Austin Energy’s poles are overcrowding. Providers of telephone, cable and internet services have a right under state law to attach their wires to city-owned utility poles (at a nominal $10 fee), but a dramatic increase in the number of attachments in the past five years has led to concerns about companies making improper attachments that […]
Electric Utility Commission
The advisory body charged with oversight of Austin Energy, the City of Austin’s municipally-owned electric utility.
Posted inEnergy
23 groups get involved in Austin Energy rate review
Austin Energy is assuring the public that new electricity rates will be determined with plenty of input from stakeholders. Twenty-three individuals and groups representing the interests of various segments of the utility’s customer base have signed on as “intervenors” in the process, according to Mark Dreyfus, vice president of regulatory affairs and corporate communications for […]
Posted inEnergy
Recommendations aimed at reducing energy costs for poor move to Council
City Council is a step closer to acting on a series of recommendations made by a task force aimed at reducing energy costs for poor and near-poor Austinites. But Carol Biedrzycki, who chaired the Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force and is a member of the Electric Utility Commission, says the recommendations that have been […]
Posted inEnergy
Consumer advocate hearing to take place today
As Austin Energy moves forward on a rate review, one puzzle piece remains missing – an independent consumer advocate for smaller customers. That piece may soon come closer to falling into place. On Dec. 14, the sole remaining bidder for the job brought a protest against the city for its disqualification after an alleged anti-lobbying […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy reveals cost-of-service findings
As the city begins to re-examine its electric rate structure for the first time since 2012, Austin Energy staff revealed the preliminary results of its internal cost-of-service analysis at an Electric Utility Commission meeting on Dec. 14. In short, Austin Energy staff found that rates for its residential and small commercial classes of customers are […]
Posted inCity Hall
Talk with EUC chair ends consumer advocate bid
The city’s purchasing officer has disqualified the sole remaining bidder on a contract to act as the consumer advocate in Austin Energy’s upcoming rate review. City Purchasing Officer James Scarboro informed the mayor and City Council about the disqualification of Oxford Advisors LLC in a memo on Wednesday. According to the memo, “This disqualification is […]
Posted inEnergy
Council delays decision on consumer advocate
Not just any old consumer advocate will do. City Council members made clear Thursday night that they were far from convinced that Oxford Advisors LLC, a firm proposed by Austin Energy to serve as an advocate for Austin ratepayers, was qualified to represent the best interests of average Austinites during the upcoming cost of service study. […]
Posted inEnergy
Consultant endorses gas plant after study
Navigant Consulting, which the city hired to review the 500 megawatt natural gas plant proposed in the Austin Energy generation plan, has recommended the project. Dan Bradley and Matt Tanner, two of the report’s authors, presented the results at an Electric Utility Commission meeting on Monday evening, a few hours after Austin Energy released the […]
Posted inEnergy
Debate heats up over solar energy contracts
There is a solar energy tug-of-war taking place at City Hall. Amid calls from solar advocates for the city to quickly procure 600 megawatts of utility-scale solar energy, Austin Energy will propose to City Council at an Oct. 1 meeting that it take smaller steps and authorize 200 to 300 megawatts’ worth of solar contracts […]
Posted inEnergy
Council committee asks for ambitious solar plan
Solar advocates have scored a minor victory in their push for Austin to invest heavily in solar energy and to do it fast. The Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee recommended Thursday that City Council direct staff to bring a plan forward for Council consideration by October that would involve the city investing in 600 megawatts […]
Posted inEnergy
Pressure mounts to change demand charge policy
As City Council comes closer to adopting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, members of the public are stepping up their requests for amendments. One such push reached a turning point last week when the Electric Utility Commission passed a resolution recommending that Council change Austin Energy’s demand charge policies for small businesses in […]
Posted inDevelopment, Planning, Zoning
ZAP also suffers from lack of legal input, says commissioner
Planning Commissioners aren’t the only people at City Hall grumbling about the city law department. Jackie Goodman, a former mayoral candidate and former longtime Austin City Council member who is now vice chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission, said she is also frustrated by her panel’s lack of access to city attorneys, who she […]