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CPS Energy Issues Plea for Customer Conservation |
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CPS Energy Interim General Manager Steve Bartley today issued a plea to CPS Energy customers urging energy conservation in light of incessant, triple-digit temperatures. "The extremely hot weather of late is placing a strain on our electric system, so we are urging all customers – residential, commercial and industrial – to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity to avoid rolling outages," Bartley said. "Afternoon temperatures have skyrocketed and so has customer use of electricity. We are doing all we can to serve our customers, but now we need their help to get us through this challenging period. "As you already know, two of our power plants have experienced major equipment failures in recent days, and we are working feverishly to return those units to service. We do not want to risk losing other generating units or a major power line connecting us with the rest of the Texas electric grid. The answer is to use less electricity immediately. "We do not know how long we will have to remain in this mode, but we are requesting customer cooperation in an effort to prevent problems for our electric system. As always, we appreciate our customers’ understanding as we seek to make it through this situation and return to more-normal operations." Conservation measures Bartley cited include: - Set your thermostat at 78-80 degrees or higher when you’re at home. When you plan to be away from home between six to eight hours, set your thermostat at 82-85 degrees.
- Turn off appliances, computers and other equipment not in use.
- Delay using major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, etc., until after 8 p.m.
- Use window air-conditioning units for single-room cooling rather than central units.
- For added comfort in occupied rooms, use fans to help circulate air.
- Plan meals that do not require heating up the kitchen.
- Weather-strip doors leading to garages, patios or any other areas without air conditioning.
- Caulk around external windows and doorframes to reduce air infiltration.
- Keep a 2- to 3-foot clearance around outside air conditioning units to ensure proper air circulation.
CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service. Acquired by the City of San Antonio in 1942, the company serves approximately 700,000 electric customers and more than 320,000 natural gas customers in and around America's seventh-largest city. CPS Energy ranks among the nation's lowest-cost energy providers, owns the highest financial ratings of any electric system in the U. S. and stands number 1 in wind-energy capacity among municipally owned utilities across the country. |
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Brain Aneurysm - 'The Worst Headache of my Life' |
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Blurred vision, pain above and behind the eye, or localized headaches, can be signs of a brain aneurysm. Ruptured aneurysms can lead to brain damage or death, but doctors are now able to detect aneurysms with increased frequency before they rupture.
Join us for a FREE informative presentation where you can learn about warning signs and risk factors, explore the option of elective treatment, and hear from recovering patients about their experience.
A light dinner will be served. The seminar is free, but registration is required. Please call (210) 297-7005 to register.
When: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m
Location: St. Luke's Baptist Hospital Strunk Auditorium San Antonio, Texas 78222 Maps & Directions
The seminar is free, but registration is required. Please call (210) 297-7005 to register. |
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SAHA Supports Federal Investigation and Indictments |
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SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 18, 2009) --- Federal authorities, in cooperation with the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA), have uncovered suspected criminal activity, resulting in charges being filed in federal court against five SAHA employees. Four employees are believed to have accepted kickbacks from contracted vendors, and the fifth is charged with making a false statement to federal authorities.
“Our Board, along with our new President and CEO, Lourdes Castro Ramirez, is strongly committed to investigating any allegations of wrongdoing, and we will not tolerate improper conduct by employees or contractors, or the improper use of public resources,” said Ramiro Cavazos, Chair of SAHA’s Board of Commissioners.
Appearing in federal court today were Project Manager Robert Olivares, Maintenance Supervisor Roman Reyes, Maintenance Supervisor Alfredo Lopez and Senior Maintenance Technician Fidencio “Fred” Martinez. Charges are expected to be formally filed tomorrow against Project Manager Vaughn Manibog.
The indictments allege that Reyes, Olivares, Martinez and Manibog, “did corruptly solicit, demand, accept and agree to accept a thing of value...from a person, intending to be influenced and rewarded...” Lopez is accused of lying to federal authorities. Upon learning of the charges, SAHA immediately terminated the employees.
“SAHA will move swiftly to root out any criminal misconduct. As public servants, we must guard the public’s trust and promote the highest degree of integrity and professionalism,” said Castro Ramirez. “SAHA has approximately 600 employees, most of whom work hard every day to provide much needed services to the citizens of our community. I’m saddened that the misdeeds of a few tarnish the good works of so many others,” she added.
Over the past 12 months, SAHA’s Board of Commissioners has initiated various audits and reviews, to identify and resolve any areas of weakness in processes and internal controls. A number of accountability measures have recently been implemented, to include: reviewing all open contracts; centralizing construction contract activities; reducing approval limits for tighter management oversight; and engaging a government accountability consultant to conduct a full assessment of procurement process, systems and controls.
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Stage Two Drought Restrictions Now in Place |
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Even though it's just the beginning of summer, the long spell of dry weather in South Texas has already taken its toll. On Saturday, San Antonio’s J-17 Edwards monitoring well dropped to 649.6, prompting San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley to announce Stage Two drought restrictions in effect.
Stage Two of the city’s drought management plan is triggered when the level of the Edwards Aquifer drops to 650 feet or below at the J-17 monitoring well near Ft. Sam Houston. San Antonio has been following Stage One restrictions since April 10.
During Stage Two, state law mandates that pumpers, including SAWS, reduce the amount of water they pump from the aquifer by 30 percent. SAWS encourages San Antonians to reduce water use wherever possible; with dry weather expected to continue throughout the summer, further declines in the aquifer levels are expected. Every day we can delay watering our lawns is another chance for rain!
The major difference between Stage One and Stage Two restrictions that people will notice are time changes to the one-day-per-week landscape watering schedule. Watering with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system is allowed only during the hours of 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on your designated day, as determined by the last number of your street address:
0 or 1 – Monday
2 or 3 – Tuesday
4 or 5 – Wednesday
6 or 7 – Thursday
8 or 9 – Friday
Overnight watering is not allowed. Watering with a handheld hose is still allowed, any day, any time.
Details on Stage Two rules are available online at www.saws.org/drought. |
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One simple question can save a child’s life |
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So, why aren’t more parents asking it?
BACKGROUND: National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day is Saturday, June 21. "One Simple Question, Thousands of Reasons to ASK" is a reference to the single question that could save thousands of children from serious injury or death. That question is: “Is there a gun in your home?” And it’s a question every parent should be asking the parents of their children’s friends, but less than half have ever done so.
June 21 is the first day of summer, a time when millions of children are out playing in other homes in their neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when the rate of unintentional gun shot wounds increases as these children come across loaded weapons. Sometimes they mistake them for toys. Other times, they know it’s a “real” gun, but their natural curiosity leads to unintentional discharge.
One simple question. If the answer is “no,” that is one less thing to worry about. If the answer is “yes,” parents are urged to ensure that the guns are stored, locked and separate from ammunition, preferably in a gun safe.
University Health System, in partnership with the San Antonio Police Department and San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, will encourage parents to “ASK” with materials for both parents and children. DVDs containing two dramatic, even shocking, public service announcements will also be distributed to local media outlets. While some parents might find them disturbing, they certainly won’t forget them.
| WHO: |
Chief William McManus, San Antonio Police Department
Ronald Stewart, MD, Trauma Medical Director, University Hospital, Interim Chair, Surgery, UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Susan Douglass, Director, Child Health & Safety Awareness University Health System
Jennifer Herriott, Population-Based Service Area Administrator San Antonio Metropolitan Health District |
| WHAT: |
Kick-off of “National Ask Day” activities, unveiling of dramatic PSAs |
| WHEN: |
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 1 p.m. |
| WHERE: |
University Hospital
4502 Medical Drive
(meet in Corp. Communications, 1st floor, main entrance) |
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