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Energy
Solar prices keep dropping, says Austin Energy
Although Austin Energy’s recent call for solar power contract solicitations yielded record low prices, the utility advised City Council on Thursday to take a “measured” approach to buying more solar in the next few years. Khalil Shalabi, the utility’s vice…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 29, 2015
Council picks consultant for energy gap study
In an unusual turn of events, City Council selected a company on Thursday that did not score the most points with Austin Energy staff to conduct an upcoming independent energy gap study. Council voted 7-3 to award the contract to…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 26, 2015
Council urged to change "demand charges"
Austin Energy is scheduled to present to City Council today a process for conducting a new cost-of-service study. Among the many things that Council will be asked to consider in reviewing Austin Energy rates is whether to lower or eliminate…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 25, 2015
Austin Energy to tighten up collections
City Council on Tuesday put its stamp of approval on a compromise between Austin Energy staff and advocates for low-income customers that both sides hope will help reduce the amount of bad debt owed to the utility. Austin Energy places…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 24, 2015
Weis memo addresses AE bad-debt questions
Austin Energy’s bad-debt problem is not the result of a policy “that penalizes customers who are a day late or a penny short,” according to a memo to City Council and Mayor Steve Adler from Austin Energy General Manager Larry…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 10, 2015
Council extends certain hospital energy contracts
Following up on last week’s decision to extend contracts for large Austin Energy customers, City Council voted Thursday to expand the treatment to St. David’s HealthCare and Seton Healthcare Family. The six-month extensions for contracts that were set to expire…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • May 29, 2015
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Council extends large energy contracts
Following extensive deliberation, City Council voted Thursday to extend long-term contracts for Austin Energy’s two largest customers for six months and permanently revise the way the utility calculates rates for a third major customer. The move effectively keeps rates for…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • May 22, 2015
Council tentatively extends large energy contracts
Austin Energy is stuck between a rock and a hard place, with the rock being the Texas Legislature and the hard place being the utility’s exhausted reserve funds. City Council is now working to wriggle the municipal energy provider out…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • May 11, 2015
Adler suggests changes to AE business model
Mayor Steve Adler says City Council members are open to shifting how Austin Energy makes its transfers to the city, a move that may quiet talk in the Texas Legislature of deregulating the municipal energy company. “There is some support…
Energy • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 24, 2015
Austin Energy bad debt increases (corrected)
Austin Energy’s customer debt is skyrocketinghas risen. From September 2014 to the end of March, the electric utility’sAustin Energy’s bad debt — or bills unlikely to ever be collected — increased more than 300 percent, from $20.8 million to more…
Energy • By Sunny Sone • Apr 24, 2015
Austin Energy deregulation bill sent to Senate
A bill that could have major implications for Austin Energy and the city budget passed its first hurdle in the Texas House on Tuesday and now goes to the Senate floor. It could give certain Austin Energy customers the ability…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Apr 15, 2015
Council pushes Austin Energy on solar solicitation
To RFP or not to RFP? According to City Council, the answer is yes, and ASAP — or at least by April 15. Council voted Thursday to impose the deadline for Austin Energy to issue a request for proposal, or…
