Austin Archive
Austin Ponders Increasing Electric Rates
by Robin Rather & Mike Sloan. Jan 12, 2012.
Powersmack recognizes the intense controversy around the proposed Austin Energy rate increase and has asked a diverse set of local contributors to comment on it. We have also linked to other bloggers and media outlet coverage for comprehensive perspective.
Here are...
Read More Interview: Barbara Day, Austin Electric Utility Commission
Do you feel that Austin Energy needs a rate case at this time? Why or why not.
No, AE has failed to justify a rate increase. Also, the timing of this rate case is poor because beginning December 2010 AE no longer dispatches its own resources...
Read More Why Support Austin Energy’s Rate Proposal?
by Phillip Schmandt, Jan. 11, 2012.
Why support the EUC Majority’s recommendations regarding the Austin Energy rate case?
1. We Need to be Good Stewards of our City-Owned Utility. The citizens of Austin own their electric utility, which is the tenth largest publicly owned utility in America. ...
Read More Austin 2011: Less Fuel Cost, More Truthiness?
By Mike Sloan Dec. 26, 2010.
Austin Energy to Reduce Fuel Charge
Austin Energy is reducing the fuel charge on electric bills by 15 percent effective January 1, 2011. This change will reduce electric bills by about 6% for residential customers and about 9% for large industrial customers. The...
Read More UPDATE: Green Power SmackDown
by Mike Sloan, Dec. 4, 2010.
In response to our post of Oct. 8, some have questioned whether San Antonio is doing more “green” than Austin if adjustment were made for the relative size of the utilities. The short answer is “yes” in categories of solar, wind and...
Read More Austinites for Action: More Transparency Needed
by Roger Borgelt, Co-Chair, Austinites for Action. Dec. 2, 2010.
DISCLAIMER: PowerSmack seeks to present a range of community voices, including those with which we do not fully agree. This guest post underscores a common concern on the lack of transparency at Austin Energy, yet:
While Austin...
Read More Affordability Goal Update: All Hat and No Cattle
By John Sutton and Robin Rather OCT 18, 2010.
Last Wednesday, Austin Energy "unveiled" its Affordability Goal report (Affordability Matrix Reports) at a crowded, standing room only conference room on Barton Springs Road. If you weren't able to go - we've got you covered with this debrief and outline...
Read More Austin Energy: A Wake Up Call
by Robin Rather & Mike Sloan SEP 24, 2010.
Larry Weis, the new General Manager for Austin Energy, starts work on Monday.
What will he awake to find?
A) A utility that at the beginning of 2008 was widely recognized as the greenest, most innovative, and among the most affordable utilities...
Read More At what price greener electricity?
by Anthony J. Capraro NOV 20, 2009.
Austin is in the process of deciding which fuels it will use to generate electricity through 2020. A scenario proposed by Austin Energy (a.k.a. the Staff Recommendation) would make some green progress relative to the current generation fuel mix, but would still continue...
Read More GreenChoice
By Mike Sloan for PowerSmack.org
They blinked!
Austin Energy has proposed that its GreenChoice Batch 6 charge be lowered to a much more affordable price point (5.7 cents/kWh down from a current level of 8.0 to 9.5 cents/kWh). This is a positive development for electric consumers in Austin.
But In reading the 7/25/09...
Read More 
