Austin Energy is getting ready to take a big leap forward in a program aimed at encouraging customers to save energy and money by signing up to get free updates of their electricity use, including email and text alerts when consumption approaches a more expensive rate tier. The city’s electric utility soft-started the program […]
Resources
Posted inDevelopment, Resources
Council panel reveals early list of Google Connections finalists
Members of the Council’s Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee Wednesday offered a preliminary list of finalists for the Google Community Connections program. If eventually approved by the full Council — and OK’d by Google – those entities that remain on the list will receive Google’s ultra-high speed Internet service at no cost. City Telecommunications […]
Posted inResources
Conservation measures could hike rates for Austin Water users
As the current drought deepens – despite recent rains – city officials may be forced to take steps to install tougher conservation measures as water levels in the Highland Lakes continue to fall. But, as Austin Water Utility Assistant Director Daryl Slusher told the Environmental Board last week, using less water could mean higher water […]
Posted inResources
French solar power company eyes Austin for US headquarters
The leading French solar power producer is looking for a North American headquarters and Austin seems to be on its list of possible destinations. Though representatives of the company, Solairedirect, have visited Council offices in recent weeks, it remains unclear whether it will apply for any relocation incentives. When asked Thursday afternoon if she […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
PUC staff urges dismissal of latest rate challenge
A document filed Tuesday by staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission hints strongly that the commission will reject an appeal by Homeowners United for Rate Fairness of Austin City Council members’ action to assess legal costs from the Austin Energy rate case to out-of-city ratepayers. In a 12-page filing, commission staff conclude that […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Council votes to raise water impact fees to near maximum rate
Austin City Council members Thursday approved an immediate increase of impact fees for public infrastructure to just below the maximum allowable rate. Those are the fees that the Austin Water Utility assesses to help offset the cost of extending water and wastewater utility lines. The move, which came by unanimous vote, sets the fees to […]
Posted inResources, Uncategorized
Consultant says doubling city’s solar goal do-able but expensive
Should Austin double its already ambitious solar energy goal? It’s a question that has begun to get renewed attention from solar advocates, environmentalists, utility officials and others following a year-old recommendation by the City Council-appointed Local Solar Advisory Committee that the city increase its 2020 solar goal from 200 megawatts to 400 megawatts. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Watershed Protection Ordinance gets first rewrite in 28 years
City Council members took something of a strange path getting there but in the end, they approved the first major changes to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance since 1986 on a 7-0 vote. Because the ordinance rewrite also involved changes to the Save Our Springs Ordinance, it required a super-majority of City Council to […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Fledging coalition making long-term water plans for Central Texas
Travis County is part of a fledgling effort to form a regional coalition that could identify and reserve future water supplies and eventually facilitate infrastructure to deliver water from aquifers in counties outside of Central Texas.With a resolution, Travis joins Hays, Comal and other counties in finding and in some cases securing backup supplies should […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Non-Austin ratepayers file another Austin Energy complaint with PUC
The group of out-of-town residents who originally challenged last year’s Austin Energy rate increase has filed another complaint with Public Utility Commission against AE. In a nine-page document signed by Homeowners United for Rate Fairness attorney (and Travis County Republican Party Vice Chair) Roger Borgelt, the organization argues that the utility violated the settlement agreement […]
Posted inResources
Water Utility’s Meszaros outlines worst-case drought scenarios
Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros offered Austin City Council members a grim view of the lingering regional drought, and the potential effects it might have should Central Texas not see significant rainfall in the near future. In addition to near-certain mandated cuts for so-called firm wholesale water customers of the Lower Colorado River […]
Posted inResources
Changes likely coming for Water Utility impact fees
Members of the Austin City Council began their periodic review of a set of fees set by the Austin Water Utility for new development with a fair amount of skepticism. At last week’s work session, Mayor Lee Leffingwell raised questions about a move – endorsed by the city’s Water and Wastewater Commission, but not […]