Stories by Bill McCann
Austin Energy’s proposed rate increase running into trouble
Pressure is mounting against Austin Energy’s proposed electric rate increase and could begin to boil over at a City Council work session today. In recent days Mayor Lee Leffingwell came out against the rate increase. Meanwhile, a group of…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jan 17, 2012
Austin Energy reports progress towards 2020 power savings goal
Austin Energy is about one-third of the way to achieving the city’s ambitious goal of saving 800 megawatts of peak customer power demands by 2020, according to utility documents. Utility officials say the efforts to date are a good…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jan 9, 2012
EUC urges Council to act quickly on request to hike electric rates
Warning that Austin Energy faces a possible revenue shortfall of $2 million a week in 2012, the advisory Electric Utility Commission has recommended that the City Council move quickly on setting new electric rates. The seven-member commission voted…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Dec 21, 2011
Austin Energy officials make case to Council on electric rate increase
Austin Energy officials made their formal case for an electric rate increase to the City Council on Wednesday, prompting wide-ranging questions from members seeking to understand the complex rate package and its potential impact on customers. The package presented…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Dec 15, 2011
Austin Energy to prepare impact study of possible Fayette plant sale
As pressure builds for the City of Austin to end its participation in the coal-fired Fayette Power Project, Austin Energy is looking for answers to what such a major change would mean to the utility’s operations and to its ratepayers.…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Dec 2, 2011
Solar report shows latest Austin Energy strategy
As Austin Energy prepares to pull power from the state’s largest solar electric plant in a few weeks, it is considering the possibility of participating in three more solar electric plants over the next eight years. In fact, Austin…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Nov 21, 2011
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EUC backs most of proposed Austin Energy rate package
During more than six hours of discussion, dissension and compromise at two meetings last week, the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) approved a long list of recommendations that largely concurred with Austin Energy’s proposed electric rate package. But the…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Oct 24, 2011
EUC recommends shaving $20 million from Austin Energy revenues
The advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) on Monday recommended that more than $20 million be cut from Austin Energy’s proposed $1.136 billion revenue requirement that the utility says it needs to operate its system annually. The recommended cuts include…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Oct 19, 2011
Debate centers on annual budget for Austin Energy operations
How much money does Austin Energy need annually to run its electric system reliably? That was the $1.136 billion question at a special meeting of the advisory Electric Utility Commission (EUC) on Monday, as more than a dozen representatives…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Oct 6, 2011
Austin Energy chief reviews first year of accomplishments, challenges
Larry Weis sums up his first year as general manager of Austin Energy by highlighting accomplishments, frustrations and ongoing challenges. In a wide-ranging interview with In Fact Daily, Weis says he has moved into his leadership and management role…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Oct 3, 2011
Advocacy groups plan alternate rate structure for Austin Energy
In what is likely to focus added attention on Austin Energy’s proposed electric rate increases, representatives of local consumer and other advocacy groups are banding together against the rate structure proposed for residential customers. They argue that the rate structure…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Sep 27, 2011
Expert raises concerns about Austin Energy expenses
An expert rate consultant to Austin Energy has recommended that the utility take a hard look at its revenue requirements – the basis for its proposed electric rate increase – because some of the numbers may be vulnerable if the…
