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Energy
Austin Energy projects $1 residential bill increase
According to current forecasts, the average residential Austin Energy customer will see his or her monthly bill increase this fall by 1 percent, or about $1. However, that number may change once the utility figures in cost data for May…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 22, 2015
AE GM responds to AIBA call for demand charge change
Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis responded on Thursday to Austin Independent Business Alliance Executive Director Rebecca Melançon’s request that the city change the utility’s policies on demand charges. “The policy on demand charges is based on Cost of Service…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 22, 2015
Local small-business alliance proposes energy policy change
Small-business owners often wrestle with financial uncertainty, and some have complained that Austin Energy policies contribute to that challenge. Rebecca Melançon, executive director of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, wrote a letter to City Council and Austin Energy management Monday…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 16, 2015
City gears up for energy cost-of-service study
As the city prepares to study how much it costs to run Austin Energy in order to have new electric rates ready for the fall of next year, there are many questions ahead. City Council and staff discussed what the…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 7, 2015
Austin Energy, East Austinites talk solar project
Although solar panels are designed to soak up the sun, Austin Energy spokesperson Carlos Cordova says the utility wants its upcoming local solar project to be “reflective” of the East Austin community that will be its home. Austin Energy inked…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 6, 2015
Solar prices keep dropping, says Austin Energy
Although Austin Energy’s recent call for solar power contract solicitations yielded record low prices, the utility advised City Council on Thursday to take a “measured” approach to buying more solar in the next few years. Khalil Shalabi, the utility’s vice…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 29, 2015
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Council picks consultant for energy gap study
In an unusual turn of events, City Council selected a company on Thursday that did not score the most points with Austin Energy staff to conduct an upcoming independent energy gap study. Council voted 7-3 to award the contract to…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Jun 26, 2015
Council urged to change "demand charges"
Austin Energy is scheduled to present to City Council today a process for conducting a new cost-of-service study. Among the many things that Council will be asked to consider in reviewing Austin Energy rates is whether to lower or eliminate…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 25, 2015
Austin Energy to tighten up collections
City Council on Tuesday put its stamp of approval on a compromise between Austin Energy staff and advocates for low-income customers that both sides hope will help reduce the amount of bad debt owed to the utility. Austin Energy places…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 24, 2015
Weis memo addresses AE bad-debt questions
Austin Energy’s bad-debt problem is not the result of a policy “that penalizes customers who are a day late or a penny short,” according to a memo to City Council and Mayor Steve Adler from Austin Energy General Manager Larry…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 10, 2015
Council extends certain hospital energy contracts
Following up on last week’s decision to extend contracts for large Austin Energy customers, City Council voted Thursday to expand the treatment to St. David’s HealthCare and Seton Healthcare Family. The six-month extensions for contracts that were set to expire…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • May 29, 2015
Council extends large energy contracts
Following extensive deliberation, City Council voted Thursday to extend long-term contracts for Austin Energy’s two largest customers for six months and permanently revise the way the utility calculates rates for a third major customer. The move effectively keeps rates for…
