San Antonio Electricity Rates & Plans
Last updated: October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States — and one of the few major Texas cities whose residents cannot shop for competitive electricity plans. San Antonio is served by CPS Energy (City Public Service), the largest municipally owned combined electric and gas utility in the United States. This guide explains why, what your options are as a CPS Energy customer, and what the surrounding area looks like if you are moving in or out.
Important: San Antonio residents cannot shop for electricity plans
CPS Energy is a municipal utility owned by the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Independent School District. San Antonio is not part of the Texas deregulated electricity market. No competitive electricity plans appear in the search tool for San Antonio ZIP codes because no competitive plans are offered there. San Antonio residents pay CPS Energy rates set by the San Antonio City Council.
Why San Antonio Has CPS Energy — Not the Competitive Market
Texas's 1999 electricity deregulation law (Senate Bill 7) restructured the electricity market for most of the state but explicitly allowed municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives to opt out of retail competition. CPS Energy — which has served San Antonio since 1860 and has been municipally owned since 1942 — chose to remain outside the competitive market.
The utility is jointly owned by the City of San Antonio (which holds approximately 83% of the utility) and the San Antonio Independent School District (approximately 17%). CPS Energy contributes a portion of its revenues to the city's general fund each year, effectively subsidizing city services — a financial structure that would be fundamentally altered by deregulation. The San Antonio City Council sets rates through a formal public rate process.
CPS Energy Rate Structure
CPS Energy's primary residential tariff (RS-1) uses a tiered rate structure with multiple automatic adjustment riders on top of the base energy charge. The base energy charge is tiered — the first block of kWh per month costs less, and rates step up as usage rises. On top of this sits the Fuel Adjustment Clause (FAC), which fluctuates monthly with natural gas prices, a Transmission and Distribution Cost Adjustment (TDCA), and a renewable energy surcharge.
The practical result is that your CPS Energy rate per kWh varies month to month based on fuel costs, even though your base tariff hasn't changed. This is different from competitive fixed-rate plans, which lock the energy rate but not TDU delivery charges. For current rates, visit cpsenergy.com or call 210-353-2222.
San Antonio ZIP Codes — All CPS Energy
| ZIP Cluster | General Area | Utility | Can Shop? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78201–78220 | Central and Inner San Antonio | CPS Energy | No |
| 78240–78260 | Northwest San Antonio | CPS Energy | No |
| 78023 (Helotes) | Far Northwest suburbs | CPS Energy | No |
| 78124 (Marion area) | Guadalupe County fringe | Verify by address | Verify by address |
CPS Energy's Renewable Energy Position
CPS Energy has been one of the more aggressive municipal utilities in the country on renewable energy deployment. The utility has built or contracted significant utility-scale wind capacity in West Texas and has pursued large solar contracts, making San Antonio's electricity mix substantially renewable by municipal utility standards. CPS Energy has set public targets for carbon reduction and has invested in battery storage projects to complement intermittent renewable generation.
For residential customers who want to participate directly in renewable energy, the Solartricity program allows subscription to blocks of local solar capacity. The residential solar interconnection program allows rooftop solar customers to sell excess generation back to CPS Energy at the Value of Solar tariff rate. Current solar buyback rates and program details are at cpsenergy.com/solar.
CPS Energy vs. the competitive market
How does CPS Energy compare to competitive plans in Houston or Dallas? Historically, CPS Energy rates have been near or below the Texas competitive market average. The utility's scale (it serves over 900,000 customers), its access to municipal bond financing, and its diversified generation portfolio have contributed to competitive unit costs. However — as with Austin Energy — San Antonio customers have no ability to find a below-average rate through shopping. You pay CPS Energy's approved tariff. The fuel adjustment clause means your actual monthly rate floats with natural gas markets even when you are on the same residential schedule.
How to Lower Your CPS Energy Bill
Since San Antonio residents cannot switch providers, bill reduction comes from usage reduction and program participation:
Home Improvement rebates: CPS Energy offers rebates on insulation, air sealing, HVAC equipment, and duct sealing for qualifying homes. CPS Energy-approved contractors conduct home energy audits and complete eligible improvements. Visit cpsenergy.com/save for current rebate availability.
Smart thermostat program: CPS Energy offers rebates on qualifying smart thermostats and runs a demand response program (SolarSPONGE or similar seasonal programs) where participating customers receive bill credits for reducing usage during peak demand events in summer.
Rooftop solar: CPS Energy's residential interconnection program allows rooftop solar. The Value of Solar tariff applies to buyback credits. Current interconnection requirements, system size limits, and buyback rates are at cpsenergy.com/solar.
Affordability Discount Program (ADP): Income-eligible residential customers receive a monthly bill credit. GAPP (Gas Assistance Plus Program) provides additional weatherization and bill assistance. Contact CPS Energy at 210-353-2222 for current eligibility and enrollment.
Smart move for San Antonio residents
CPS Energy's tiered rate structure means conservation savings compound — every kWh you move from a higher tier to a lower tier saves you the top-tier rate, not the average rate. San Antonio summers are intense (100°F+ days are common from June through September), and air conditioning typically represents 50–60% of annual electricity use for a typical home. A programmable or smart thermostat, combined with attic air sealing to prevent conditioned air from leaking into unconditioned space, is the highest-ROI investment available to San Antonio homeowners who cannot reduce their bill by switching providers.
Key Takeaways
San Antonio residents cannot shop for competitive electricity plans. CPS Energy is a municipal utility owned by the City of San Antonio and SAISD, operating outside the Texas deregulated market. Rates are approved by the San Antonio City Council. The Fuel Adjustment Clause means monthly rates float with natural gas prices. Bill reduction options include efficiency rebates, smart thermostat programs, rooftop solar, and income-based assistance. If you live in the extended San Antonio metro, confirm your specific address with CPS Energy — most of the metro area falls within CPS Energy territory.
In a deregulated Texas city? Compare plans here.
The search tool works for all ERCOT ZIP codes — Houston, Dallas, and more.
Search Competitive Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shop for electricity plans in San Antonio, Texas?
No. San Antonio is served by CPS Energy (City Public Service), the largest municipally owned electric and gas utility in the United States. CPS Energy is not part of the deregulated Texas electricity market. San Antonio residents pay rates approved by the San Antonio City Council and cannot choose a different electricity provider.
Why can't San Antonio residents choose their electricity provider?
Texas electricity deregulation under Senate Bill 7 (1999) applied only to investor-owned utilities within ERCOT — Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, and TNMP. CPS Energy is a municipal utility owned jointly by the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Independent School District. Municipal utilities were allowed to opt out of retail competition, and CPS Energy chose to do so. The San Antonio City Council sets CPS Energy rates, not market competition.
What are typical CPS Energy electricity rates?
CPS Energy uses a tiered rate structure. As of May 2026, the all-in effective rate for most San Antonio residential customers runs approximately 9.0–12.5 cents per kWh depending on usage level, season, and applicable riders. CPS Energy's rates include a fuel adjustment rider that fluctuates with natural gas prices — so rates vary month to month even on the same "base" tariff. Visit cpsenergy.com or call 210-353-2222 for the current approved rate schedule.
What is CPS Energy's Residential Rate Schedule?
CPS Energy's primary residential tariff (RS-1) includes a fixed monthly customer charge, a tiered energy charge where the first block of kWh costs less than subsequent blocks, and several automatic adjustment riders including the Fuel Adjustment Clause (FAC), the Transmission and Distribution Cost Adjustment (TDCA), and renewable energy surcharges. The tiered structure financially rewards conservation — staying in a lower usage tier reduces your effective per-kWh rate on all usage.
Does CPS Energy offer renewable energy or solar programs?
Yes. CPS Energy has invested significantly in utility-scale solar and wind generation and offers a Solartricity program for customers who want to subscribe to local solar capacity. CPS Energy also has a residential solar interconnection program (the Value of Solar tariff for net metering). Solar buyback rates and interconnection rules are available at cpsenergy.com/solar.
What assistance programs does CPS Energy offer?
CPS Energy operates the GAPP (Gas Assistance Plus Program) for income-eligible customers, providing bill discounts and weatherization assistance. The Affordability Discount Program (ADP) offers monthly bill credits for qualifying low-income residential customers. LIHEAP federal assistance is also available through Bexar County social services. Contact CPS Energy at 210-353-2222 for current eligibility and enrollment.
If I move to San Antonio suburbs, can I get competitive electricity?
It depends on the suburb. New Braunfels is served by New Braunfels Utilities, another municipal utility. Schertz and Cibolo may have portions served by CPS Energy or by other providers depending on address. Boerne is in CPS Energy territory. Converse and Universal City fall within CPS Energy service. In general, the greater San Antonio metro area is predominantly CPS Energy territory. Confirm your specific address with CPS Energy or the relevant utility.
Learn More
Austin is another major non-deregulated Texas city — the Austin electricity rates guide covers Austin Energy in detail. Amarillo is also outside the competitive market — see the Amarillo electricity rates guide for Xcel/SPS. For cities where competitive shopping is available, the cheapest electricity by Texas city guide covers the competitive market. The how Texas deregulation works guide explains which cities can and cannot shop.