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Energy

Resource Management Commission, Austin Energy discuss reforms to homeowner solar incentives

The Resource Management Commission held an extended discussion on March 25 on a resolution urging Austin Energy, by way of City Council, to undertake several key reforms to residential solar incentive programs. The resolution, titled “Resolution on Changes to Residential…

Energy • By Miles Wall • Apr 3, 2025

Burying Austin's power lines would cost $50 billion (and is pretty much impossible)

Two years ago, after Austin’s lush urban tree canopy froze and downed power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands without power, the city resolved to look into a simple solution: burying the power lines. Now, a new city-commissioned study shows that…

Energy • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 26, 2025

Austin Energy seeks to dampen fears of cooling department employees

Despite assurances that Austin Energy is not currently contemplating a sale of its District Energy and Cooling Department, called the DEC, some employees remain concerned that the utility might decide to sell the cooling system, which provides chilled water cooling…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Mar 4, 2025

Incentives for customer-owned batteries among new programs in Austin Energy’s pipeline

After ending last year with a successful vote for its Climate Protection Plan at City Council, Austin Energy is taking no breaks to celebrate, moving right ahead with plans to make good on its promises for a more sustainable and…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Feb 25, 2025

City Council passes new energy plan through 2035. Here’s what it does.

After nearly two years of study, revision, public outreach and intense debate, the city of Austin finally has a new plan for how it will meet its energy needs over the next 10 years. Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate…

Energy • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Dec 16, 2024

Kirk Watson, Ryan Alter propose competing amendments to Austin Energy plan

Gearing up for a vote Thursday on Austin Energy’s Resource Generation Plan, Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Ryan Alter have each proposed amendments to a plan that has gone through a variety of iterations and gained the endorsement of…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Dec 10, 2024

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Electric Utility Commission sounds alarm on Austin Energy peaker plant plan, hoping for alternatives

Pivoting from its now-scrapped draft, Austin Energy is putting the finishing touches on its long-awaited Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan proposal, just in time for a vote at the very last City Council meeting of 2024. But first, the…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Nov 27, 2024

Austin Energy proposes gas peaker units, not larger combined cycle plant

Austin Energy has been working for more than a year – collaborating with stakeholders and looking at a variety of technologies, “including energy efficiency, demand response, batteries, rooftop solar expansion and natural gas peaker units or combined-cycle generation and more”…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 20, 2024

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Austin Energy looking forward to using geothermal energy

While some environmentalists continue to argue against a new gas plant that would serve Austin Energy’s customers when the prices of electricity are at their peak, Mike Enger, the utility’s vice president for energy markets and resource planning, is looking…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 19, 2024

Updated: Austin Energy still considering options to answer to grid growing pains

As its end-of-year deadline approaches, Austin Energy is busy crunching numbers, hoping to finally nail down a much-anticipated update to its Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan. Update: Following publication of this story, Austin Energy reached out to the Monitor to let…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Nov 7, 2024

Austin Energy hopes new solar standard offer can scale up sorely needed local generation

Update 10:35 p.m. Oct. 2: On Monday, the Electric Utility Commission (EUC) approved an update to the city’s solar program after a quick discussion. As Austin Energy grapples with an electric future and unprecedented demands on the grid, the utility…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Oct 2, 2024

Austin Energy still pondering new generation plan

As part of Austin Energy’s effort to arrive at a new generation plan, the utility has spent this year talking to the public about what is most important to them when they think about electric service. According to Austin Energy’s…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Sep 25, 2024

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