can improve their quality of life.
Jacob Minjarez, who works for Shirley Gonzales at the City Council District 5 Office, said CRU provides a direct way of quickly and efficiently helping a citizen in need. Jacob praised Branden Dross, the Community Field Service Representative of CRU assigned to District 5.
“Branden is phenomenal,” Jacob said. “He goes out of his way to call the constituents for us. It makes our constituents feel like CPS Energy really is a company that the citizens own and that we take care of them like family.”
Jacob also shared his appreciation for the event because it allowed his team to directly connect with CPS Energy and other agencies in the community.
“Thanks to CPS Energy for hosting this excellent event for us,” he said. “An event like this allows us to not only talk to CPS Energy, but to also network with SAWS and other (City Council) districts as well.”
CPS Energy team members were grateful for the opportunity to network with other agencies and organizations that serve our customers. Deepening these powerful partnerships ultimately provides more value to our customers and helps us quickly connect neighbors to community resources that will help them in their time of need. The teamwork among our community partners has the potential to make a difference and even change the lives of our customers. That’s what People First is all about.
Need help with an energy bill or want to find out more about emergency assistance programs that our community partners offer? Click here to get started.
