As if there weren’t enough questions swirling around the tenuous adoption of new water rates for the city, one member of the Water and Wastewater Commission has struck out against what she calls a “years-long pattern of obscuring utility rate impacts.” In August, Commissioner Mickey Fishbeck, who also chairs the Joint Committee on Austin Water […]
Austin Water Utility
AWU is the municipal utility that provides water service for the City of Austin.
Posted inResources
Council approves new water rates, for now
A last-ditch proposal to change the structure of Austin Water Utility rates didn’t gain enough traction to pass at City Council’s budget session Tuesday. But the proposal may have an impact soon. Council members voted 6-1 to approve what they had already agreed upon earlier in budget discussions, with Council Member Kathie Tovo voting in […]
Posted inResources
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 11: Water
Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros joins the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin to talk drought, rates, and the future of water in Central Texas. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163019200″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Plan suggests shutdown of Decker power plant
The City of Austin is considering taking the Decker Creek Power Station offline in order to secure access to water from adjacent Lake Walter E. Long in the case of a future drought emergency. The idea is one of several key recommendations set forth in a report by the Water Resource Planning Task Force, a team that the Austin […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Resources
Energy, water utility rates top Council concerns over 2015 budget
The Austin City Council took on next year’s budget in earnest Thursday. Of the $3.5 billion budget, members’ biggest concerns continued to rest with the city’s water and energy utilities. A proposal from Austin Energy to increase the fuel charge customers pay had Council particularly on edge. That increase will add $4.67 to the average […]
Posted inEnvironment, Resources
Water task force recommends finding more ways to save water
After months of tedious and lengthy meetings, the city’s blue ribbon task force assigned to make recommendations on how Austin should deal with an ever-shrinking water supply unanimously approved a report to City Council Wednesday. The major message from the Austin Water Resource Planning Task Force to the Austin Water Utility and citizens was: […]
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Committee: AWU should cut contributions to general fund during drought
Austin Water Utility should cut back on its contributions to the city’s general fund during drought conditions, according to recommendations by a committee formed to find ways to keep the utility financially healthy. The Joint Committee on Austin Water Utility’s Financial Plan met Wednesday to finalize recommendations it will send to City Council on […]
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Austin Water Utility proposes ‘meaty’ cuts to balance FY2015 budget
A struggling Austin Water Utility moved forward with tough cuts at the latest meeting of the Joint Committee on AWU’s Financial Plan. Right now, AWU has several options on the table for next year’s budget. The utility’s latest proposal has $33 million in budget cuts, with $4.5 million of that already proposed. On Wednesday […]
Posted inResources
Task force hears water options, some likely unpalatable
With lake levels dropping and no end in sight for the current drought, Austin Water Utility officials are putting some creative strategies on the table designed to add to and maximize the city’s water supplies. It seems likely that the utility will have to utilize some of them, with cost being a major consideration. […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Mayor criticizes use of Austin Water funds to pay for general fund expenses
The Austin Water Utility came under scrutiny at last week’s budget session, as City Council members took a closer look at rate increases proposed by the utility. In fact, Mayor Lee Leffingwell called for “truth in budgeting,” telling AWU officials that he thinks there are expenses they could cut to avoid raising rates. The […]
Posted inResources
Committee debates options for rate increase for water customers
Leaders at Austin Water Utility are pushing back on the recommendations of a committee tasked with finding alternatives to a water rate increase of more than 10 percent. The Joint Committee on Austin Water Utility’s Financial Plan met May 7 to discuss a possible rate increase for customers caused by the city’s drought. Water […]
Posted inResources
Facing financial losses, Austin Water considers 15.2 percent rate hike
With the Austin Water Utility projected to lose another $27 million this fiscal year, David Anders, the utility’s assistant director of finance and business services, said customers could potentially see a 15.2 percent rate hike in their water service bills next year. Under the proposed water and wastewater service rate hike, the average customer […]