CPS Energy CEO Rudy Garza steps down to lead Lower Colorado River Authority
By Joey Palacios
June 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM CDT
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Editor's note: This story was updated on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Rudy Garza, the president and CEO of CPS Energy, delivered a notice of his intent to retire to the utility’s board of trustees on Monday. On the heels of that announcement,
the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) also announced on Monday that Garza will become general manager beginning on July 20.
The LCRA, which is based in Austin, manages the water supply and electricity generation from dams in the river and provides power to nearby utilities.
“LCRA is one of the most consequential public utilities in Texas, and what it does now and in the future matters,” said Stephen F. Cooper, chair of the LCRA board in a news release posted on Monday. “Rudy Garza has led through challenges and growth. He knows what it takes to build trust with communities, manage complex operations and keep people at the center of the work.”
Garza served as the head of San Antonio's municipally owned CPS Energy starting in late 2021 when he was appointed interim president and then formally offered the role in 2022.
His tenure at the utility lasted about 14 years in various positions, including vice president of external relations, vice president of distribution services, and chief customer engagement stakeholder.
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to work with the talented and dedicated team at CPS Energy,” said Garza in a news release sent out by CPS Energy. “I am proud of the fantastic leaders in this organization and the work we have done together as One Team to build out long term strategies to power the Greater San Antonio community now and into the future.”
CPS Energy has approximately 3,600 employees and serves Bexar County as the only electric utility available to more than 900,000 customers.
Garza currently receives a salary of $742,000 a year after receiving a 13% pay increase two years ago.
The CPS Energy board of trustees will hold a special meeting this Thursday to discuss the process of selecting the next CEO.
Disclosure: CPS Energy is a TPR sponsor. We cover them as we would any other business or organization.
Editor's note: This story was updated on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Rudy Garza, the president and CEO of CPS Energy, delivered a notice of his intent to retire to the utility’s board of trustees on Monday. On the heels of that announcement,
the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) also announced on Monday that Garza will become general manager beginning on July 20.
The LCRA, which is based in Austin, manages the water supply and electricity generation from dams in the river and provides power to nearby utilities.
“LCRA is one of the most consequential public utilities in Texas, and what it does now and in the future matters,” said Stephen F. Cooper, chair of the LCRA board in a news release posted on Monday. “Rudy Garza has led through challenges and growth. He knows what it takes to build trust with communities, manage complex operations and keep people at the center of the work.”
Garza served as the head of San Antonio's municipally owned CPS Energy starting in late 2021 when he was appointed interim president and then formally offered the role in 2022.
His tenure at the utility lasted about 14 years in various positions, including vice president of external relations, vice president of distribution services, and chief customer engagement stakeholder.
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to work with the talented and dedicated team at CPS Energy,” said Garza in a news release sent out by CPS Energy. “I am proud of the fantastic leaders in this organization and the work we have done together as One Team to build out long term strategies to power the Greater San Antonio community now and into the future.”
CPS Energy has approximately 3,600 employees and serves Bexar County as the only electric utility available to more than 900,000 customers.
Garza currently receives a salary of $742,000 a year after receiving a 13% pay increase two years ago.
The CPS Energy board of trustees will hold a special meeting this Thursday to discuss the process of selecting the next CEO.
Disclosure: CPS Energy is a TPR sponsor. We cover them as we would any other business or organization.