San Antonio Homeowners Sue CPS Energy Over Explosion Linked to Gas Leak

A lawsuit filed in San Antonio, Texas, accuses CPS Energy, a municipally owned utility company, of negligence in connection with a home explosion that injured multiple residents.

The complaint was filed by homeowners Jose Ochoa and Maytee Terrie Reeves after their home exploded on April 21. It was the second explosion in their neighborhood in a matter of hours. During their preliminary investigation, the San Antonio Fire Department said the explosion was likely caused by a natural gas buildup.

After an initial explosion in the suburban community of Preston Hollow, at least 10 homes were evacuated while fire crews remained on the scene. Shortly after CPS Energy officials arrived in the area, the evacuation order was lifted, and residents were told it was safe to return to their homes. According to the complaint, natural gas had leaked underground from a CPS Energy line and formed a volatile gas cloud inside the residence, which later ignited, resulting in a second explosion while fire crews were still on site.

Ochoa and Reeves say they suffered serious and permanent injuries and were hospitalized after the explosion. Reeves was later listed in fair condition, while Ochoa was listed in good condition as they continue to recover. Additional victims were hospitalized with severe injuries, including two individuals in critical condition and a young child in stable condition.

The complaint alleges CPS Energy failed to properly inspect, maintain, and repair infrastructure related to its natural gas services, amounting to gross negligence. The homeowners also claim they were allowed to return to their home after the first explosion based on inaccurate safety information provided by CPS Energy employees, giving them a false sense of security.

Other claims made against CPS Energy include the company's failure to provide adequate training, supervision, and inspection practices among its employees, and that the company failed to detect or address hazardous conditions that existed within its natural gas systems before the explosion.

After the first explosion, CPS Energy crews worked overnight to secure the area and determine the cause. The company also deployed its Customer Response Unit to the neighborhood to assist residents with shelter, provide support, and answer questions.

In a statement to residents, CPS Energy CEO and President Rudy Garza said, “Our thoughts continue to be with the impacted residents in the Preston Hollow subdivision, and our focus remains on supporting them.” He added, “The safety of our community and our crews is our priority as we continue this work, and we appreciate their understanding.”

CPS Energy has faced multiple lawsuits in recent years involving home explosions. At least three prior cases have named the utility company as a defendant. In one case, the utility reached a $50,000 settlement, and in another, a jury awarded $109 million in damages, though CPS Energy ultimately paid $3 million.

The complaint seeks more than $1 million in damages for each plaintiff, including compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, mental anguish, and other related losses, along with additional relief to be determined by the court.