Priorities: Questions for Councilwoman Havrda’s CPS Plan

Recently, San Antonio District 6 City Councilwoman Melissa Cabello-Havrda proposed a “bold,” “decisive,” “powerful” alternative to the likely request from CPS Energy to raise rates: decrease the city‘s take of its revenues from 14% to 11%. This is an interesting idea, but we have some questions.

First, a few months ago she said losing the entire 14% cut from proposed legislation in Austin would be “debilitating.” According to her plan, losing more than 1/5 of that is “negligible.” How does she get from there to here?

Second, in this exchange, CPS would “promise” not to raise rates. Last year, in order for her and former District 1 City Councilman Mario Bravo to sign-on to a rate hike, CPS pledged to undergo an audit. However, it took almost a year beyond deadlines for that to happen. Why should citizens have faith in this promise?

Third, she leans on their predictions of “more surpluses with increased usage due to extreme heat and colder winters.” How will that materialize though, if the Electric Reliability Council of Texas regularly asks us to conserve by lowering our thermostat?

Fourth, the benefit of these rate non-hikes will be partially shared by non-San Antonians. Why cut this ‘revenue’ source rather than ceasing to raise CoSA’s portion of property taxes (set to rise 7% after being hiked 8% last year)? Changing your thermostat is arguably less stressful than contemplating selling your home because soaring property taxes are breaking your personal bank.

And finally, when you also consider that San Antonio taxpayers are forced to pay for non-San Antonian enrollees at Ready to Work (which pays over $100K per staff and has $99M sitting in the bank), it’s hard not to wonder if we’re being taken from more than simply being allowed to keep more of what we earn/save.