In an effort to encourage the more efficient and sustainable use of utilities, Austin Energy offers a host of rebate programs to residential and commercial customers through its Customer Energy Solutions division. This fiscal year, even with a lull in program implementation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the city-owned utility logged higher participation numbers in […]
Austin Energy
As a municipally-owned electric utility, Austin Energy is a rarity in the largely deregulated State of Texas. Its annual budget clocks in at over $1 billion. The utility’s annual direct transfer of a Council-determined percentage of its revenues offers the city a notable revenue stream.
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy Covid rates could revert as soon as November
During an Austin Energy budget presentation on Friday, the Electric Utility Commission learned that the rate cuts the utility put into place this spring as part of its Covid-19 recovery efforts will expire at the end of this fiscal year. The utility cut rates for all customers earlier this year due to the pandemic and the city’s […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy expects only small revenue reduction from Covid-19 bill relief
Although Austin Energy expects to provide both residential and commercial customers with $35 million in bill relief between now and Sept. 30, the utility does not expect the rate reduction to greatly affect its balance sheet. Austin Energy’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Dombroski told the Electric Utility Commission at its May 11 meeting that lowering […]
Posted inEnergy
City utilities offering more help with bills
Austin Energy and Austin Water, two enterprise departments that help fund the city’s operations, are giving back to the community in the form of reduced electric and water and wastewater bills during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each utility is also contributing $5 million to the fund that helps low-income customers pay their utility bills. As a […]
Posted inCity Hall
City takes precautions for critical employees
Electricity. Water. Trash pickup. The city of Austin provides all these services and we take it as a given that they will be there when we need them. Even as most Austinites have been ordered to stay home, the employees who make sure we still have lights, water and trash removal are still working during […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County evictions put on hold, Austin Energy won’t shut off utilities amid COVID-19 outbreak
Eviction hearings in the Austin area will be put on pause until at least April 1, after Travis County justices of the peace issued an order Friday. “It’s not in the public’s interest to have people out in public trying to look for housing or if they become homeless have no way to social-distance themselves,” […]
Posted inEnergy
Council members discuss how Austin Energy’s billing system disproportionally affects vulnerable customers
Austin Energy makes its revenue from customers purchasing energy from the fourth and fifth tiers of its five-tiered residential billing structure. However, with more Austinites living in multifamily units and homes becoming more energy-efficient, 76 percent of residential energy consumption is being sold below the utility’s cost to serve. Those who are left to foot […]
Posted inDevelopment
Environmental Commission recommends revising green building standards
Green buildings are intended to be superior constructions built with environmentally sustainable materials and design. While not required, the city encourages this type of construction on a voluntary basis through Austin Energy’s Green Building Program, which rewards builders for green choices. Although some baseline prerequisites are required for a development to be eligible for one-star […]
Posted inEnergy
More energy-efficient homes are straining Austin Energy’s revenues
Austin Energy began its year with higher-than-expected revenues thanks to warmer temperatures this fall. “We’re about 5 percent over the forecast for the quarter in consumption,” said Stephanie Koudelka, the utility’s principal accounting manager, at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Electric Utility Commission. This increase in consumption translated to a 2 percent bump in […]
Posted inCity Council
Waste management emergency contract heads to Council with split recommendations
Austin’s dumpster wars continue. The city’s contract with Waste Management of Texas expires Feb. 28. To avoid a public health crisis, City Council will vote tonight on whether to execute an emergency multi-term contract with the waste collector for up to one year and an amount not to exceed $1.06 million. Not all commissions are […]
Posted inEnergy
AE, but not drivers, charging toward renewable goals
A report from the Office of the City Auditor states that Austin Energy is on track to reduce carbon emissions from utility operations so the city can meet its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. But auditors also found that the city may very well miss its overall goal because of Austinites’ failure to reduce […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy seeks change in rebate approvals
City Council authorized Austin Energy to pay $4.45 million for multifamily and commercial customer rebates during the current fiscal year, which started Oct. 1. But the utility may not be able to provide all the rebates authorized because some property owners find the lengthy time frame for getting approval from two commissions and Council to […]