News Story

As a community-owned utility, CPS Energy is committed to supporting individuals and families who may need bill assistance this holiday season. With over 82,000 customers enrolled in payment plans, CPS Energy continues to provide programs designed to ease the burden of utility bills.

 CPS Energy offers around 13 different billing assistance programs. The holidays can be a stressful time for many, and these programs are here to help customers navigate financial challenges.

The Affordability Discount Program (ADP)

ADP offers low-income customers a monthly discount on electric and gas services. To qualify for this program, your household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, and you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be 60 years old or older.
• Have a disability.
• Use life-sustaining medical equipment.
• Have pre-school aged children or school children age 18 and under.
• Have extenuating circumstances as determined by CPS Energy or the City of San Antonio.

For more details on how to apply, visit the ADP webpage.

Budget Payment Plan

The Budget Payment Plan helps balance out energy costs by averaging your annual bill and dividing it into equal monthly payments. Your account will be periodically reviewed for any necessary updates based on environmental factors, changing fuel costs, and usage.

Nearly 35,000 CPS Energy residential customers use the Budget Payment Plan. For more information, visit the Budget Payment Plan webpage here.

In addition, customers who need help managing past-due balances can apply for a modified budget payment plan. This plan breaks past-due amounts into manageable installments, which are added to the monthly Budget Payment Plan payments. To apply, simply log into your CPS Energy account.

Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP)

Established in 2002, REAP is a partnership between CPS Energy, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County. CPS Energy contributes $1 million annually to the REAP fund and raises additional funds throughout the year to help those in need. Earlier this year, the CPS Energy Board of Trustees approved the expansion of REAP to offer billing support for more customers. As part of this expansion, the utility also made a one-time $6 million contribution from the utility’s summer 2023 wholesale revenues.

You may qualify for REAP assistance if:

• Your household income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines.
• You live in San Antonio or Bexar County.
• You meet at least one of the following: are 60 years or older, disabled, have children under age 16 living in your home, or require critical-care equipment.

To learn more, visit the REAP webpage.

Are you looking for a way to give back this holiday season?

Last year, CPS Energy updated its Energy Angel program. This program allows you to make a difference by donating anonymously to a CPS Energy account holder to help them with a payment toward their bill. You can make a one-time donation to the general Energy Angels fund, which helps those who may not qualify for REAP. Alternatively, you can make a direct donation to a specific individual by providing two of the following details:

• Address of the recipient
• Phone number of the recipient
• CPS Energy account number of the recipient

In addition to these programs, CPS Energy offers assistance for critical care customers, disabled citizens, senior citizens, veterans, and first responders. Visit the payment and assistance webpage for a complete list of available programs.  

How to get help

Assistance programs can make a meaningful difference to families in need. If you or someone you know needs assistance this holiday season, call CPS Energy at (210) 353-2222. Energy Advisors are ready to answer questions on assistance programs and offer resources to help customers.