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 RFP, for up to 600 megawatts of utility-scale solar power generation and require that the […]
Energy
Posted inAustin, City Council, Energy, Resources
AE to seek new solar contracts by mid-April
Since City Council adopted a set of goals last year that will shape Austin’s future energy portfolio, most discussion has focused on how to fill a 500-megawatt power gap in the plan. This week, the focus shifted to a goal that gets the city to shop for large solar investments. Responding to a request by […]
Posted inEnergy, Resources
EUC pushes for generation plan’s solar component
The Electric Utility Commission passed a resolution Monday urging that City Council direct Austin Energy to issue a request for proposal for 600 megawatts of utility-scale solar energy by April 15. “I feel like Austin Energy, in making their agreement to go forward with the generation plan as it was, owes the community the RFP,” […]
Posted inAustin, Budget, Energy, Resources
Explainer: The Austin Energy-CoA funds transfer
The Explainer takes a deeper look at stories we have been following. This week, we tackle the annual transfer from Austin Energy to the City of Austin’s General Fund. The annual transfer of what has historically been many millions of dollars in cash from the coffers of Austin Energy to those just across the river […]
Posted inCity Hall, Energy
Austin Energy payments to city keep growing
Even though City Council froze the transfer from Austin Energy to the city’s general fund at $105 million in 2012, the amount the utility pays for support services has continued to grow. For the current fiscal year, the utility will fund more than $20 million for support services as well as to departments that may or […]
Posted inCity Council, Energy
Council debates deregulation of Austin Energy
When it comes to Austin Energy, there is one word that always stirs up debate. That word is “deregulation.” City Council held a policy workshop with Austin Energy management, stakeholders and policy advocates Monday on the myriad issues associated with the public utility. The conversation touched several times on the merits of Austin Energy’s current […]
Posted inCity Council, Energy, Environment
Council puts energy consulting contracts on hold
Picking up where others left off can be difficult, especially when it involves something as expensive and complicated as the Austin Energy generation plan. Rather than decide on up to $2 million worth of contracts for energy demand management consulting related to the plan, City Council voted Thursday to refer the decision to one of […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, Resources
Austin Energy to clarify gas plant study request
Austin Energy will update its call for consultants to conduct an independent study of a proposed gas plant and renewable alternatives, following a Monday request from the Electric Utility Commission. Gage Loots, supervising senior buyer for the utility’s purchasing office, told the Austin Monitor on Wednesday that his staff plans to issue an addendum to the […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
EUC members concerned about gas plant study
While the future makeup of the city’s energy portfolio potentially rests on an upcoming independent review of a proposed natural gas plant, members of the Electric Utility Commission continue to vocalize their concerns about the study. Vice Chair Karen Hadden and Commissioner Joep Meijer sent a letter Thursday to Austin Energy staff scrutinizing potential underlying […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
EUC wants ‘fair shake’ in gas plant study
After much discussion about the scope of work for an independent review of Austin Energy’s proposed combined-cycle natural gas plant, the Electric Utility Commission voted Monday to organize a working group and provide the utility with official comments by Jan. 12. Vice Chair Karen Hadden, who made the final motion, said she did not feel […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Energy, Environment, Resources
Council approves 2025 Austin Energy gen plan
Following a several-months-long stakeholder process, City Council approved an update to the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan with goals to 2025 for the new Council to take charge of next year. Council members made several amendments before adopting the plan at Thursday’s Council meeting. They were eventually accepted by Austin Energy staff […]
Posted inAustin, Energy, Environment, Resources
AE staff, stakeholders agree on gas plant review
Just in time for Council to consider it before the end of the year, Austin Energy and the environmental and business communities have cleared what appears to be the last hurdle of the 2025 energy generation resource plan. Austin Energy staff told City Council on Tuesday that the utility has agreed with stakeholders on an […]