Austin has a herculean trial ahead of itself as it tries to reach 65 percent renewable energy by 2027. Thankfully, one new proposed project may make that goal achievable. Despite making up only 4 percent of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market, Austin Energy’s renewable energy contribution is noteworthy. With its latest proposed project, the […]
Energy
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Robbins protests gas company’s budget
Local consumer advocate Paul Robbins has filed an appeal challenging the effectiveness of the conservation program being used by Texas Gas Service. As a customer of the utility, Robbins asserts that he has a right to challenge what is called the Conservation Adjustment Clause for Central Texas. In his appeal, Robbins says that the gas […]
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Changes in the Texas wholesale energy grid may increase prices
In August 2017, City Council made a commitment to providing 65 percent renewable energy to its residents by 2027. This aggressive energy plan is, according to Robert Cullick, director of communications and marketing at Austin Energy, the only one of its kind in the country. At the Nov. 13 meeting of Council’s Austin Energy Utility Oversight […]
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Energy efficiency rebates not impacting rent
The Austin Energy MultiFamily Rebate Program was launched in 1991, but only since 2013 has it been the focus of a data tracking initiative with the aim of investigating the possible effects of participation on rental prices. Liz Jambor, a data analytics and business intelligence manager at Austin Energy, came to the Austin Energy Utility […]
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Fath retiring from Electric Utility Commission
After 40 years of fighting for consumers and small businesses on Austin’s Electric Utility Commission, Shudde Fath this week announced her resignation. Fath, who is often referred to as the grande dame of Austin’s environmental movement, is 101 years old and was first appointed by Mayor Carole Keeton McClellan in 1977. In a letter to […]
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Utility fixing Customer Assistance Program
Last week, after City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget, longtime Austin environmental advocate and Austin Energy critic Paul Robbins had something to celebrate. Robbins had been asking Council to reform Austin Energy’s Customer Assistance Program since 2014 and the new budget includes direction to do just that. Starting in 2014, Robbins collected data […]
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Council approves ambitious renewable energy goals
City Council overwhelmingly approved a plan Thursday that sets big goals for Austin Energy, the municipally owned electric utility, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels over the next decade. The update to the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan builds upon the goals set when the plan was first approved in 2014 […]
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Environmentalists swarm City Hall in push for carbon-free electricity
In what was clearly the largest turnout for a City Council meeting yet this year, hundreds of activists showed up at City Hall Thursday night to speak out on Austin Energy’s proposed update to its resource plan. Following a rally in front of the building, green-clad environmental activists streamed into Council chambers until the room […]
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Austin residents push for more aggressive energy goal
A number of concerned citizens gathered to speak at the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee meeting Monday morning to express their frustration with Austin Energy’s updated Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan. While the updated plan, which was written by a 16-member working group organized by the Electric Utility Commission, suggests a goal for renewables […]
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Austin Energy proposes Value of Solar for commercial properties
Austin Energy presented a commercial Value of Solar proposal at the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee Monday morning. Danielle Murray, the Solar Energy Services manager at Austin Energy, said the proposed plan would have benefits for both present and future energy customers. One of those benefits is compensation for excess generation. According to Murray, it’s […]
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Austin Energy Facilities Master Plan looks to relocate key buildings
Austin Energy presented an update of its Facilities Master Plan at the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee Monday morning. The main goal of the plan, according to Mark Dombroski, deputy general manager and chief financial and risk officer at Austin Energy, is to improve services to customers. According to Dombroski, the company has been looking […]
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Austin Energy rebate to help renters
The Electric Utility Commission approved a rebate for the Lodge at Stone Oak Ranch apartment complex on April 17. The rebate, requested by Austin Energy, is meant to help fund energy-efficiency improvements at the complex. The proposed rebate is one element of Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan, parts of which focus on […]