[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6535284,"mediaKeyId","3409773-2d3e1c6bc18d4b61c882ee0fc3050e44","parentId",3409773,"title","Public and staff press Austin Energy for faster local battery storage and rooftop solar on city buildings","audioSeconds",1660,"startMs",80000,"endMs",1740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409773-2d3e1c6bc18d4b61c882ee0fc3050e44&start=80&end=1740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409773-2d3e1c6bc18d4b61c882ee0fc3050e44/thumbnail_80000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535284/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Public-and-staff-press-Austin-Energy-for-faster-local-battery-storage-and-rooftop-solar-on-city-buildings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535284-4dab760baf6b3f40f0ec4cddf9d9dfcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770541958&Signature=WwVeVvDYFU164vlh0rBEh7iM6zqPSimIhObDVrldutqYJGyqp5ZlUo8XxBJw4M9RUrKxc5yKvaWkMgZB3r193dij2rhHG0wAbR9TrUlQ7C~yYnq4pmAy~O6MqcRd14SWEqyi0eunK8tx6B7hP54N-gLqBMR-ixg63laq3Dy3IRP9sUxBcQqIX6M8hURdPnDJllG3qFoK5lN7ZICgBeD88~gs00okqlZp5hjLoZL6woXt~gikN0tmyey9WMkJ~u-5SDAQX3tD4B77piivztpQ7re5LJ6e~z1ovo5R1Wm9eBCXXeCc~nMnuf9Zgh9e3mb6L4eUyaDpa6a-8r7xz-aK~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Public commenters at the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee meeting on May 20 urged the committee and Austin Energy to accelerate local utility‑scale battery storage and to adopt a draft resolution to install solar on city‑owned buildings.

The appeals came as Austin Energy staff reported they have shortlisted battery storage project proposals from an RFP and are conducting contract negotiations with the aim of returning to City Council on July 24 with contracts, though staff warned that tariff and supply‑chain challenges could delay or alter the projects.

Why this matters: Local battery storage and rooftop solar were described repeatedly during public comment as tools to reduce price volatility in the ERCOT market, ease distribution congestion in Austin, lower customer bills and further Austin Energy’s decarbonization goals. Staff said contractual, tariff and material‑supply risks remain and could affect timing and scope.

\"We are collectively here today, to support some actions that we know are going on behind the scenes and some that are that are coming up and really just to, you know, ask that you all keep your eye on advancing the transition to clean energy,\" said Kabia White of Public Citizen's Texas office during public comment. Several other speakers, including representatives of the Austin Sierra Club, Clean Water Action and local clean‑energy groups, urged timelines for implementation and asked that the city budget include funds or a revolving fund to pay for rooftop solar on city buildings.

Interim General Manager Stuart Riley told the committee that Austin Energy issued an RFP earlier this year and has shortlisted proposals. \"We are hoping to come back to Council with contracts at the July 24 meeting,\" he said, while adding an asterisk for regulatory and tariff uncertainty that could introduce risk to the schedule.

Riley also told the committee the utility's Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan, adopted by Council last December, includes a local battery storage commitment (staff said 125 megawatts of local battery storage by the end of 2027, if economically feasible). He described the shortlisting and ongoing contract discussions but warned of tariff and interconnection complexities that create uncertainty for deliverability and timing.

Speakers asked the committee to add deadlines into the draft resolution sponsored by Councilmember Alter to ensure staff analysis aligns with budget schedules and to make funding available in the coming budget cycle. Multiple commenters cited staff analysis finding rooftop solar could generate savings for ratepayers and urged the committee to treat the draft as a near‑term budget priority.

Public comment highlights:
- Rafael Schwartz, speaking for the Austin Sierra Club, said, \"Battery storage, more than anything else, is what kept the Texas grid reliably online,\" and urged prioritizing local, utility‑scale storage.
- Camille Cook (Public Citizen Texas office) cited staff analysis showing a potential for $2,300,000 in annual bill savings from solar on city buildings and urged setting a deadline so the analysis is ready for mid‑July budget discussions.
- Clean Water Action's Becky Smith and other speakers reiterated support for the 25–150 megawatt battery procurement Austin Energy staff announced at the Electric Utility Commission and asked the committee to treat early procurements as a floor, not a ceiling.

Staff and technical caveats: Riley and other staff warned that tariffs and supply‑chain issues are active constraints. Riley said suppliers are currently signaling potential price increases (staff characterized these as roughly 25% or more on some materials) and that those increases, together with regulatory questions, add cost and schedule risk for battery and emerging resource projects. The geothermal pilot power production project (described by staff as a small, approximately 5‑megawatt demonstration) is experiencing supplier/material delays and is under review to determine whether it can be salvaged.

Committee action and next steps: The committee did not take a binding vote on the draft rooftop solar resolution at this meeting. Staff reported the battery RFP shortlist and said they hope to return with contracts for council consideration on July 24. Several public speakers asked the committee to add timelines to the draft resolution and to include budget allocations or a revolving fund to accelerate installations on city facilities.

Ending: The committee’s upcoming calendar items include the target July 24 Council meeting referenced by staff for potential battery contract approval and a future comprehensive distribution resilience study staff said they will bring back later this year.

Votes at the meeting: the committee approved two procedural motions recorded in the minutes: a motion to waive the five‑speaker public comment cap and the approval of the March 25, 2025 minutes (both approved without objection).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters urged the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee on May 20 to accelerate procurement of local utility‑scale battery storage and to adopt a draft resolution directing solar installations on city‑owned buildings, while staff said Austin Energy has shortlisted battery proposals and aims to bring contracts to City Council on July 24 but warned tariff and supply‑chain risks could delay projects.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535280,"Austin Energy reports larger reserves and lower passthrough rates but warns of tariff and supply‑chain cost pressure",596,2202000,1606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409773-2d3e1c6bc18d4b61c882ee0fc3050e44&start=2202&end=1606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409773-2d3e1c6bc18d4b61c882ee0fc3050e44/thumbnail_2202000.jpg","/articles/6535280/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Energy-reports-larger-reserves-and-lower-passthrough-rates-but-warns-of-tariff-and-supplychain-cost-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535280-77716b6fe4eb3cf48c811b7b24cd563a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770541958&Signature=JGhz7DVt270BBH5mtuUUUbyeO1EjJc3lDN7Ndw4bK8AJSYSMOZpDKuHHg7xnSXPUIZtCe78ol~dozdwv~CaeVvfSvoiVg5dMp15Xbzgehu9FY2-ZYTwDdFgKCJjzNSsm5cZ-cdCSO-YpqUYKdt7k-wJWk-45r2gsSKd6dVTd~mV0m17bMzwdwl6dJAyBqsOXCRLPYQhl-FieTZEB1a8V2W1X09Wtkw3q88lFEx4rzbUiFXRT1Z8n5V5J2Tu8YuBDu1QD1m8-nA4NvfBW~AVuB2iyU8ebrGld-iUnzgj6Xl0itLjq6pVhd9~cRhi5Z3h0QxadG7Harl6z1VUMRXIl6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Energy staff reported second‑quarter financial and operations results to the Utility Oversight Committee on May 20, saying the utility’s short‑term financial position looks stronger because of a one‑time reserve transfer but that inflationary materials costs and tariff uncertainty create medium‑term budget pressure.

Interim General Manager Stuart Riley and Finance Director Stephanie Koudelka explained that Austin Energy moved approximately $30,000,000 of power supply over‑recovery into a power supply stabilization reserve to meet the utility’s financial policy target for days cash on hand; staff said that transfer improves the utility’s reported cash position for the quarter but is a non‑recurring event.

\"That 30,000,000 resulted in two things,\" Finance Director Stephanie Koudelka told the committee, adding the transfer allowed the utility to meet its financial policy target (she described the policy minimum as 90 days of power supply cost cash on hand) but that reviewers should treat the reserve transfer as a one‑time recognition when evaluating sustained financial health.

Koudelka reported Austin Energy was approximately $103,000,000 over‑recovered on power supply as of the end of the second quarter; staff said they have reduced the power supply adjustment (PSA) rate five times in the fiscal year, with a cumulative reduction that staff characterized as 23% lower compared with earlier in the fiscal year, producing lower customer bills going into summer.

Staff cautioned that tariff and supply‑chain pressures remain significant. Riley said suppliers are honoring some pre‑tariff pricing in the short term but \"we have heard from them to expect 25% or more increase to those materials.\" Riley described adaptive steps the utility has taken — revising engineering standards, expanding sourcing personnel and consolidating inventory into a new warehouse set to come online this summer — to reduce vulnerability to material shortages.

On operations, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Martin reported Q2 renewable production at about 49% of load and carbon‑free production at 77% of load for the quarter; she told the committee Austin Energy hit a new winter system peak (27.22 megawatts) in February and that distribution reliability metrics were stable to improving due to ongoing distribution hardening and smart‑grid device installations.

Koudelka said Standard & Poor’s affirmed the utility’s double‑A bond rating with a stable outlook; staff noted the utility’s internal AA target (200 days cash) is higher than the financial policy minimum (150 days) and that the current days‑cash figure includes the over‑recovery amounts, which will be returned to customers or used to cover power costs in volatile market conditions.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to monitor tariff and supply‑chain risks and to pursue resilience work on the distribution system; no rate increase proposals were approved at the committee meeting.

","Austin Energy reported on May 20 that a one‑time transfer into a power supply stabilization reserve improved second‑quarter cash metrics and that the utility has reduced the power supply adjustment five times this fiscal year, while warning that tariffs and supply‑chain price increases could raise costs and affect near‑term projects.","actionData","errors"]

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Public and staff press Austin Energy for faster local battery storage and rooftop solar on city buildings

Austin Energy reports larger reserves and lower passthrough rates but warns of tariff and supply‑chain cost pressure