Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- HUD cuts could endanger portion of more than $15M in federal housing funds
- Austin Transit Partnership presents pedestrian features, changes to stops in revised Project Connect plan
- Austin’s new CapMetro Rapid lines debut with buses every 20 minutes
- Amid ongoing measles concerns, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate is below target for its youngest students
- Under threat of a federal freeze, city staff says they’re staying the course on infrastructure grants
-
Discover News By District
-
Energy
LCRA's transmission business prospers in wake of deregulation
Typically it’s not public entities that benefit from deregulation, but a 1999 law deregulating Texas’ electricity-generation market has been a boon for the Lower Colorado River Authority’s transmission business. “It’s a future of continued growth,” said Ross Phillips, LCRA executive…
Energy • By Jack Craver • Sep 25, 2015
Full-scale solar option remains on table
In spite of a lengthy debate about how much solar capacity the city should contract into next month, the City Council Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee did not appear to rule out any options at its meeting on Thursday. The…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 25, 2015
Debate heats up over solar energy contracts
There is a solar energy tug-of-war taking place at City Hall. Amid calls from solar advocates for the city to quickly procure 600 megawatts of utility-scale solar energy, Austin Energy will propose to City Council at an Oct. 1 meeting…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 24, 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
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
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
Subscribe to our newsletter
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
Austin Energy projects $1 residential bill increase
According to current forecasts, the average residential Austin Energy customer will see his or her monthly bill increase this fall by 1 percent, or about $1. However, that number may change once the utility figures in cost data for May…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 22, 2015
AE GM responds to AIBA call for demand charge change
Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis responded on Thursday to Austin Independent Business Alliance Executive Director Rebecca Melançon’s request that the city change the utility’s policies on demand charges. “The policy on demand charges is based on Cost of Service…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 22, 2015
Local small-business alliance proposes energy policy change
Small-business owners often wrestle with financial uncertainty, and some have complained that Austin Energy policies contribute to that challenge. Rebecca Melançon, executive director of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, wrote a letter to City Council and Austin Energy management Monday…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 16, 2015
City gears up for energy cost-of-service study
As the city prepares to study how much it costs to run Austin Energy in order to have new electric rates ready for the fall of next year, there are many questions ahead. City Council and staff discussed what the…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 7, 2015
Austin Energy, East Austinites talk solar project
Although solar panels are designed to soak up the sun, Austin Energy spokesperson Carlos Cordova says the utility wants its upcoming local solar project to be “reflective” of the East Austin community that will be its home. Austin Energy inked…
