The Board of the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership voted unanimously to approve the expansion of the assistance program to offer more support to a greater number of CPS Energy customers to cover their bills, the San Antonio, Texas, public power utility said on Aug. 26.
The Residential Energy Assistance Partnership is a non-profit established in 2002 through a partnership between CPS Energy, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County.
CPS Energy contributes $1 million annually directly to the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership fund and works throughout the year to raise additional funds for the program.
CPS Energy handles the program’s marketing, fundraising, and back-office administrative requirements.
The City of San Antonio and Bexar County manage the application process. This program is one of CPS Energy’s commitments to provide help to pay energy bills for customers who qualify for assistance.
Through the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership, qualified customers receive a credit on their CPS Energy bill and receive information about weatherization, low-cost to no-cost energy efficiency programs, senior citizen aid, and critical care assistance.
The Residential Energy Assistance Partnership maximum benefit for Bexar County residents outside San Antonio will increase from $400 to up to $1,200. Additionally, the income qualification criteria for the Federal Poverty Level will change from 125% to 150%.
This revised income qualifier will enable more customers to qualify and aligns with the change in qualifying FPL criteria made to CPS Energy’s Affordability Discount Program (ADP) earlier this year.
As part of this expansion and to increase the operation of the program, the utility will make a one-time $6 million contribution from the utility’s summer 2023 wholesale revenues.
The expansion was voted on during a special board meeting held on August 14. Bexar County and CPS Energy staff worked collaboratively to present the approved proposal to Residential Energy Assistance Partnership board members which includes Residential Energy Assistance Partnership Board President, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza who serves as the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership’s vice president and City of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg who serves as secretary/treasurer.
“Bexar County proposed changes to expand access to utility assistance. I want to thank CPS Energy and the City of San Antonio for collaborating to make this happen. We will work to ensure our most vulnerable neighbors take advantage of this program,” said Sakai.
“As part of Vision 2027, CPS Energy’s strategic plan, we are committed to supporting our community and being a good partner. By increasing support of REAP, in partnership with the City and the County, we are providing additional resources to those most in need,” said Garza.
“The expansion strengthens our community’s safety net by ensuring that more CPS Energy customers have access to assistance with their utility bills,” said Nirenberg. “REAP helps customers in unstable economic situations make ends meet, easing financial pressures and reducing the risk of crisis. These clearly merited changes will boost the entire community.”
