For a company that touts itself as a “trusted and reliable community partner,” San Antonio-owned utility CPS Energy has some explaining to do. Recent reporting shows that the utility still owes certain energy suppliers roughly $350 million from purchases it committed to during Winter Storm Uri over 4 years ago.
But rather than honoring its contractual obligations, it’s now attempting to shirk its responsibilities in the court of law and have hardworking taxpayers flip the bill.
Texas has always been a model for fairness and transparency – especially when it comes to honoring financial commitments. Its allowed our state to become the national leader in new investment projects and the eighth-largest economy in the world. Texans know that when promises are made, they should be kept – whether it’s a business contract, a family obligation, or an energy bill.
That same standard should be applied to publicly owned utilities that operate off the paychecks of its consumers. CPS has taken numerous energy companies to court claiming that the price it paid to keep the lights on during the winter storm was too expensive. And yet as the utility unwisely continues to punt the ball on paying their obligations, interest on those services accrues monthly, rolling directly to the monthly bills of its over one million consumers.
Texans deserve better. Public entities like CPS Energy should be held to the same standard they impose on households and small businesses. You can’t demand fiscal responsibility from others while refusing to practice it yourself.
It’s time for real accountability—not just for private actors, but for the public institutions who failed the people they were supposed to serve.
San Antonians should hold CPS accountable and demand they become a fair broker in the marketplace. Period.
Over the next several weeks, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility will raise awareness on this critical issue by informing consumers via text, as well as through radio announcements. San Antonians deserve to know where their money is going, and how it being mishandled by those who hold the keys to their electricity.
Demand accountability from CPS here.
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