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Electric Utility Commission urges council to add staff to deliver resource generation and climate protection goals
Summary
The Electric Utility Commission voted to recommend that the City Council add staff to Austin Energy to implement the demand‑side components of the Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan.
The Electric Utility Commission voted to recommend that the City Council and city manager allocate additional staffing to Austin Energy so the utility can implement the demand‑side elements of the Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan.
Commission action: After debate the commission approved a budget recommendation for FY 2025–26 that asks the city to add FTEs to support customer energy solutions programs (community solar, energy efficiency, demand response, transportation electrification and related programs). Commissioners also adopted an amendment asking for additional resources to support the adoption, implementation and enforcement of new energy codes in coordination with Development Services Department (DSD).
Why it matters: Commissioners said the Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan emphasizes demand‑side programs and that program and stakeholder expectations will require more staff capacity at Austin Energy. Commissioners and Austin Energy management agreed the commission can ask the city manager and council for additional personnel but that budget decisions and exact FTE counts will be determined through the utility and city budget process. Stuart Riley, deputy general manager of business services, told the commission Austin Energy hears the request but that position allocations are decided through the utility’s internal budget planning and city manager review.
What the recommendation says (excerpt read into the record): “The Electric Utility Commission recommends the FTEs be added to implement the customer energy solutions goals in the Austin Energy Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan.” Commissioners added language asking that the city ensure staffing for adoption, implementation and enforcement of new energy codes.
Votes and next steps: The commission adopted the recommendation with the amendment by voice/hand vote; commissioners noted the city manager’s office will respond to boards and commissions as part of the regular budget process. Staff said Solar For All, the EPA grant discussed earlier in the meeting, includes three grant‑funded FTEs; commissioners said any citywide request should be distinct from those grant‑funded positions.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to finalize the recommendation text and to file it with the city manager’s budget portal by the posted deadline so the commission’s input is included in the formal budget response the city manager prepares for council.
