The CPS Energy board of trustees took a decisive step on Thursday, voting to open negotiations with interim President and CEO Frank Almaraz to transition him into a permanent role. Almaraz, who has been steering the San Antonio utility since June following the retirement of former President and CEO Rudy Garza, will now enter formal talks that could culminate in a long‑term leadership agreement.
Almaraz’s Return to CPS Energy
Almaraz rejoined CPS Energy in February as chief operating officer after previously serving the utility from 2011 to 2022 in several senior leadership positions. His deep familiarity with the organization’s operations and culture made him a natural choice to step in when Garza announced his retirement.
Negotiation Process
The board’s vote does not instantly cement Almaraz’s appointment. Instead, it signals the start of a negotiation phase during which compensation, contract length, and performance expectations will be discussed. Once an agreement is reached, the board will move to formally appoint Almaraz as the permanent President and CEO.
Response to Recent Storms
In a one‑on‑one interview with KSAT’s Ernie Zuniga, Almaraz reflected on the utility’s response to the severe August storms that left thousands without power. He highlighted the role of automation technology, noting that it helped restore service to more than 200,000 customers quickly. Over the past five years, CPS Energy has invested roughly $70 million in such technology, a commitment that continues to pay dividends during emergencies.
Almaraz also explained the utility’s prioritization protocol during outages. “Dangerous situations, such as downed power lines, receive top priority,” he said. “After that, we focus on outages affecting the largest groups of customers, followed by critical facilities like hospitals, police and fire stations, and essential infrastructure such as water systems.” The utility logged about 1,000 reports of downed lines during the August event.
Looking Ahead
Stakeholders across San Antonio are watching the negotiation process closely. The utility provides electricity and natural gas to more than 800,000 customers, making stable leadership essential for both everyday service and emergency preparedness. Almaraz’s experience and recent performance during the storm response have been cited as strong indicators of his capability to lead the organization forward.
Community leaders and business owners have expressed confidence that a permanent appointment will bring continuity and allow CPS Energy to continue its long‑term projects, including grid modernization and renewable‑energy initiatives. The board is expected to finalize the negotiations in the coming weeks, after which a formal announcement will be made.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
