We appreciate that our dedication does not go unnoticed by you. In 2017, Market Strategies International (MSI), with your feedback, named us Most Trusted Brand among combined (gas and electric) utilities in the U.S. Southern region. MSI also recognized us as a 2017 Environmental Champion and a Residential Customer Champion.
Our commitment to serving you also resulted in many other significant awards and recognitions. A short list includes:
- Smart Electric Power Alliance’s (SEPA) Public Power Utility of the Year award for being forward thinking in new generation sources, and using technology on the grid to facilitate access to distributed energy resources;
- American Public Gas Association’s (APGA) System Operational Achievement Recognition for excellence in operation of our public natural gas system;
- Texas Public Power Association’s (TPPA) System Achievement award for enhancing the prestige of public power and improvements to customer service;
- 100 Best Fleets in the Americas (ranked 25th) for top performance improvement in the fleet industry.
We humbly received those honors during our 75th Anniversary year, and celebrated with a fundraiser luncheon benefitting our customers. Together with 1,000 community members, we raised nearly $200,000 for our Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP) program, which provides bill assistance for our customers in need.
While it was a celebratory year, 2017 also marked some significant weather events – tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes and snow. Locally, we weathered these storms fairly well but our neighbors needed help. Our crews answered the call to assist with power restoration efforts in South Texas and Florida. Our IT department joined the crews in Victoria to help get their technology infrastructure back up and running after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation.
For Hurricane Maria-ravaged Puerto Rico, we’re taking a leadership role in strategizing to make the Caribbean island’s power grid sustainable, while also providing boots-on-the-ground assistance with restoration. Whether crossing the sea or navigating flood-ravaged roads here in Texas, I’m proud to say we are committed to getting life back to normal for others after severe weather strikes.
I have the privilege of leading an amazing team at one of the nation’s greatest energy companies. I hope you see our heart for people and our community through our everyday actions. Whether we’re working to keep the lights on and gas flowing, donating thousands of toys so little ones in need can enjoy the holidays, rolling up our sleeves to save lives by donating blood, or reaching deep in our pockets to give $1.3 million to United Way agencies, it is our desire to make a difference in the lives of people.
We look forward to what this year holds for all of us as San Antonio observes her Tricentennial. Along with the successes detailed in this report, there are another 300 or more reasons to celebrate in our community that’s secretly cool and connected.
