About FELPS

About Us

We are a municipally owned electric utility providing service in Wilson and Karnes counties.  The Cities of Stockdale, Poth and Floresville each own a portion of the system that was formed in January 1, 1943.  The utility is governed by a Board of Trustees that are appointed from the three owner cities and two advisory trustees from Falls City and La Vernia.  These seven members meet monthly on the last Wednesday of the month.  Because FELPS has a Board of Trustees who make decisions that benefit the local communities, the utility can continue to serve the Wilson and Karnes County area with a commodity that enhances all our lives.  FELPS is not-for-profit with any excess revenue being reinvested in the system and community.

FELPS Mission, Vision and Core Values

Mission

To serve our communities with a safe, reliable and affordable energy source.  Meet future needs through innovation and technology, and by mentoring and developing our co-workers.

Vision

To provide the best service through continuous improvement, while being the employer of choice.

Core Values

Safety Always – work and community

Integrity – do it right!

Accountability – own it!

Development – continuous improvement and education

Family – connect, care, commit, support

Subject to Board Discretion

Floresville Electric Light and Power System helps sponsor Summer Youth Programs for youth in the five cities in the service area and also supports scholarships to students at each of the five high schools in the service area.

The sponsorship amounts for summer youth programs are based on the number of utility meters in each of the five cities and must be matched by the cities.

FELPS awards $750.00 to each of the five school districts in the FELPS service area to assist students with tuition at accredited colleges, universities or technical institutions. Scholarship awards will be handled by the school districts, and application information is available through the local high schools. Parents of scholarship recipients must be FELPS customers.

 

History of FELPS

Floresville Comes from Darkness to Light

Floresville’s long felt desire to get electricity began to make progress in February, 1915 by B. J. Carrico, a consulting engineer and contractor of Fort Worth.  He was the man of means and movement to put in an electric system that would be a credit to Floresville.

In April, 1915 electricity was no longer a dream.  Floresville’s long talked of light plant was at last to become a reality.  W. T. Pitman, of Fort Worth, one of the promoters began actual operations, accompanied by John Barner, an expert electrician of Marietta, Oklahoma.

A carload of poles was soon unloaded.  The front end of the Ballard building next to John W. Wood’s store was rented for an office and electric supply store.  Two large Muncie crude oil engines, one a 90 HP and the other a 50 HP were ordered.  Work on the plant’s home began.  It was erected at the City Waterworks Plant and was a 30×50 structure and made of brick and hollow tile.

The Floresville Light and Power Company would be the name of the new concern.  The plant’s proposed size would take care of a town twice the size of Floresville at that time.  It was the intention of the promoters to supply the surrounding towns and rural communities power if this endeavor proved to be a success.

Lighting the City of Floresville

June 19, 1915 at 7:30 p.m. was the date to remember.  That was the date Mayor S.V. Houston consented to press the button turning the lights on in the City of Floresville.  He expressed a desire to have at least three of the prettiest girls of Floresville to act as his attendants, so that he may be properly cared for, should he touch the wrong wire.  So the citizens selected the young ladies by secret ballot votes.

Throwing the switch and turning on Floresville’s first lights took place at the power house by Mayor Houston assisted by the three prettiest young ladies, Nora Houston, Robbie Smith and Clara Culpepper, who were the winners of the contest. A large crowd attended the celebration. A full explanation of the workings of the plant was given before the lights were turned on.  It indeed was a memorable event for the City of Floresville.  After the lights were on, the crowd of excited people marched to the Opera House for a delightful and appropriate program.  This evening, June 19, 1915 went down in the history of Floresville for this date the old town took a step forward.  R. L. Eschenburg, Sr., prominent businessman and alderman, then gave a brief talk and told of the many improvements that would be underway.  It definitely had a ring of a booster to the community.

Taking over the City Waterworks Plant

In July, 1915 the Floresville Light and Power Company took over the City Waterworks Plant and the city water was pumped from the power house.  A new 40 HP Muncie oil engine was added to operate the day current and to pump most of the water.

Homes and businesses were soon wired and street lights were being installed.  The promoters were very pleased with the support being accorded and the residents were equally as well pleased with the new service.

In November, 1925, Flem Spruce, Mgr. of the New Lone Star State Power Company, the new public utility plant that took over the Floresville Light and Power Company informed the public that new high power lines would be installed.  These lines were the lines between Floresville & Poth and Floresville & Stockdale.  In addition to these lines, Mr. Spruce stated that the company would install a new diesel engine of not less than 200 HP to take care of all the needs of Floresville, Stockdale and Poth.

In 1928, San Antonio Public Service Company purchased the assets of the power company with Flem Spruce still the manager.  Then in 1942, Floresville Electric Light and Power System was formed by the Cities of Floresville, Stockdale and Poth by purchasing the assets of the San Antonio Public Service Company.

Lighting by the Numbers

FELPS 1942 audit show 489 customers in Floresville, 135 customers in Poth and 178 customers in Stockdale, a total of 802 customers.  FELPS 1950 audit show 811 customers in Floresville, 237 customers in Poth, 347 customers in Stockdale and 1,462 customers in the rural area of the three cities, a total of 2,857 customers.  Then in February, 2009 there were 13,647 FELPS customers.  As of December 2018 FELPS had 15,908 customers.  This indicates the lights are shining to a larger number of residents.

Compiled from past Floresville Chronicle Journal articles by Viola Henke, a retired employee of Floresville Electric Light and Power System.

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