CPS Energy is working on improving the performance of the distribution service to the residents of Bulverde. A visual inspection of the two aerial distribution circuits that serve Bulverde and the substation located along U.S. Hwy. 281 and Overlook Parkway have identified areas where aerial equipment needs repair or maintenance and CPS Energy electric crews will be completing repairs in the area within the next six months.

In response to electrical outages experienced in the Bulverde area, CPS Energy is planning additional upgrades to include fusing of short spans and tree trimming that will minimize wide spread outages. CPS Energy has scheduled contract tree crews to begin pruning in early February. CPS Energy understands the importance trees have in our community, but must balance this with the equally important supply of reliable power. Tree limbs close to high voltage electric lines can be a major cause of interrupted service to the entire community by causing electrical faults or damage to utility equipment.

Public safety is also a major consideration, since contact with high voltage lines can conduct through the tree and cause harm or fire danger. The work is to be performed by McCoy Tree Surgery, a professional line clearance company that has national experience and training in proper arboricultural methods. In addition, as suggested by the Texas Forest Service for oak wilt suppression control measures, all oak wounds are painted within 30 minutes. Crews will be clearing an 8-foot clear-zone to all sides of the high voltage lines running from pole to pole. These are the highest lines on the pole and extend along most street rights-of-ways, with short spans leading up to the transformer on many of the residential properties.

If you need to schedule an appointment to allow entry into your property, have a tree you would like to totally remove as a long term solution, or if you are interested in any of the woodchip mulch produced, contact CPS for consultation with one of their Certified Arborists. Please help ensure our community receives full benefit from this work to improve power reliability and safety; just one limb can cause the entire neighborhood to be knocked out again. The CPS Energy Tree & ROW Maintenance Section may be reached at 353-3798, or 353-3593.

CPS Energy advises all customers to call customer service for any non-emergency issues such as billing and new services at (210) 353-2222. For emergency issues such as outages, call (210) 353-4357. The only way that CPS Energy can know that your lights are off is if you have called in and reported it. Sometimes there can be multiple outages on the same circuit due to multiple problems. Some people assume that since a neighbor has called in that they do not need to call in. CPS Energy could end up fixing service to other residences and not know that you have an outage also due to a different problem. It is important that you call in and let us know you are out. CPS Energy tries to restore service as quickly as possible. Sometimes during major storms our resources are stretched to its limits. Sometimes there can be multiple outages on the same circuit due to multiple problems. CPS Energy restores problems affecting large number of customers first. In some cases, CPS Energy may end up fixing service to other residences and not yours.