Stories by Tyler Whitson
PUC calls for order to reset certain water rates
The Public Utility Commission of Texas started a process Friday that could ultimately require Austin Water to reset water and wastewater rates for a group of customers that has challenged the city. The commission approved, with some exceptions, a proposal…
Water • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 14, 2015
Council changes energy demand charge policy
Following weeks of buildup, City Council has amended a contentious Austin Energy policy in an attempt to help small businesses avoid potentially costly demand charges. Rather than adhere to an Electric Utility Commission recommendation that Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 10, 2015
Council finishes budget adoption Day One
City Council dove into the Fiscal Year 2015-16 city budget reading process on Tuesday, making some progress toward its goal of adopting the budget by the end of Thursday. Though there is still a long way to go before Council reaches…
Budget • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 9, 2015
City may fix five most dangerous intersections
So far this year, Austin has already had 76 traffic fatalities – 13 more than it did in all of 2014. Now, City Council is considering taking immediate action by funding traffic safety improvements at Austin’s five most dangerous intersections…
Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 8, 2015
Demand charge change could cost $7 million
As the deadline closes in for City Council to decide whether to increase the demand charge threshold for small commercial Austin Energy customers as part of the city budget, utility staff has released figures that may impact that decision. Austin…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 4, 2015
Google gears up for new self-driving car in Austin
Austinites who have spotted Google’s self-driving Lexus in the past couple of months will have a new rarity to keep an eye out for in the next week or so – the company’s “prototype” autonomous vehicle. Built for the task…
Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 3, 2015
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Council gauges interest on proposed budget items
City Council inched closer to adopting the city’s Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget at a work session on Tuesday when it took a “straw poll” – in the words of Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo – of the concept menu items…
Budget • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 2, 2015
Citywide compost pickup plan faces resistance
Based on comments that a few City Council members made at Thursday’s budget work session, it appears that a proposed citywide, curbside organics collection rollout could get transformed into an opt-in program – if it remains in the forthcoming city…
Resources • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 1, 2015
Council committee asks for ambitious solar plan
Solar advocates have scored a minor victory in their push for Austin to invest heavily in solar energy and to do it fast. The Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee recommended Thursday that City Council direct staff to bring a plan…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 28, 2015
Pressure mounts to change demand charge policy
As City Council comes closer to adopting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, members of the public are stepping up their requests for amendments. One such push reached a turning point last week when the Electric Utility Commission passed…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 27, 2015
Citywide compost pickup may be on the way
The blue recycling bin that many Austinites leave on their curbs may soon have a counterpart – a green organics collection bin. While a citywide compost pickup program boasts obvious environmental benefits, it would come at a cost to taxpayers,…
Resources • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 26, 2015
Cap Metro delays hiring service plan consultant
After hearing conflicting advice on which firm to choose, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors voted unanimously Monday to postpone selecting a consultant to head up the development of the organization’s 10-year service plan. The board will take…
