issue 3 2014
energy efficiency: E M P LOY E E S S H A R E T H E I R S TO R I E S
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS • SMART METER ROLLOUT • SUMMER JOHNSON • C ASA VERDE
CPS Energy employees and IBEW Local 500 just completed another successful United Way Campaign! This year’s campaign kicked off with testimonies from USO veterans and Girl Scout representatives. Girl Scout cookies offered a morning snack for the event at Arneson River Theatre. Pictured (L to R): Pete Mejia; Ann Martinez, Manny Pacheco and Danny Mermea.
EDITOR Scott Wudel ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Barbara Burris Michael Freberg Eduardo Flores Frank Jimenez PHOTOGRAPHY Roy Galvan Vincent McDonald Sam Taylor
AREA REPORTERS Bailey, Donna K.; Boswell Pardo, Leona; Calderon, Gloria; De Hoyos, Madalena R.; Engel, Elizabeth M; Ford, Paula A.; Gabriel, Erica A.; Gil, Linda C.; Gomez, (Lalie) Oralia S.; Gomez, Yvonne M;
5 Energy Efficiency: Practicing What We Preach by Scott Wudel
Mike Ward, other employees take advantage of our energy efficiency programs to save on their bill.
Hacker, Katherine; Hight, Patty E; Huerta, Sandra E.; Jarzombek, Katherine D.; Lopez, Eunice A; Martinez, Veronica L;
7 Casa Verde by Sam Taylor
Casa Verde makes customers’ lives more affordable and comfortable.
9 Aim. Focus. Shoot.
Zoom in to see this year’s Vacation Photo Contest winners.
Miller, Christine R.; Moreno, Jo Ann; Myers, Denae A; Nieto, Cindy; Reisdorph, Ronda J; Sandoval, Maria L.; Torres, Juanita E.;
25 Even in adversity, one employee stands ready to ‘KTF’ by Pam Maris
Trevino, Michelle; Van Der Knaap, Rachel; Vines, Bonnie S.; Ware, Elizabeth P. (Patty)
Summer Johnson fought cancer with poetic words of wisdom. 4 11 15 17 19 20 21
Smar t Meter Milestone Wellness Family Ties Scene Up the Ladder / Welcome Aboard / In Remembrance Tidbits Anniversaries
LINES is produced by the CPS Energy Corporate Communications. Mail all correspondence to Lines, Mail Drop 11 02 01, P.O. Box 1771, San Antonio, Texas, 78296, or call ext. 2546 or 4125.
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SMART METER MILESTONE
by tracy idell hamilton
will wirelessly send your energy use data to CPS Energy several times a day through a communications network -- the foundation of the smart grid.
A Corix technician installs one of the first electric smart meters.
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all it a milestone. Call it moving forward. Either way, CPS Energy took another step toward implementing its Smart Grid initiative in August with the installation of our first smart meter. The meters are part of our $290 million Smart Grid Initiative, a major upgrade to our community’s electrical system that will increase electric and gas reliability, boost efficiency, better integrate renewable sources of power into the grid, reduce emissions, increase customer privacy, and give you more control over the energy you buy. As part of that effort, we’ll be installing about 740,000 new electric meters,
and adding a smart module to roughly 340,000 existing gas meters -- basically upgrading every customer’s connection to the smart grid. Calling something “smart” -- like that fancy phone in your pocket or purse -is basically shorthand for the Internetlike communication capabilities so many devices now possess. A smart grid allows for automated, remote two-way communication between CPS Energy and the smart meters on customer homes and businesses. That means no more sending a meter reader tromping into each and every customer’s yard, manually recording the spinning dials on the mechanical meter once a month. The smart meter
Starting in 2015, that energy use data will also be available to customers through a secure online web page that will let them see and track their energy use as recently as the previous day. That puts the power in their hands. Customers will be able to review their bill at any time during the current billing cycle. They will have the ability to better manage the energy they buy and decide whether or not to leave a light on or adjust their thermostat. It also means they won’t have to call us when their power goes out. The smart grid will include equipment that will instantly detect outages, and in some cases, we’ll be able to resolve them remotely. We’ve started installation in four areas of San Antonio: the central business district; a northwest area outside Loop 410 between Bandera Road and Ellison Drive; an area east of Hwy. 281 between IH-35 and Loop 410; and an area south of Hwy. 90 that straddles IH-35. In 2015, we’ll start on other neighborhoods within the Loop 410 area. When all that’s complete, we’ll fan out through suburban cities until every customer is upgraded, by 2018.
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Energy Efficiency P R A C T I C I N G
W H AT
W E
P R E A C H
BY S COT T W U D E L
M i k e Wa r d t a k e s a d v a n t a g e o f o u r e n e r g y efficienc y programs to save on his bill.
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Elaine Crea has a two-story house and an air conditioning unit that’s 22 years old. Surely, her energy bill must by sky high, right? Nope. The analyst in Power Generation has heard the company line on energy efficiency over the last few years and walks the talk. She says the monthly bill on her 2,400 square foot home is around $150. That’s pretty good. How does she do it? Elaine uses CPS Energy’s Home Manager energy management system and also practices what we preach – she turns off lights and ceiling fans in rooms when they’re not being used and sets up a daily schedule for her programmable thermostat. She admits to being a “conservative geek” when it comes to using and saving energy. “I signed up immediately for the Home Manager Program when it was announced. I love that I can control my air conditioner and electric water heater settings to conform to my work/life schedule,” she says. “I have noticed a considerable decrease in my energy bills.” Elaine leaves for work every day at 5:30 a.m. Her thermostat is programmed above 80 degrees during the day but falls to 78 degrees and has her home comfortably cool just before she returns home 12 hours later. “I love Home Manager and can say that with this program and our Budget Payment Plan, I know exactly what to expect on my bill every month,” she says. Kathy Yates, who recently retired from our legal department, also is a big fan. She worked on the agreement a few years ago that made Home Manager a reality for CPS Energy. Kathy said she became intrigued with the idea of using technology to lower her bill. The question was, would her husband feel the same?
“He got a chance to try it and he loved it. It saves us about $50 a month, and he knew it could make me happy,” Kathy recalls. “He understands the philosophy of ‘happy wife -- happy life.’ ” That technology came in handy for the Yates last November. They were vacationing in Aruba when an early cold spell struck San Antonio. A pet sitter Kathy hired to stay with her three dogs and two cats dialed long distance to report that Kathy’s home had become frigid for all. Without hesitation, her husband pulled out his smart phone, opened the Home Manager app, and turned on the heat from more than 2,000 miles away. Problem solved. Technology worked once for Kathy, so she tried it again with a new gadget – a Cool Energy SmartAC Kit. This device simply hooks up to a window or portable AC unit and allows users to control the unit through a smart phone or computer. So Kathy uses Home Manager to monitor her whole home during the day, but uses the SmartAC Kit to control a portable air unit in her kitchen where her pets stay while she’s away.
Therefore, it was not built to be energy efficient,” Mike says. “However, I have reduced my energy bill more than 50 percent through a variety of improvements. The improvements were made possible by budgeting carefully and taking advantage of our rebates.” For Mike, energy saving is more than just a monthly budget item. It’s a long-term plan. “Starting can be difficult because you have to spend money in order to save money,” he says. “However, it becomes exciting when you start to see the results on the monthly bill. ” “It also is part of my retirement strategy. I plan on getting my home as efficient as possible to help control future expenses.” If you’re interested in saving energy and money, go to cpsenergysavers.com, check out our rebates and other programs, and reap the rewards many of your coworkers already have.
“I don’t know why folks don’t have these programs,” Kathy says. “For me, it’s so easy. I like to support our company and its products.” Mike Ward is in the rebate business. As a program manager in Customer Solutions and Delivery, he tracks our products and programs to make sure they are effective for the customer and the company. Mike has taken advantage of energy efficiency rebates for refrigerator recycling, natural gas appliances, a window air unit and for solar panels on his home. “The main challenge I have is that the home was built a long time ago. Elaine Crea keeps tabs on her home e n e rg y u s e w i t h H o m e Ma n a g e r.
Casa Verde: Making customers’ lives more affordable and comfortable by sam taylor 7
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any of us can escape a hot summer day by simply staying indoors in our comfor table, air-conditioned homes. But for Carolyn Reed and her family, there was no escape from the heat. Reed’s east side home, built over 80 years ago, lacked insulation to retain a cool, comfor table environment. Cracks on doors and walls created air leaks that kept the inside temperature of her 900-square foot home in the 80s. The winter months were equally challenging. “My house was super hot in the summer and freezing in the winter,” said Reed. “I had to wear coats to bed because it was so cold.” The conditions were miserable and expensive. And, Reed didn’t have money to invest in energy efficiency. She turned to our Casa Verde program, applying at a customer care fair last year. The free program offers an average of $5,000 of insulation and other energy saving measures. Employees of the Casa Verde weatherization team began walking Reed through a four-step process. The team reviewed her proof of income and other documentation to confirm her eligibility. Then, a contractor assessed her home to make sure it was structurally sound and could benefit from weatherization. The contractor identified needed energy efficiency improvements and gave the thumbs up for work to begin.
Reed received attic and wall insulation, weather stripping to doors and windows, and solar screens. A new vented wall furnace combined with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors made her home safe and energy efficient. “I was just amazed at ever ything they did,” said Reed. “They did ever ything in a timely manner and I love all the improvements they made to my home. The crew was ver y nice and cour teous to us.” The Casa Verde team inspected the work to confirm it was complete and done with quality. Reed had hoped the program would help but didn’t imagine how much. “My house is so comfor table now. It stays cool in the summer and keeps me warm in the winter,” she said. “I was paying close to $200 in the summer, but now I’m paying about half as much. This program is such a blessing.” Reed is one of about 5,200 customers that the Casa Verde team has helped since the program star ted in 2009. Customers can apply at anytime and, when approved, weatherization work takes an average of 12 to 15 days to complete. This year, the team is working to weatherize thousands of more homes in San Antonio and the surrounding cities we ser ve. More than 175 customers applied during our Energy Savings & Tech Tour events last summer. A phone bank held at Univision in Aug. resulted in more than 400 customer contacts and thousands of calls. Events are planned this fall in City Council
districts 2 and 5 to reach more residents. Casa Verde is par t of the Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP), which aims at reducing the growth in our community’s demand for electricity by 771 megawatts (MW) – the output of a large power plant by 2020. Rober t Mar tinez, weatherization manager, said his team enjoys helping improve the quality of life for customers like Reed while also achieving our company goals. “Casa Verde is a program that puts a smile on ever yone’s face. It’s a win-win for us and the community,” said Mar tinez. “We get to help reduce energy demand while making our customers’ lives more affordable, comfor table, and a bit less stressful.” Mar tinez encourages employees to tell those who might qualify about the program, acknowledging that it’s sometimes hard to get people to sign up for free stuff. “The old adage of ‘if it’s too good to be true, it is’ doesn’t apply to Casa Verde. There are no strings attached, no lien on the customer’s home, no loans to pay back – nothing. If you qualify, weatherization can truly reduce your bill.” “November and December are usually slow months, so now is a great time to apply. The work can be done quickly.” If you or someone you know qualifies for Casa Verde, visit cpsenergysavers.com to apply today! 8
aim. focus. shoot. la nd sc ap e
1 ST PLACE
MELISSA PENA
2 ND PLACE
FINANCIAL QUALITY ASSURANCE
EMILY SPEED J . K . S P RU C E P L A N T
my san an ton io
1 ST PLACE (TIE)
RANDY RAMOS S E C U R I T Y O P E R AT I O N S
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1 ST PLACE (TIE)
MICHAEL SPENCE
E N E RG Y M A N AG E M E N T C E N T E R
Here we go again. Summer is over and your coworkers got out and about with their cameras. Again, we asked for you to provide your favorite summer images as part of Lines annual employee photo contest. This year, the contest was expanded to four categories. A team for Corporate Communications judged all of the entries. Check out the top two picks in each category. Thanks to all of those amateur photographers who participated.
Texas places & landmarks
1 ST PLACE
MICHAEL SPENCE
2 ND PLACE
RANDY RAMOS S E C U R I T Y O P E R AT I O N S
E N E RGY M A N AG E M E N T C E N T E R
unique/humorous
1 ST PLACE
JOAO ROQUE
N O RT H S I D E C U S TO M E R S E RV I C E C E N T E R
2 ND PLACE
TAMMY NEIL J.K. SPRUCE PL ANT
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WELLNESS Get moving. Eat right. See the easy things you can do to improve your health and well being.
Pictured L to R: Shannon Wagner, Roy Elizondo (retiree), Mike Flick, Chris Stender, Joey Dombrowski, Tich Aguirre and Jeff Ng
OFF THE COUCH AND ONTO THE COURT! At first glance, Roy Elizondo appears to have a quiet, gentle demeanor. But as the old adage says, looks can be deceiving. Once the recently retired senior manager of risk management services is positioned on the tennis court, his game face is on and he’s ready to start swinging. Elizondo first became interested in the sport about 20 years ago, after receiving “a little encouragement” from his spouse. “My wife gave me a tennis racket and some lessons for my birthday because, according to her, I was becoming a couch potato,” he recalls. 11
But it wasn’t until about two years ago – when Elizondo was chatting around the water cooler with fellow tennis enthusiasts Shannon Wagner and Mike Flick – that the idea of starting a CPS Energy tennis team was served up. “We’re passionate about tennis and thought it’d be a great way to network and build relationships with other people in the company, while also getting people moving and exercising,” says Wagner, who took up the sport some 10 years ago. Since then, she has joined both non-USTA (United States Tennis Association) progressive and USTA leagues, having reached the semi-finals and finals in several local and state tournaments as a doubles
player in both the women’s and mixed divisions. “Just this year I was moved up to a higher USTA level, so I expect to be losing in this bracket for a couple of years,” she says with a laugh. To improve her game, the strategic research and innovation manager is working to put a greater top-spin on her forehand return, plus be less predictable when serving and more aggressive at the net. Wielding a Head YouTek™ racket at a recent match at downtown’s McFarlin tennis complex, Flick says he began playing when he was just 8 years old. He eventually played for his high school team in Houston, and later at Southwestern University in Georgetown. The seasoned player and financial services analyst 3 says he fashions his courtside moves after his favorite tennis pros, John McEnroe and Roger Federer. Like Flick, Joey Dombrowski also was on a high school tennis team but hung up his racket after graduating. About eight years ago, he found himself back in the game. “I was relatively new to the company [CPS Energy] when I was invited to play by a colleague in my department. It was probably the first time I picked up a racket in more than 10 years,” says the manager of database services. “It’s now become my consistent form of exercise, the one I actually look forward to doing.” Dombrowski and Flick are also USTA league members. But you don’t have to be a USTA member or a seasoned player to join the CPS Energy tennis team. It’s open to anyone and everyone, no matter your level of play. “Some of the guys who come out are really good and are patient and very willing to coach or help you out, if you
need it,” says Wagner. She says that the team even has extra equipment, so those interested in coming out just need sneakers, a hat, sunscreen and a water jug. And if you’re participating in the Virgin Pulse Walk Program [part of CPS Energy’s Wellness program], don’t forget to bring your pedometer to ramp up your steps! “It’s fun exercise, and I’ve made so many friends,” adds Wagner. “I really dislike running on a treadmill, and after about 20 minutes I’m done with gym equipment. With tennis, I can play for 2 hours before I’m ready to quit.” The CPS Energy tennis team meets up at the courts the third Wednesday of every month, usually at San Antonio College or McFarlin because of their central location and number of available courts. Players should note that McFarlin does charge a court fee of around $6 per person. If you’re interested in joining the group, contact Wagner at smwagner@cpsenergy.com or Flick at maflick@cpsenergy.com.
PREDIABETES: A CALL TO ACTION
the cells can’t use glucose unless they also have insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. Having prediabetes means your body isn’t making enough insulin and/or has trouble using the insulin it produces. This causes sugar to build up in your blood, and may cause lasting damage to your blood vessels and increase your risk of heart disease and other harmful conditions. HOW WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE PREDIABETES? You probably won’t know you have prediabetes unless you get tested. You can have diabetes without knowing it because many symptoms can come on so gradually that you may not notice them. A blood test can show if your blood sugar, or plasma glucose, is above normal. The American Diabetes Association says anyone age 45 and older should be tested. If you’re younger than 45 and overweight, your doctor may want you to be tested if you have any other risk factors for diabetes, such as: high blood pressure or high triglycerides; a history of heart disease; a parent or sibling with diabetes; a history of gestational diabetes or having given
birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds; polycystic ovary syndrome; or belonging to a high-risk ethnic group including African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander. PREVENTING DIABETES An estimated 26 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Another 79 million have prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, there’s a good chance that you’ll get diabetes within the next 10 years unless you take steps to prevent it. Research has found that diabetes can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes such as these: • Lose some weight. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of your weight can make a big difference in your blood sugar. • Boost your physical activity. Moderate exercise, like walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can lower your blood sugar and also help you lose weight. Just making these two changes can cut your risk of getting diabetes by more than half, and can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about how to start exercising and making healthy food choices that can help you lose weight. Source: UnitedHealthcare
If you’ve been told you have prediabetes, it’s time to take control of your condition and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Although prediabetes is not yet diabetes, it tends to get worse over time and it’s a warning sign that type 2 diabetes may lie ahead. Prediabetes means your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be called diabetes. Your body’s cells need glucose (sugar) for energy. But 12
WELLNESS HOW THE BENEFITS WELLNESS PROGRAM CAN HELP The benefits Wellness Program has partnered with YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program and Metro Health’s Diabetes Self Management Program to help employees take control of their health. These programs are at no cost to CPS Energy employees, and each program can be held onsite as long as 10 employees at the location qualify for the respective program. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is available to employees who are prediabetic. This 12-month program is currently being offered at Main Office and Northside Customer Service Center. It consists of 1-hour sessions for 16 weeks, followed by monthly sessions led by a trained lifestyle coach. Employees discuss topics such as healthy eating, increasing physical activity, reducing stress, problem solving, and much more. What’s more, the YMCA provides a FREE seven-month YMCA gym membership for participants that stay engaged and meet attendance requirements. The Metro Health Self Management Program, available to employees with type 2 diabetes, is a series of six healthy living workshops. Participants of these workshops meet once a week for approximately 2½ hours, after normal working hours. The program encourages participants to share experiences and support one another. Topics include: managing diabetes symptoms, exercise for strength and
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energy, healthy eating, medication use, working with your doctor, setting goals, problem solving, relaxation techniques and dealing with negative emotions. If you and at least nine of your coworkers qualify and are interested in having the program(s) offered onsite at your work location, please send the following information to wellness@cpsenergy.com: • First and last names of the employees who want to participate • Employee ID numbers • The CPS Energy location where you want to have the program(s) conducted • Name of program you want offered (Diabetes Prevention program through YMCA or Diabetes Self Management Program through Metro Health) • Contact information for a designated person at the location (include email address or phone number)
Y LIVING PROGRAM – A PROGRAM FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY! The Y Living Program, offered through the YMCA, is not available onsite but is free to employees, retirees and their families! The program includes a 12-week series of holistic wellness classes that empower families to obtain total health through enriching the spirit, mind and body. Families learn techniques to reduce and prevent chronic illness that results from obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Participants meet once a week for two hours – one hour for physical activity and one hour for educational sessions. Families will receive a free, limited YMCA gym membership as long as they par ticipate in the program. Call (210) 924-8858 to learn more.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED UNITED HEALTHCARE’S BAKED CHICKEN AND VEGGIES
Craving a nice, homemade meal but dreading doing the dishes? Try this recipe. All you’ll need is a casserole dish, a knife and a couple of measuring utensils.
DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM?
Preparation:
This confidential program provides
In a shallow 2-quart casserole
support and educational information
dish, combine oil, soy sauce,
from a registered nurse by phone
paprika, basil and thyme. Add
if you are living with any of these
chicken thighs and coat them
chronic health conditions: diabetes,
well. Add mushrooms, onions and
coronary artery disease, asthma,
chicken broth. Cover and bake at
congestive heart failure and chronic
350 degrees for 50 minutes. Add
ongoing pulmonary disease.
peas and bok choy; cover and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the peas are tender. Carbohydrate Exchange: 0.7
You may qualify for a Disease Management Program if you experience a health event that requires medical attention or through information provided on your health assessment. A specialized nurse will contact you
Ingredients: • 1 Tablespoon olive oil • 2 Tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
Nutrition Facts:
by phone, explain the details of
Servings: Makes 4 Servings
the program and get you enrolled.
Amount Per Serving:
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
Calories: 174
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Fat: 7g
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Saturated Fat: 1g
• 4 chicken thighs, skinless
Cholesterol: 66mg
• 3 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
Protein: 19g
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
Carbohydrates: 10g
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Fiber: 3g
• 10 ounces frozen peas, thawed and drained
Sodium: 409mg
• 2 cups bok choy, shredded
Participation is voluntary. Employees may earn 2015 wellness points for 2016 premium discounts if completed between Jan. 1, 2015 and Oct. 31, 2015.
This program is offered at no cost to you and your covered spouse or domestic par tner. Call 1-877-4409938 for more information and to enroll. 14
FAMILY TIES Check out some of the big events taking place in the lives of our CPS Energy family.
Main Office - 4th
Lalie Soto-Gomez & 43 family and friends (employees: Yvonne Long & husband, Jack and Fernando DeHoyos) traveled together on a bus to Coushatta Casino in LA to try their luck at gambling. The trip was taken as a pre-celebration for her father’s (Ralph Soto) soon to be 70th birthday. Lalie said some did win big bucks. But we were all winners because of the wonderful memories and lots of laughs that were shared on this 2 day trip. (1)
Main Office, 7th Floor
Mellissa Pena and her husband Bobby recently spent a week at Banff National Park in Alberta Canada. The weather was cooler, but the sights were breathtaking. (2)
Eastside Center
Ben Little recently caught this trophy trout. This Baffin Beauty was 29 3/4 inches long just shy of that Magical 30 inch mark but Ben will take it. (3)
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EMC
Bradley Hanes’ daughter, Robyn, recently won the Pony World Series. There were 20 teams total in the 12 and Under category. Bradley is not only a proud father, but also one of the coaches on the team. (4) Sandra Hernandez-Coleman celebrated her 40th birthday by traveling to various places all summer. She began in early June by flying to Nashville with her brother for the CMA Fest. Aside from the several country music artists she saw in concert, she met Jonathon Jackson (General Hospital and Nashville) and the Nelson twins. She spent her birthday in Costa Rica, then made a trip to Horseshoe Bay Resort where she met Texas Country Artists Curtis Grimes and Bri Bagwell. She ended the summer traveling throughTexas following Brad Paisley’s Country Nation World Tour. The highlight was getting to meet Brad at his concert in The Woodlands. (5)
Rail Car Maintenance Power Generation
Chris Kirkland and his wife, Stephanie, welcome their new daughter, Madalynn Audrey. She is pictured with her big brothers Luke Ryan and Clayton Vaughn. (6)
News From Retirees
While touring in California for 23 days, Oscar & Ruby Moore came to the end of the trail in Santa Monica. Then they got on a ship in Long Beach for a 4-day cruise to Baja California. (7) Tommy Kurz and his grandsons nabbed a large buck (pictured with Louie) and turkey (pictured with Tristan). (8, 9)
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SCENE Here’s a look at some of the activities happening around CPS Energy.
Lyon, CPS Energy team ready for next competition
Good luck to apprentice Chris Lyon. This month, he’ll compete in the International Linemen Rodeo in Kansas. Lyon will represent CPS Energy in the Egg Climb after taking top honors at the recent Texas Linemen’s Rodeo. In just 23.27 seconds, Lyon made it up and down a 45-foot pole with his egg intact. The 14-year employee said it wasn’t even his fastest time. He hopes to knock two seconds off that time at the upcoming event. Lyon and the CPS Energy team of 12 participate in regional and national competitions around the country. (1)
Corporate Headquarters team announced
CPS Energy’s latest employee development team, the Corporate Headquarters Team, includes:: Judy Comer, Kate Cooper, Dana Cutter, Carmen Lara, John Soltau, Ashley Storrie and Gwen Young. This team will provide feedback regarding potential corporate headquarters’ features or amenities, and will make recommendations on new and innovative ways to create productive workspaces, manage building systems, and provide amenities to employees and visitors. (2)
Workforce sheds more than 1,380 pounds!
A large number of our employees companywide participated in this year’s 17
Lose to Win Weight-Loss Challenge, dropping a total of 1,381 pounds in just 12 weeks! This year’s top team, which collectively lost an average of 8.49% of their body weight, was the Spruce Motivators: (left to right) Winnie Talley, Angel Hernandez, Randy Davis, Art Zavala and Joe Sepulveda, along with (not pictured) Glenn Kosub, Rodney Martinez, Blas Perez, Patricia Rosas and Jonas Salinas. Individual female and male winners (pictured together) were Wanda Elizondo with a weight loss of 11.29%, and Rocky Gallardo with a 19.30% weight loss. (3,4)
Railroad Car Maintenance hits safety milestone
On May 2, Power Generation Railroad Car Maintenance reached a significant safety milestone by working two years without a OSHA-recordable accident. This accomplishment was celebrated in July with the presentation of a certificate and jacket to all 20 employees that work in that department. The awards were presented by Cris Eugster, executive vice president and chief generation and strategy officer and David Herbst, senior vice president of Power Generation. At the time of the celebration, Railroad Car Maintenance had worked 814 days without a OSHA recordable. The Railroad Car Maintenance group performs maintenance on CPS Energy’s approximately 1,200 railroad cars. These railcars, along with others that are leased, are used to transport coal between Wyoming and CPS Energy’s four coal-
fueled power plants located on Calaveras lake. (5) Pictured Left to right 1.Jason Echtle,2. Bradley Brown,3. Chris Kirtland, 4.Dustin Lubianski, 5. Thomas Wiatrek,6. Mark Smolka, 7.David Hellums,8. Nick Keylich, 9.Cody Yates,10. Arnold Vera, 11.Natividad Rodriguez,12. Henry Hernandez, 13.Tim Woodall,14. Jose Villarreal, 15.Roger Deskin,16. Lisa Vyvlecka, 17.Veronica Martinez,18. Robert Garcia, 19.James Ellison, Not shown: Gerardo (Damian) Gonzalez
Employees discuss career opportunities with students
Bernie Gutierrez, journeyman, and Thomas Koog, trainee, of Southwest Service District, gave a bucket truck demonstration in July to middle school students enrolled in the UTSA Summer Prep program. Along with getting a close look at how a bucket truck operates, students learned about electrical safety and career opportunities at our company. Some students got a chance to try on personal protective equipment and feel the weight of tool belts our linemen wear while repairing power lines. Many students who took part in the program are interested in pursuing careers in engineering. Koog, a former student of Palo Alto College, reminded students to study hard, work toward their goals and take opportunities like he did several years ago. (6)
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UP THE LADDER
Corporate Support Services
Mark Cerda, analyst infrastructure security 3; Jennifer Montoya, manager business services; Sarah Sanchez-Santana, manager economic development
Customer Service
Anne Marie Alcazar, community field service representative; Betty Aguillon, processing specialist; Rosemarie Aguillon, outreach specialist; Randy Michael De Leon, outreach specialist; Jesus Hernandez, director of community programs; Rosa Mata, CSR Lead; Paula Torres, intake specialist
Finance
Enterprise Information Technology Ronald Willbanks, senior director infrastructure
Human Resources
Maximo Macias, HRIS Analyst 2; Alison Miles, recruiting analyst
James Jackson, senior manager enterprise risk analytics
Gas Delivery
Jose Marfil, foreman leak crew; Joel Settles, manager leak survey and locating services
General Counsel
IN REMEMBRANCE
Jamie Parra, general business analyst 3; Brandon Pixley, manager infrastructure security
LINES staff joins other CPS Energy employees in expressing deepest sympathy to:
Jimmy Alonzo, foreman heavy crew; Jacob Bailey, distribution operator; Paul Barham, senior vice president energy delivery services; Robert Brooks, manager customer construction; Paul Castillo, manager gas SCADA; Humberto Chavana, foreman heavy crew; Marco Garcia, manager underground engineering; Guillermo Garza De Hoyos, manager electric metering operations; Rudy Gonzales, foreman heavy crew; Stephen Hibler; foreman line; Janna Junkin, director substation/transmission construction and maintenance; David Lentz, manager system test and technical support; Archie Locke, foreman construction; Ricardo Maldonado, senior director distribution construction and maintenance; Anthony Mecke, supervisor system operations; Jon Moriarty, foreman heavy crew;Todd Pargmann, distribution operator; Glen Parmer, foreman URD; Daniel Patera, distribution operator; Richard Rodriguez, supervisor customer engineering; Gabriel Santos, manager system protection technical services; Lucio Vidaurri III, foreman heavy crew; Blake Williams, senior director substation and transmission engineering/ construction/maintenance
Generation and Strategy
The family and friends of Ron Matula, an employee of Power Generation and spouse of retired employee Deborah Matula
Power Generation
The family of Melissa Key, an employee of Energy Supply and Market Operations
Corporate Planning & Development
Annie Ledesma, Customer Service, on the passing of her brother, Jose Angel Sanchez.
Energy Supply and Market Operations
Energy Delivery Services
The family and friends of Rudolph Pawlik, who retired in 2003 from Electric Transmission and Distribution Maintenance and Construction Department.
Energy Delivery Services
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commercial analytics & pricing; Jerry Leonard, energy controller; Jimmy Ray Jackson, regulatory compliance analyst 4; Daniel Castillo, energy controller; Henry Fuentez, energy controller; Wayne Callender, zero emission resource manager
Leticha Aguirre, manager wholesale power marketing; Amelia Badders, director
Deborah Ann Garcia, financial analyst 4; Tracy McWaters, director planning analysis and communication
Greg Brown, unit supervisor; Thomas Burleson, coordinator maintenance planning; Joseph Carrillo, distribution operator; Jeffrey Kiolbassa, maintenance manager – Rio Nogales; Mark Leach, coordinator maintenance planning ; Steve Maley, coordinator maintenance planning ; Arturo Silva III, coordinator maintenance planning ; Darren Wiatrek, coordinator maintenance planning
WELCOME ABOARD
Raiford Smith, vice president corporate development and planning
Samuel De La Garza, distribution trainee; Santos Garza, utility worker; Jason Watkins, distribution trainee
Michelle Trevino, Distribution Training, on the passing of her daughter Chasity Campos Michael Guerra, Gas System Engineering Department, on the passing of his mother, Consuelo R. Guerra. The family and friends of Charles Dawson, who retired in 1987 from the Production Department. The family and friends of Guy Halter who retired in 1988 from the Power Plant Engineering Department.
TIDBITS Demand response makes a difference
leading service companies, like Nordstrom or Lexus. Not at all what one would expect from a utility. Wow! I simply couldn’t have been more impressed.”
It was another hot summer in South Texas. One of our tools – demand response – again made a difference in ensuring electric reliability for our customers. Demand response is a load reduction program initiated to lower energy demand during extreme temperatures. Our commercial and residential customers can participate through a variety of energy-saving initiatives. This year, demand response saved, on average, more than 80 megawatts per event – equal to the electric load of 21,000 homes! CPS Energy continues to look to expand this valuable program. If you’re interested, see cpsenergysavers.com and tell a neighbor, too.
CPS Energy welcomes Mission Solar Energy
Gas Delivery recognized for exemplary safety
CEO Doyle Beneby signs a solar panel fresh off the production line at Mission Solar Energy.
CPS Energy crew shines in the dark of night
Nice job Faustino Sanchez and Justin Talley of Southwest Center! They saved the day, or night, recently for a neighborhood in Helotes. One Saturday evening, a resident reported sparks and smoke from one of our poles. A troubleman investigated and found the service to the area had been disrupted because of a bad cable. Residents were advised to turn off everything – including their air conditioning on a warm Saturday night. Faustino and Justin showed up an hour later and, to the residents’ surprise, fixed the problem, in the dark of night, in less than two hours. They explained the cause to the neighbors and went on their way. “They were quiet, professional, and obviously very skilled. They’re great ambassadors for CPS,” says Matt, one of the residents. “It was the kind of service one would expect from one of the world’s
Mission Solar Energy officially opened its new state-of-the-art, solar manufacturing facility at Brooks City-Base in late September. CEO Doyle Beneby, city leaders, and others ushered in a major milestone of our New Energy Economy initiative. Mission Solar is the only solar panel manufacturing facility in Texas and the only N-Type manufacturing facility in the country. N-type modules are technologically advanced solar modules that produce more electricity more efficiently. Today, Mission Solar is producing 100 MW of annual capacity, but next year will increase to 200 MW of annual capacity. Currently, all production in the new facility is committed to the remaining four solar farms being built as part of CPS Energy’s agreement with OCI Solar Power.
The American Public Gas Association awarded CPS Energy the 2013 Safety Award for its man-hour group, based on Gas Delivery’s overall incident (lost work time) rates. The honor was well-earned. In 2013, Gas Delivery passed its safety target of 1.38 by 40 percent to achieve a recordable rate of 0.98. Gas troublemen posted their best 30-minute response time rate ever in 2013. The average gas response time to order complaints was just 21 minutes, ranking CPS Energy among the top 3 in the nation. Gas Delivery also earned an “outstanding” from the Texas Railroad Commission for its 2013 audit, with zero non-compliance events. 20
ANNIVERSARIES
Ronald Gawlik Mission Road Construction Center
Congratulations to these employees who have reached milestones in their years of service with CPS Energy.
Daniel Hall Calaveras Power Station
30 Rosemary Arellano Energy Management Center
Henry Barnes Calaveras Power Station
Larry Lichey Malone Administration Building
Martha Garcia Northside Customer Service Cener
Richard Borrego Southwest Center
Yvonne Long Northeast Center
Harvey Scheffler Northeast Center
Abraham Gallegos Main Office
George Lumbreras Main Office
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Jarold Hosey Northwest Center
Jose Martinez Jones Avenue Center
Norma Martinez Southside Customer Service Center
David Petry Meter Reading
Belinda Ramos Southside Customer Service Center
25 Camilo Aguilar Southwest Center
Santiago Barrientes Southwest Center
David Bayardo Northwest Center
Jose Flores Eastside Center
Alan Friesenhahn Navarro Building
Albert Casias Mission Road Construction Center
Leticia Hinojosa Navarro Building
Abel Charles Southwest Center
Jerry Jaskinia Jones Avenue Center
Bertha Coronado Southwest Center
Keith Jordan Energy Management Center
Cruz Fernandez Main Office
Edwin Martin Railcar Maintenance
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Roland Medina Railcar Maintenance
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Jimmy Rodriguez Northeast Center
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Mark Michalek Southwest Center
Curt Alexander Northeast Center
Jimmy Pierdolla Mission Road Construction Center
Willie Barthold Transformer Shop
Fredrick Rutkowski Tuttle Training Center
Raul Cesar Jones Avenue Center
Jennifer Schumann Northeast Center
Billy Flores Tuttle Training Center
Baldemar Trevino Calaveras Power Station
Gregory Lee Northeast Center
15 Michael Compton Northwest Center
Augustin De Leon Eastside Center
Enrique Figueroa Navarro Building
Patrick Fuentes Braunig Power Station
Maria Garcia Main Office
Benito Ochoa Salado Street Center
Darrell Garza Railcar Maintenance
John Pope Malone Administration Building
David Kimball Mission Road Construction Center
Theodor Lorentz Northwest Center
Frank Prieto Transformer Shop
10 John Perez Navarro Building
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Wendy Lopez Northside Customer Service Center
Rudolph Robles Transformer Shop
Jennifer Palma Northside Customer Service Center
Julian Mendoza Southwest Center
Jason Mutz Malone Administration Building
Modesto Rodriguez Navarro Building Yvette Smith Northside Customer Service Center
Valerie Uriegas Southside Customer Service Center
Robert Southwell Calaveras Power Station
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THIS PAST SPRING, SUMMER JOHNSON (RIGHT) PUBLISHED A SELECTION OF HER WORKS IN A PAPERBACK BOOK TITLED POETIC INSPIRATIONS FOR THE CHILD OF GOD.
EVEN IN ADVERSITY, ONE EMPLOYEE STANDS READY TO ‘KTF’ by Pam Maris 25
W
hen faced with a difficult challenge, personal tragedy or some other event that turns our life upside down, we may experience a range of emotions: from anger and hatred, to depression and sadness. We may find ourselves asking “Why me?” Or we may even question our faith. But not Summer L. Johnson. In October 2013, the environmental analyst was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her diagnosis and subsequent treatments and surgery, Johnson battled the disease with an unwavering spirit. “God gave me faith to match the test from the beginning,” she says. “I never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me, but to instead stand with me in faith.” Johnson says that even in the midst of her courageous fight against the disease, she strived to do God’s will. This included writing a blog to encourage others facing cancer, and penning inspirational poems – something she first began doing in 2011. This past spring, Johnson published a selection of her works in a paperback book titled Poetic Inspirations for the Child of God. “The idea of a book actually came last year as I was talking to a friend who also writes Christian poetry.” Giving thanks is an attribute that Johnson likely learned best from her father. As a child, she recalls that her
dad was always quick to point to God and thank Him for any blessing or good news the family received. To God Be the Glory (TGBTG) has become a favorite phrase of hers, and so has KTF, or Keep the Faith. Johnson’s dad also encouraged her to read the Bible, and he made sure the entire family always attended church services on Sunday. “One of the things that makes our father-daughter relationship so special today is our ability to relate to each other on a spiritual level,” she says. Aside from publishing an inspirational blog and a collection of poetry, Johnson is an active member of her church, where she participates in the choir and both the singles and prayer ministry. Throughout her ordeal with cancer, Johnson received support from her church family as well as from relatives and her CPS Energy family. Last summer, just more than a week before her 30th birthday, she received her best birthday gift ever - the news that she was cancer-free!
A short poem published from Summer L. Johnson, in Poetic Inspirations for the Child of God. I’M STILL SMILING I’m in a place I never foresaw, Some were shocked, some dismayed, and some were in awe. But I’m still smiling. Yes, I’m in a new place, but still covered by God’s grace. I’m still smiling. Every step thus far through this season has not been easy, but I’m encouraged, Because God continues to remind me, through His people and His various ways, that He’s with me. I’m still smiling. Though I know not the day and time that this particular battle will come to an end, He’s already assured me that in Him I will WIN and I’ll be smiling until – and even after–then. Smiling – full of Jesus’ joy!
“My faith is even stronger after having gone through this tribulation, and I’m now sporting a new hairdo,” she says with a smile. “There are many reasons why it’s been a blessing and not a curse. But that’s not to say there weren’t rough spots or that the journey has been easy. But I’ve been kept and still am being kept, by God’s grace.”
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PRSRT STD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE
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SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT NO. 251
OCI Solar Power uses Earth-friendly sheep to maintain the grass around Alamo 2, a 4.5 megawatt solar farm located in northeast San Antonio.