Austin Energy wins Public Power Utility of the Year award

Austin Energy was named the 2018 SEPA Power Players Public Power Utility of the Year. SEPA (Smart Electric Power Alliance) is a nonprofit dedicated to helping utilities transition to a future focused on clean energy, and this is the 10th year SEPA has recognized utilities that it believes have been making great strides in this area. The Public Power Utility of the Year award is given to a utility that “has demonstrated energy industry leadership through unique or thought-provoking innovation in an effort to significantly advance knowledge of or access to distributed energy resources and expand its value as a resource to help meet the needs of electricity consumers.” Austin Energy will be honored Tuesday, July 10, at SEPA’s Grid Evolution Summit in Washington, D.C., along with winners of the other six categories, including Visionary of the Year and Electric Cooperative of the Year. “Innovation is part of the foundation upon which we are built,” said Jackie Sargent, Austin Energy general manager, in a press release. “We are always looking for creative solutions that deliver better service and make Austin a more livable city and we are proud to be recognized for that innovation.” The release notes that “SEPA is recognizing Austin Energy for thought leadership on renewable energy and Distributed Energy Resources, including the Austin SHINES program, which integrates solar and energy battery storage; the Community Solar Program and the utility’s Electric Vehicle Program.”