The decision is in, and tech powerhouse Janie Gonzalez is sticking around on the CPS Energy board of trustees for another five years. In a unanimous vote, the San Antonio City Council has given the green light for Gonzalez’s second term, reinforcing her role as a key player in the municipally owned utility's future. She first joined the board in 2019 and took the helm as chair just a year ago, in February 2023.
As the top dog at tech firm Webhead, Gonzalez brings a tech-savvy edge to the table, evident by her support for ditching a 23-year-old computer system in favor of something fresher. This tech-forward thinking might just be what the light and power supplier needs as it phases out coal by 2028 and rolls out new energy efficiency plans, developments reported by San Antonio Report. Gonzalez told the publication, "I am energized" by the continued confidence shown by San Antonio, framing her reappointment as another chapter in an "ambitious era of energy and technological evolution."
Gonzalez's influence has been tangible; since seating in the chairman's spot, she's had a hand in several major initiatives. Notably, she's stood behind plans for low-emission generation options and pitched in to slash a significant $36 million from past-due customer account balances, according to CPS Energy's newsroom. Her resume also boasts support for the burgeoning FlexPOWER Bundle, which adds renewable and gas power sources into the mix.
The power exec is slated to keep the CPS Energy board chair warm until January 31, 2025, and her term as a trustee will run through to January 31, 2029. It appears good times ahead for San Antonio's energy scene, with trust in Gonzalez’s knack for steering the city into a sustainable, tech-amped future. Her tech roots could very well translate into a smarter, leaner utility operation in the coming years – an outcome seemingly embraced by the council, the utility’s board, and customers alike.
