In an effort to encourage the more efficient and sustainable use of utilities, Austin Energy offers a host of rebate programs to residential and commercial customers through its Customer Energy Solutions division. This fiscal year, even with a lull in program implementation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the city-owned utility logged higher participation numbers in […]
Energy
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Austin Energy Covid rates could revert as soon as November
During an Austin Energy budget presentation on Friday, the Electric Utility Commission learned that the rate cuts the utility put into place this spring as part of its Covid-19 recovery efforts will expire at the end of this fiscal year. The utility cut rates for all customers earlier this year due to the pandemic and the city’s […]
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Cities, Texas Gas Service agree to settlement
Attorneys for Central Texas cities including Austin and Gulf Coast cities including Beaumont and Port Arthur, along with attorneys representing the staff of the Texas Railroad Commission, have reached a settlement agreement with Texas Gas Service for a rate increase expected to take effect in August. Austin City Council rejected the previous request from Texas […]
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Austin Energy expects only small revenue reduction from Covid-19 bill relief
Although Austin Energy expects to provide both residential and commercial customers with $35 million in bill relief between now and Sept. 30, the utility does not expect the rate reduction to greatly affect its balance sheet. Austin Energy’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Dombroski told the Electric Utility Commission at its May 11 meeting that lowering […]
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Environmental, consumer groups oppose gas rate hike
Nine leaders of environmental and consumer organizations have sent a letter to the mayor and City Council urging them to reject the rate increase proposed by Texas Gas Service and restructure its rates in a manner designed to help low-income customers and discourage consumption. They note that it is particularly important not to put additional […]
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City utilities offering more help with bills
Austin Energy and Austin Water, two enterprise departments that help fund the city’s operations, are giving back to the community in the form of reduced electric and water and wastewater bills during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each utility is also contributing $5 million to the fund that helps low-income customers pay their utility bills. As a […]
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Hays County revokes permits for Kinder Morgan pipeline
The Hays County Commissioners Court has revoked permits it issued allowing Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway pipeline project to bore under county roads. The move is the most recent flare-up in a long-standing battle between Hill Country landowners, local governments and the pipeline company. Hays County took the action Tuesday after a pipeline accident in neighboring […]
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No hearing on gas rates this week
Negotiators for the city of Austin and Texas Gas Service, which provides residential and commercial services to Austin and the surrounding communities, have not been able to reach agreement on new rates for residential customers, Larry Graham, a spokesperson for the gas company, told the Austin Monitor Monday. Rondella Hawkins, the city’s officer for telecommunications […]
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Council approves update to Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan
In spite of a slew of public speakers requesting that City Council postpone a vote on the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection plan due to a lack of public engagement, Council voted to approve the update to the plan for 2030. The Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan is a 10-year road map […]
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Council members discuss how Austin Energy’s billing system disproportionally affects vulnerable customers
Austin Energy makes its revenue from customers purchasing energy from the fourth and fifth tiers of its five-tiered residential billing structure. However, with more Austinites living in multifamily units and homes becoming more energy-efficient, 76 percent of residential energy consumption is being sold below the utility’s cost to serve. Those who are left to foot […]
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More energy-efficient homes are straining Austin Energy’s revenues
Austin Energy began its year with higher-than-expected revenues thanks to warmer temperatures this fall. “We’re about 5 percent over the forecast for the quarter in consumption,” said Stephanie Koudelka, the utility’s principal accounting manager, at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Electric Utility Commission. This increase in consumption translated to a 2 percent bump in […]
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AE, but not drivers, charging toward renewable goals
A report from the Office of the City Auditor states that Austin Energy is on track to reduce carbon emissions from utility operations so the city can meet its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. But auditors also found that the city may very well miss its overall goal because of Austinites’ failure to reduce […]