Local energy storage – essentially a giant battery connected to a power grid – seems like a simple idea, but for years it has been too costly for Austin Energy to pursue. That could change next year, though, when the utility hopes to have a Tesla-manufactured, 1.6 megawatt lithium ion battery – the same kind […]
ERCOT
Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The state-level organization that organizes utilities throughout the state. According to its web site, ERCOT, “manages the flow of electric power to 24 million Texas customers – representing 85 percent of the state’s electric load.”
Posted inResources
Austin Energy to cut planned 2015 fee increase
Austin City Council members are studying an Austin Energy plan to lower regulatory fees in 2015, which will cut the average monthly residential bill. Utility officials floated the plan Thursday at the Council Committee on Austin Energy. Austin Energy officials say the proposal would reduce a consumer’s portion of an Electric Reliability Council of Texas […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Austin Energy looks to get under affordability cap
Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis told the Austin Monitor Tuesday that he and utility staff are working on a proposal that would keep the utility’s FY2015 budget revenue request under a 2 percent affordability cap on potential rate increases. Weis added that the proposal would address concerns first raised by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell […]
Posted inLocal Politics
City management plans tax cut, 3.5 percent employee raise
City management’s plan for the FY2015 City of Austin budget contains a 0.7 cent property tax reduction, a 3.5 percent raise for city civilian employees, and limited fee and tax increases. According to city figures, the monthly increase for taxes and fees for the median homeowner is roughly $13 per household. That’s using an […]
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New wind-power agreement is Austin Energy’s cheapest
A wind-power purchase agreement going to the City Council Thursday for approval will not only allow Austin Energy to reach a key renewable energy goal four years ahead of time, it will be the cheapest wind energy the utility has ever purchased, Austin Energy officials say. It also may be the last wind power project […]
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Memo cites major legal hurdles for city to get out of coal plant
The City of Austin faces formidable legal hurdles and potentially significant costs if the City Council decides to sell or shut down the city’s share of the coal-fired Fayette Power Project, according to a new city Law Department memo. Potential problems arise from the city’s participation agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority on […]
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EUC rejects bid to join battle over reduced value of solar rate
While solar advocates continue to be upset over Austin Energy’s decision to reduce a rate used to compensate residential customers for the value of electricity generated by their solar units, the Electric Utility Commission has decided against joining the fight. The advisory commission this week rejected a resolution urging the City Council to keep […]
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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. […]