3 min read July 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Robert Puente, President and CEO of San Antonio Water System, talked about priorities for the water system. Navigating the current economic climate has been challenging but Puente highlighted that inflation is beginning to calm and supply chains are improving. He added that some challenges remain when it comes to chemicals.
How has your previous experience impacted your leadership and priorities for the water system?
Having served in the Texas Legislature with a focus on water policy and infrastructure, I feel that strengthens my leadership with the necessary experience and knowledge of the issues. I can offer a sounding board in terms of legal aspects of whatever we are doing and be more of an adviser on some of those things. I can offer a historic perspective on why we can and can’t do certain things. It is somewhat flattering to run a utility and use some of the legislation I previously authored or passed.
How are you navigating the current economic landscape?
Many issues that posed challenges in the past few years have reached their apex and I believe we have weathered the storm. There have been steady decreases in inflation, which should signify that it has peaked, and the supply chain overall is improving except for the availability of specific fleet equipment, construction materials and chemicals we require. We want to move forward better prepared for these kinds of unforeseen circumstances. We are lucky to have had ample cash reserves that allowed us to handle issues internally rather than asking customers to pay higher rates. Our preparedness is what got us through tough times and will serve us well in the future.
What do you expect from your partnership with CPS Energy?
We want to be trendsetters to a small extent and innovators to a larger extent. A lot of vehicles throughout the country are going electric and we want to be a part of that movement. We have embarked on a pilot program with CPS Energy and NextEra Energy on a study to gauge the potential for fleet electrification. CPS Energy was able to run small capacity tests, but we were able to share some data related to driving habits. This should enable the utility to correctly plan its EV charging infrastructure needs given that we and other agencies like us are turning more to electric fleets. The pilot is almost finished and although larger equipment like cranes and backhoes are not at the point where they can be electrified, we know the potential for return on investment.
What are some common misconceptions people have as it relates to sustainability?
A big misconception is that water should be free since it falls from the sky when it rains. However, there are so many processes that need to take place to convert that rainwater into drinkable water that we safely deliver to homes and businesses. People do not see the infrastructure because it is underground, so they don’t fully understand the scale that is involved. We recently had to upgrade two miles of an 84-inch sewer pipe, which cost $200 million. Another company would have had a ceremony for an investment like that, but as a public water company, our investments often fly under the radar.
What are some of the ways you are looking to continue growing?
We have a fixed territorial area, so we are dependent on the state of the economy of the city. When it grows quickly, so do we.
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