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{{short description|Public utility in Texas}}
{{Infobox company {{Infobox company
| name = Austin Energy | name = Austin Energy
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}} }}


'''Austin Energy''' is a ] providing ] to the city of ] and surrounding areas. Established in 1895, the utility is a department of the City of Austin and returns its profits to the city's ] to finance other city services. Austin Energy is the United States' 8th largest public utility, serving more than 440,000 customers and more than one million residents (as of 2015) within a service area of approximately {{convert|437|sqmi|km2}}, including Austin, ] and a small portion of ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=At-A-Glance|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/at-a-glance|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> '''Austin Energy''' is a ] providing ] to the city of ] and surrounding areas. Established in 1895, the utility is a department of the City of Austin and returns its profits to the city's ] to finance other city services. Austin Energy is the United States' 7th largest public utility, serving more than 500,000 customers and more than one million residents (as of 2019) within a service area of approximately {{convert|437|sqmi|km2}}, including Austin, ] and a small portion of ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=At-A-Glance|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/at-a-glance|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref>


==Energy generation== ==Energy generation==
Austin Energy’s total generation capacity is more than 3,000 megawatts (MW), provided by a mixture of ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="assets">{{Cite web|title=Power Plants|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/company-profile/electric-system/power-plants|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> Austin Energy’s total generation capacity is more than 3,000 megawatts (MW), provided by a mixture of ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="assets">{{Cite web|title=Power Plants|website=Austin Energy|url=https://austinenergy.com/about/company-profile/electric-system/power-plants|accessdate=23 May 2022}}</ref> All of Austin Energy's generation is sold into the ] wholesale market; all of the retail load is served by purchasing power from ERCOT.<ref>{{Cite web|title=May 31, 2016 Hearing in Austin Energy's Update of the 2009 Cost of Service Study and Proposal to Change Base Electric Rates|website=AustinTexas.gov|url=http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=255439#page=168|accessdate=3 May 2018}}</ref>


===Generation assets=== ===Generation assets===
Austin Energy owns and operates two ]-fired power plants in the Austin area: the Decker Creek Power Station and the Sand Hill Energy Center. The utility also owns 50% of units 1 and 2 at the ]-fired Fayette Power Project in ] and 16% of the ] in ] (near ]).<ref name="assets"/> The STNP was the subject of a binding citizen referendum (November 3, 1981) to sell Austin's part in the project. STNP went online in 1986. No council has sold Austin's STNP telling citizens that "no one wanted our 16 percent". Austin Energy owns and operates two ]-fired power plants in the Austin area: the Decker Creek Power Station and the Sand Hill Energy Center. The utility also owns 50% of units 1 and 2 at the ]-fired ] in ] and 16% of the ] in ] (near ]).<ref name="assets"/> The STNP was the subject of a binding citizen referendum (November 3, 1981) to sell Austin's part in the project. STNP went online in 1986. No council has sold Austin's STNP, telling citizens that "no one wanted our 16 percent".

Austin Energy's 2030 generation resource plan called for the retirement of its share in the coal-fired Fayette Power Project by the end of 2022, but multi-year negotiations with co-owner ] stalled in late 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2021 |title=Austin Energy announces update to generation portfolio |url=https://austinenergy.com/about/news/news-releases/2021/austin-energy-announces-generation-portfolio-update |accessdate= |website=Austin Energy}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" {| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 39: Line 42:
! Unit<ref name="assets"/> !! Fuel !! Capacity (MW) !! Construction Year ! Unit<ref name="assets"/> !! Fuel !! Capacity (MW) !! Construction Year
|- |-
| Decker Creek Power Station (Austin) || Gas || 927 || 1967–1978 | Decker Creek Power Station (Austin) || Gas || 200 || 1967–1978
|- |-
| Fayette Power Project (La Grange, 50% Share) || Coal || 602 || 1979–1980 | Fayette Power Project (La Grange, 50% Share) || Coal || 600 || 1979–1980
|- |-
| Robert Mueller Energy Center (Austin) || Gas || 4.6 || 2006 | Robert Mueller Energy Center (Austin) || Gas || 4.6 || 2006
|- |-
| Sand Hill Energy Center (Del Valle) || Gas || 570 || 2001–2010 | Sand Hill Energy Center (Del Valle) || Gas || 595 || 2001–2010
|- |-
| South Texas Project (Bay City, 16% Share) || Nuclear || 436 || 1988–1989 | South Texas Project (Bay City, 16% Share) || Nuclear || 430 || 1988–1989
|} |}


====Renewable energy==== ====Renewable energy====
As of July 2014, ] represents roughly 23% of Austin Energy's generation portfolio, including solar, wind, landfill methane and biomass projects.<ref name="renewables">{{Cite web|title=Renewable Power Generation|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/environment/renewable-power-generation|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> The utility's 2014 generation plan indicated that it aims to produce 50% of power from renewable sources and 75% from carbon-free sources by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2014 Generation Resource Planning|website=Austin Energy|url=http://www.austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/reports-and-data-library/2014-generation-resource-planning-process|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> As of July 2014, ] represented roughly 23% of Austin Energy's generation portfolio, which included wind, solar, landfill methane and biomass projects.<ref name="renewables">{{Cite web|title=Renewable Power Generation - Austin Energy 2014|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/environment/renewable-power-generation|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> The utility's 2014 generation plan indicated that it aimed to produce 50% of power from renewable sources and 75% from carbon-free sources by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2014 Generation Resource Planning|website=Austin Energy|url=http://www.austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/reports-and-data-library/2014-generation-resource-planning-process|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> Since that time, new green energy generation assets have rapidly been brought online. As of August 2019, green energy had jumped to 43% of Austin Energy's generation mix, and by February 2020 included 1,425.6 MW of wind turbines and 644.6 MW of solar panels.<ref name="2019 Austin Energy renewable power website">{{Cite web|title=Renewable Power Generation|website=Austin Energy|url=http://austinenergy.com/wps/portal/ae/about/environment/renewable-power-generation|accessdate=20 September 2019}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" {| class="wikitable sortable"
|- |-
! '''Renewable Resources'''<ref name="renewables"/> !! Fuel Type !! Installed Capacity (MW) || First Operation Year !! Contract Expiration Date ! Renewable Resources<ref name="renewables"/> !! Fuel Type !! Installed Capacity (MW) || First Operation Year !! Contract Expiration Date
|- |-
| Sunset Farms || Landfill Methane || 4 || 1996 || 2021 | Sunset Farms || Landfill Methane || 4 || 1996 || 2021
Line 61: Line 64:
| Tessman Road Landfill || Landfill Methane || 7.8 || 2003 || 2017 | Tessman Road Landfill || Landfill Methane || 7.8 || 2003 || 2017
|- |-
| Nacogdoches Power || ] || 100 || 2012 || 2032 | Nacogdoches Power || ] || 105 || 2012 ||
|- |-
| ] || ] || 30 || 2011 || 2036 | ] || ] || 30 || 2011 || 2036
|- |-
| ] Texas Wind Contract || ] || 10 || 1995 || 2020 | ] || Solar || 157.5 || 2016 || 2036
|- |-
| ] 2 || Wind || 91.5 || 2005 || 2017 |East Pecos (Bootleg) || Solar || 118.5 || 2017 || 2031
|- |-
| ] 3 || Wind || 34.5 || 2006 || 2017 |Upton County (SPTX12B1) || Solar || 157.5 || 2017 || 2042
|- |-
| Whirlwind Energy Center || Wind || 59.8 || 2007 || 2027 |La Loma Community Solar || Solar || 2.6 || 2018 || 2043
|- |-
| ] || Wind || 165.6 || 2008 || 2023 |Waymark || Solar || 178.5 || 2018 || 2043
|- |-
| Iberdola Penascal I & II || Wind || 195.6 || 2011 || 2015 | Whirlwind Energy Center || ] || 59.8 || 2007 || 2027
|- |-
| Los Vientos II || Wind || 201.6 || 2013 || 2037 | ] || Wind || 165.6 || 2008 || 2023
⚫ |-
| ] II || Wind || 201.6 || 2013 || 2037
|- |-
| Whitetail || Wind || 92.3 || 2013 || 2037 | Whitetail || Wind || 92.3 || 2013 || 2037
⚫ |}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- |-
⚫ | Los Vientos III || Wind || 200 || 2015 || 2040
!'''Pending Wind Projects''' !! MW Capacity !! Year Beginning !! Year Ending
|-
| Jumbo Road || Wind || 299.7 || 2015 || 2033
|-
| Los Vientos IV || Wind || 200 || 2016 || 2041
|- |-
| Midway Solar<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hanrahan |first=Zoey |date=2018-01-29 |title=Midway Solar Project Will Be the Largest Solar Farm in Texas |url=https://sanangelolive.com/news/texas/2018-01-29/midway-solar-project-will-be-largest-solar-farm-texas |access-date=2024-10-23 |work=SanAngeloLIVE.com}}</ref>|| Solar || 236 || 2018 || 2038
⚫ | Los Vientos III || 200 || 2015 || 2040
|- |-
| Los Vientos IV || 200 || 2016 || 2041 | Karankawa || Wind || 206.64 || 2019 || 2034
|-
|]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snieckus |first=Darius |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Pattern starts repowering plan at Hurricane Harvey survivor Gulf Wind |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/pattern-starts-repowering-plan-at-hurricane-harvey-survivor-gulf-wind/2-1-732570 |access-date= |website=Recharge |language=en}}</ref>
|Wind
|271.4
|2009
|2040
|} |}

On April 23, 2019, Austin Energy reached an agreement to purchase the Nacogdoches biomass facility for $460 million. Since Austin Energy entered into the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the biomass facility the price of natural gas has come down significantly. The purchase – one of Austin's single largest purchases ever<ref>{{cite web |last=Jankowski |first=Philip |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Austin buys troubled power plant |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190418/austin-buys-troubled-power-plant-for-460-million |website=]}}</ref> – is anticipated to allow the city to avoid $275 million in additional costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/austin-energy-to-acquire-Nacogdoches-biomass-facility |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531163310/https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2019/austin-energy-to-acquire-Nacogdoches-biomass-facility |archive-date=2019-05-31 |title=Austin Energy to acquire Nacogdoches Biomass Facility}}</ref>


==Energy conservation== ==Energy conservation==
Austin Energy operates an ] program for customers, including a free "energy audit" that helps to identify ways users can reduce power consumption. The utility offers various subsidies and rebates for efficiency improvements, including ], ], efficient ], and ] panels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austin Energy|website=]|url=http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=pt_univ.eeps_sites_austin|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> Austin Energy operates an ] program to help customers identify ways to reduce their energy consumption and save on utility bills. The utility offers various subsidies and rebates for efficiency improvements, including ], ], efficient ], and ] panels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austin Energy|website=]|url=http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=pt_univ.eeps_sites_austin|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref>


In 1992 Austin Energy developed the nation's first local ] program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Green Building: Basic Information|website=]|url=http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> It shares the distinction of being the largest and best established green building program in the country along with Built Green Colorado in ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Summary of Green Building Programs|website=]|date= August 2002|url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/32390.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> In 1992, Austin Energy developed the nation's first local ] program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Green Building: Basic Information|website=]|url=http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> It shares the distinction of being the largest and best established green building program in the country along with Built Green Colorado in ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Summary of Green Building Programs|website=]|date= August 2002|url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/32390.pdf|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref>

<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Assessing climate sensitivity of peak electricity load for resilient power systems planning and operation: A study applied to the Texas region|journal=]|date=August 2020|doi=10.1016/j.energy.2019.07.074 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544219314136|accessdate=21 April 2019|last1=Alipour |first1=Panteha |last2=Mukherjee |first2=Sayanti |last3=Nateghi |first3=Roshanak |volume=185 |pages=1143–1153 |s2cid=199086614 }}</ref>


==Electric vehicle program== ==Electric vehicle program==
Austin Energy’s network, powered by 100% renewable energy, expanded to a total of 186 public charging stations to help drive a two-year, 300% Austin EV growth rate. Austin Energy led a 10-county, regional effort to develop a community plan that supports the adoption of EVs and successfully deployed the first-of-its-kind EV home charging ] program. Austin Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere network, powered by ], expanded to 186 public charging stations to help drive a two-year, 300% Austin EV growth rate. Austin Energy led a 10-county, regional effort to develop a community plan that supports the adoption of EVs and successfully deployed the first-of-its-kind EV home charging ] program.

==Criticism==

Austin energy has been criticized for increasing energy prices to fund renewable energy projects and for the 2011 rolling blackouts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=All About Austin Energy|website=]|url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/austin-energy/|accessdate=23 November 2021}}</ref> It has also been criticized for its handling of the ] in early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's How Austinites Think The City Failed During The Texas Freeze|website=]|date=25 August 2021 |url=https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2021-08-25/heres-how-austinites-think-the-city-failed-during-the-texas-freeze|accessdate=23 November 2021}}</ref> Critics have called Austin Energy a "monopoly", since Austin didn't follow suit in the deregulation that approximately 1/3rd of Texas cities have been part of.

Austin Energy received significant criticism, including calls for its executive team to resign, during an ] that occurred on February 1, 2023 for failing to prepare for adverse weather, poorly communicating with customers, and not being able to restore power to customers within a reasonable time frame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/2023/02/01/austin-power-outages-map-weather-texas-thousands-impacted/69861487007/ | title=99.9% of Austin Energy customers have power; nearly 300 continue to deal with outages }}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Austin Energy}}
*{{official website}}

{{authority control}}


] ]

Latest revision as of 14:28, 23 October 2024

Public utility in Texas
Austin Energy
Austin Energy logoMore than electricity
The Decker Creek Power Station, one of Austin Energy's power plants.
Company typePublic utility
IndustryElectric power
Founded1895 (1895)
HeadquartersAustin, Texas
Area servedTravis & Williamson counties, Texas
OwnerCity of Austin
Websiteaustinenergy.com

Austin Energy is a publicly owned utility providing electrical power to the city of Austin, Texas and surrounding areas. Established in 1895, the utility is a department of the City of Austin and returns its profits to the city's general fund to finance other city services. Austin Energy is the United States' 7th largest public utility, serving more than 500,000 customers and more than one million residents (as of 2019) within a service area of approximately 437 square miles (1,130 km), including Austin, Travis County and a small portion of Williamson County.

Energy generation

Austin Energy’s total generation capacity is more than 3,000 megawatts (MW), provided by a mixture of wind power, solar power, biomass, natural gas, nuclear power, and coal. All of Austin Energy's generation is sold into the ERCOT wholesale market; all of the retail load is served by purchasing power from ERCOT.

Generation assets

Austin Energy owns and operates two natural gas-fired power plants in the Austin area: the Decker Creek Power Station and the Sand Hill Energy Center. The utility also owns 50% of units 1 and 2 at the coal-fired Fayette Power Project in La Grange and 16% of the South Texas Nuclear Project in Bay City (near Houston). The STNP was the subject of a binding citizen referendum (November 3, 1981) to sell Austin's part in the project. STNP went online in 1986. No council has sold Austin's STNP, telling citizens that "no one wanted our 16 percent".

Austin Energy's 2030 generation resource plan called for the retirement of its share in the coal-fired Fayette Power Project by the end of 2022, but multi-year negotiations with co-owner LCRA stalled in late 2021.

Unit Fuel Capacity (MW) Construction Year
Decker Creek Power Station (Austin) Gas 200 1967–1978
Fayette Power Project (La Grange, 50% Share) Coal 600 1979–1980
Robert Mueller Energy Center (Austin) Gas 4.6 2006
Sand Hill Energy Center (Del Valle) Gas 595 2001–2010
South Texas Project (Bay City, 16% Share) Nuclear 430 1988–1989

Renewable energy

As of July 2014, renewable energy represented roughly 23% of Austin Energy's generation portfolio, which included wind, solar, landfill methane and biomass projects. The utility's 2014 generation plan indicated that it aimed to produce 50% of power from renewable sources and 75% from carbon-free sources by 2025. Since that time, new green energy generation assets have rapidly been brought online. As of August 2019, green energy had jumped to 43% of Austin Energy's generation mix, and by February 2020 included 1,425.6 MW of wind turbines and 644.6 MW of solar panels.

Renewable Resources Fuel Type Installed Capacity (MW) First Operation Year Contract Expiration Date
Sunset Farms Landfill Methane 4 1996 2021
Tessman Road Landfill Landfill Methane 7.8 2003 2017
Nacogdoches Power Biomass 105 2012
Webberville Solar Project Solar 30 2011 2036
Roserock Solar Solar 157.5 2016 2036
East Pecos (Bootleg) Solar 118.5 2017 2031
Upton County (SPTX12B1) Solar 157.5 2017 2042
La Loma Community Solar Solar 2.6 2018 2043
Waymark Solar 178.5 2018 2043
Whirlwind Energy Center Wind 59.8 2007 2027
Hackberry Wind Project Wind 165.6 2008 2023
Los Vientos II Wind 201.6 2013 2037
Whitetail Wind 92.3 2013 2037
Los Vientos III Wind 200 2015 2040
Jumbo Road Wind 299.7 2015 2033
Los Vientos IV Wind 200 2016 2041
Midway Solar Solar 236 2018 2038
Karankawa Wind 206.64 2019 2034
Gulf Wind Wind 271.4 2009 2040

On April 23, 2019, Austin Energy reached an agreement to purchase the Nacogdoches biomass facility for $460 million. Since Austin Energy entered into the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the biomass facility the price of natural gas has come down significantly. The purchase – one of Austin's single largest purchases ever – is anticipated to allow the city to avoid $275 million in additional costs.

Energy conservation

Austin Energy operates an energy efficiency program to help customers identify ways to reduce their energy consumption and save on utility bills. The utility offers various subsidies and rebates for efficiency improvements, including HVAC, insulation, efficient lighting, and photovoltaic panels.

In 1992, Austin Energy developed the nation's first local Green Building program. It shares the distinction of being the largest and best established green building program in the country along with Built Green Colorado in Denver.

Electric vehicle program

Austin Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere network, powered by 100% renewable energy, expanded to 186 public charging stations to help drive a two-year, 300% Austin EV growth rate. Austin Energy led a 10-county, regional effort to develop a community plan that supports the adoption of EVs and successfully deployed the first-of-its-kind EV home charging Demand Response program.

Criticism

Austin energy has been criticized for increasing energy prices to fund renewable energy projects and for the 2011 rolling blackouts. It has also been criticized for its handling of the Texas freeze in early 2021. Critics have called Austin Energy a "monopoly", since Austin didn't follow suit in the deregulation that approximately 1/3rd of Texas cities have been part of.

Austin Energy received significant criticism, including calls for its executive team to resign, during an ice storm that occurred on February 1, 2023 for failing to prepare for adverse weather, poorly communicating with customers, and not being able to restore power to customers within a reasonable time frame.

References

  1. "At-A-Glance". Austin Energy. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Power Plants". Austin Energy. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  3. "May 31, 2016 Hearing in Austin Energy's Update of the 2009 Cost of Service Study and Proposal to Change Base Electric Rates". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. "Austin Energy announces update to generation portfolio". Austin Energy. 1 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Renewable Power Generation - Austin Energy 2014". Austin Energy. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  6. "2014 Generation Resource Planning". Austin Energy. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. "Renewable Power Generation". Austin Energy. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. Hanrahan, Zoey (2018-01-29). "Midway Solar Project Will Be the Largest Solar Farm in Texas". SanAngeloLIVE.com. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  9. Snieckus, Darius (January 6, 2020). "Pattern starts repowering plan at Hurricane Harvey survivor Gulf Wind". Recharge.
  10. Jankowski, Philip (April 18, 2019). "Austin buys troubled power plant". Austin American-Statesman.
  11. "Austin Energy to acquire Nacogdoches Biomass Facility". Archived from the original on 2019-05-31.
  12. "Austin Energy". Energy Star. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  13. "Green Building: Basic Information". Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  14. "Summary of Green Building Programs" (PDF). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. August 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  15. Alipour, Panteha; Mukherjee, Sayanti; Nateghi, Roshanak (August 2020). "Assessing climate sensitivity of peak electricity load for resilient power systems planning and operation: A study applied to the Texas region". NSF. 185: 1143–1153. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2019.07.074. S2CID 199086614. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  16. "All About Austin Energy". National Public Radio. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  17. "Here's How Austinites Think The City Failed During The Texas Freeze". National Public Radio. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  18. "99.9% of Austin Energy customers have power; nearly 300 continue to deal with outages".

External links

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