Applications for the CPS Energy Board of Trustees position for the northwest quadrant will now be accepted through March 14. Board Chair Derrick Howard recently extended the application deadline. The selected applicant would serve with Howard, recently appointed Trustee Nora Chavez, Dr. Homer Guevara and ex-officio member Mayor Julián Castro.

Howard, who has represented the southeast quadrant since February 2008, recently replaced Charles Foster as Chair on the five-member Board of Trustees. Foster resigned for personal reasons. His departure created the opening for the northwest quadrant.

“I am saddened by Charles’ departure. CPS Energy started a new era of transparency under his leadership,” said Howard. “My goal is for the company to continue to make great strides in that area, to introduce new technology that will support sustainability, and educate the community.  Someone once said ‘What you do today will echo into the future’.  This is an industry that has long lead implications - we have to get it right.”

In addition to Howard becoming Chair, financial industry expert Nora Chavez officially began her service to the Board this month as a representative of the northeast quadrant. Chavez will serve a five-year term and is eligible to serve two terms.  The former City of San Antonio finance director currently serves in the private financial industry and has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She replaced San Antonio Credit Union executive Stephen Hennigan who served his maximum number of terms.

“CPS Energy is a critical component of this community and I am honored to be part of it.  Guiding the utility’s financial decisions is an enormous task and I look forward to working with the Board, Doyle Beneby and the executive staff at CPS Energy to further the company’s success,” said Chavez.

Any individual looking to join the Board must be a United States citizen, permanent resident of Bexar County, and live within the northwest quadrant of CPS Energy’s service territory. The quadrant is generally bounded by the Bexar County line to the north and west, IH-10 and Blanco Road to the east, and Woodlawn Avenue, Grissom Road and FM 471 to the south. It includes various portions of San Antonio City Council Districts 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (CPS Energy Service Area Map, Quadrant 1).

Completed applications must be received by March 14, 2011 and should be sent to:

CPS Energy Mail Drop 101014
Attn: Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 1771
San Antonio, TX 78296-1771

Applications also can be e-mailed before the deadline to eaperez@cpsenergy.com.

All applications received will be forwarded to the CPS Energy Board of Trustees for review as well as provided to the City of San Antonio.  Interviews will be scheduled with individuals selected by a Board Committee for further consideration.

The CPS Energy Board of Trustees sets general and specific policy guidelines for the utility’s management and staff to implement. It includes a representative from each quadrant of CPS Energy’s service territory (northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest), as well as the Mayor of the City of San Antonio. The Board meets regularly and trustees should expect to serve approximately 10 - 20 hours per month. With the exception of the mayor, Trustees receive an annual stipend of $2,000, serve for a term of five years and may be eligible to serve an additional five-year term.