REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION June 9, 2025 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS/SHUDDE FATH CONFERENCE ROOM 4815 MUELLER BLVD AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Electric Utility Commission maybe participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register contact Nici Huff, at Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-972-8621. AGENDA Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Al Braden Chris Gillett Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Kaiba White, Vice Chair Raul Alvarez Lauren Bellomy CALL MEETING TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Regular Meeting on May 12, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on the Green Building Program by Heidi Kasper, Director Energy Efficiency Services. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discuss and approve a recommendation on changing city code that relates to allowable methods for board and commission communications. 4. Discussion of electric landscaping equipment distribution event. 5. Discussion and approval of changes to the 2025 EUC meeting schedule. 6. Discussion and approval of recommendations on hiring process for new Austin Energy general manager. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Nici Huff at Austin Energy, at (512) 972-8621 or email Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Electric Utility Commission, please contact Nici Huff at (512) 972-8621 or email Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com.
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20250609-003 Date: June 9, 2025 Subject: Use of personal email addresses by City of Austin volunteer commissioners Motioned By: Commissioner Kaiba White, Vice Chair Seconded By: Commissioner Raul Alvarez Recommendation Allow for communications to and from City of Austin volunteer board and commission members to go to both official city email addresses and personal email addresses. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Electric Utility Commission respectfully requests that the Austin City Council amend the city code to allow volunteers serving on city commissions to use a combination of personal and city email accounts. Specifically, commissioners and city staff should be explicitly allowed to copy personal email addresses when emailing commissioners at city (BC) email addresses. A commissioner’s official city email address should still be included on all official communications. Rationale: The City of Austin Clerk’s Office has begun informing staff liaisons for City of Austin boards and commissions that they must only use commissioners’ official city email addresses, due to a requirement in city code. Prior to this recent guidance, some commissioners had requested that correspondence be directed to both their city email address and a personal email address that they check more frequently. This enabled volunteer commissioners to avoid missing communications from liaisons, other city staff, fellow commissioners, and the public. Making communicating with staff and fellow commissioners easier can make serving boards and commissions more accessible and allow commissioners to be more productive on behalf of the City of Austin. Many volunteer commissioners are also working at least one full-time job. Many also have other family and community responsibilities and commitments. Many already have more than one email account to keep up with and adding another can be a significant burden for some commissioners. Commissioners are informed during the mandatory trainings for commissioners that all communications about board or commission business are subject to disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act, regardless of what communication channel – city or personal – that the commissioner uses. Vote: 10-0 For: Chair Dave Tuttle; Vice Chair Kaiba; Commissioner Raul Alvarez; Commissioner Lauren Bellomy; Commissioner Cesar Benavides; Commissioner Johnathon Blackburn; Commissioner Al Braden; Commissioner Chris Gillett; Commissioner Chris Kirksey; Commissioner Cyrus Reed Against: None Abstentions: None Absent: Commissioner Joshua Rhodes Attest: Nici Huff Nici Huff, Staff Liaison
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20250609-006 Date: June 9, 2025 Subject: Hiring New Austin Energy General Manager Motioned By: Commissioner Kaiba White, Vice Chair Seconded By: Commissioner Dave Tuttle, Chair Recommendation Establish decarbonization experience criteria for candidates and host public forum for finalists. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Electric Utility Commission recommends that the following be included in the hiring process for the next Austin Energy general manager: 1. Establishment of clear criteria for experience that align with the decarbonization goals of Austin Energy, as established by the City Council. 2. One or more hybrid format public forums for a short list (3-5) of finalists for the position that are open to the public and recorded. Attendees should have the opportunity to ask a question of the candidates. Rationale: The general manager of Austin Energy needs to be prepared for more than just operating an electric utility. Austin Energy is different from many utilities because it is publicly owned. And it is different even from many publicly owned utilities because of the priorities of the Austin community and the Austin City Council. The Austin City Council has repeatedly adopted plans that envision the phasing out of fossil fuels at the utility. Doing so will require several changes in programs, operations and policies at the utility. The next general manager must be someone who embraces this challenge and is eager to find solutions to difficult problems. The Austin Energy general manager must be comfortable with responding to the public in a productive way in times of crisis and as a regular course of business. The Austin Energy general manager at times becomes the most visible face of the city government. Engaging the public in a way that builds trust is essential. Participating in at least one public forum prior to being hired is one way to get a taste of how a candidate will approach responding to the public. Vote: 7-0-3 1 of 2 For: Chair Dave Tuttle; Vice Chair Kaiba; Commissioner Raul Alvarez; Commissioner Lauren Bellomy; Commissioner Cesar Benavides; Commissioner Al Braden; Commissioner Cyrus Reed Against: None Abstentions: Commissioner Jonathon Blackburn; Commissioner Chris Gillett; Commissioner Chris Kirksey Absent: Commissioner Joshua Rhodes Attest: Nici Huff Nici Huff, Staff Liaison 2 of 2
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION May 12, 2025 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS/SHUDDE FATH CONFERENCE ROOM 4815 MUELLER BLVD AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Electric Utility Commission maybe participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register contact Nici Huff, at Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-972-8621. AGENDA Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Al Braden Chris Gillett Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Kaiba White, Vice Chair Raul Alvarez Lauren Bellomy CALL MEETING TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Regular Meeting on April 14, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for power engineering software solutions for Austin Energy with CYME International T & D, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. Funding: $166,666 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. 3. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for Network Perception software for Austin Energy with Dragos, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $600,000. Funding: $40,000 is available in the 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. 4. Recommend approval authorizing an amendment to a contract for continuation of the Better Building Energy Efficiency Lending Program for Austin Energy with Velocity Credit Union, to increase the amount by $5,000,000 and to extend the term by five years for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $14,400,000. Funding: $600,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. 5. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for Strategic Partnership of Utilities and Retailers program administration for Austin Energy with CLEAResult Consulting, Inc., for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $11,000,000. Funding: $1,250,000 is available in …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for power engineering software solutions for Austin Energy with CYME International T & D, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. Funding: $166,666 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $166,666 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Sole Source. MBE/WBE: Sole Source contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department – Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: May 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract is to provide Austin Energy with the CYME Gateway software solution, which is a single software suite for critical engineering planning functions. CYME Gateway software was developed for the electric utility industry and is used in engineering planning to help design and manage electrical distribution systems, connecting various data sources and electrical devices and grids into one platform, allowing engineers to simulate, analyze, and optimize performance of these systems. This software will help improve Austin Energy’s efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in power distribution planning and will support the development of its forecasted engineering plans, planning studies and analysis of system growth over the next five years. Currently, Austin Energy utilizes a combination of applications and is seeking to replace multiple applications with a single, unified planning platform. This is a new contract, and CYME International T&D, Inc. is the sole provider of the software and services. Item 2
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for Network Perception software for Austin Energy with Dragos, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $600,000. Funding: $40,000 is available in the 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $40,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Critical Business Need. MBE/WBE: Critical Business Need contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department – Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: May 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract is to provide Austin Energy with Network Perception software, licenses, and support. The software is used to visualize and audit network configurations, provide security assessments, and ensure regulatory compliance with high, medium, and low impact North American Electric Reliability Corporation assets, including cyber systems that are critical to the operation of the power grid. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation is a non-profit corporation that oversees regional reliability entities including the contiguous United States. The corporation is tasked with developing and enforcing reliability standards on behalf of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Beginning April 2026, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation will implement increased security standards for low- impact assets, requiring the same scrutiny as medium and high-impact assets. This software will be used to facilitate these requirements while reducing the manual input of compliance personnel. Without this contract, Austin Energy risks being non-compliant with the new security standards. Item 3
Posting Language ..Title Authorize an amendment to a contract for continuation of the Better Building Energy Efficiency Lending Program for Austin Energy with Velocity Credit Union, to increase the amount by $5,000,000 and to extend the term by five years for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $14,400,000. Funding: $600,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $600,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Contract Amendment. MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with Chapter 2-9C of the City Code (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). No subcontracting opportunities were identified; therefore, no goals were established for this contract. Prior Council Action: April 7, 2011 - Council approved a contract for the energy efficiency lending program with Velocity Credit Union. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department – Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: May 12, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission May 20, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Resource Management Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract amendment will support Austin Energy’s (AE) Better Building Energy Efficient Lending Program. Currently, through this program, AE offers loans with low interest rates and a flexible credit score threshold for customers to invest in energy efficiency upgrades. The program is especially beneficial for low- to-moderate income customers and small businesses, making energy efficiency improvements more affordable. Additionally, the program supports several AE initiatives, including the Home Energy Savings Program, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and Small Business Program. By reducing upfront cost barriers, it helps building owners to complete comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades through AE’s other programs. Item 4 Qualifying low-to-moderate income customers can take advantage of zero percent financing for a new air conditioning system when participating in the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program was created through the United States Department of Energy’s Better Building Program, and supports AE’s goal of achieving and increasing energy efficiency savings and renewable energy use. City funds through the Customer Benefits Charge included on customers’ utility bill are used to reduce loan interest rates to promote participation and accessibility of the …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for Strategic Partnership of Utilities and Retailers program administration for Austin Energy with CLEAResult Consulting, Inc., for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $11,000,000. Funding: $1,250,000 is available in Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $1,250,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Austin Energy is designating this purchase as a Critical Business Need in accordance with Senate Bill 7, as adopted by the City as Resolution No. 040610-02. MBE/WBE: Critical Business Need contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department – Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: May 12, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission May 20, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Resource Management Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract is to support the Strategic Partnership of Utilities and Retailers (SPUR) program for Austin Energy. The SPUR program includes a product called Instant Savings which provides price discounts to customers at point of purchase for high efficiency products, such as ENERGY STAR® clothes dryers and smart thermostats. The program also includes the recently launched Retail Coupon, which provides digital coupons that can be used for equipment such as heat pump water heaters. Instant Savings and the addition of the Retail Coupon allow participation in Austin Energy’s demand response programs, which is critical to meeting the goals set in the Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan to 2035. CLEAResult Consulting Inc. provides Austin Energy with a turnkey, cost-effective solution for managing the SPUR program across various retailers and manufacturers. The contractor also works with Austin Energy in the development of future program expansion, which will offer additional products and more opportunities for customers to participate in demand response programs. Item 5 The customer validation feature for the Retail Coupon requires an interface to Austin Energy’s Energy Efficiency Collaborative Platform. Austin Energy declared a Critical Business Need to keep the current provider during …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize an amendment to a contract for the continued lease and maintenance of customized utility vehicles for Austin Energy with Altec Industries Inc., to increase the amount by $1,300,000 and to extend the term by nine months for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $34,800,000. Funding: $1,000,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $1,300,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Contract Amendment. MBE/WBE: This contract was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this contract, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Prior Council Action: August 3, 2017 - Council approved a contract for 60-month lease agreements with Altec Industries Inc. September 17, 2020 - Council approved an amendment for continued lease agreements with Altec Industries Inc. September 15, 2022 - Council approved an amendment for continued lease agreements with Altec Industries Inc. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department – Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: May 12, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The proposed amendment will allow the continuation of leasing and maintaining customized utility trucks used by field crews for infrastructure, maintenance, and construction projects. Due to supply chain shortages and production delays that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, new replacement trucks could not be delivered as originally scheduled. As a result, Austin Energy has had to keep existing trucks in service longer than planned. These trucks are now out of warranty, causing Austin Energy to incur increased repair costs Item 6 and additional monthly charges while waiting for the new vehicles to arrive. If this request is not approved, Austin Energy will be unable to make future lease payments or cover maintenance costs which could lead to trucks being taken out of service or returned.
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 12, 2025 ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 12, 2025 The Electric Utility Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723. Chair Dave Tuttle called the Electric Utility Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Commissioner Dave Tuttle, Chair; Commissioner Cesar Benavides; Commissioner Chris Gillett; Commissioner Al Braden; Commissioner Chris Kirksey; Commissioner Cyrus Reed. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Kaiba White, Vice Chair; Commissioner Raul Alvarez; Commissioner Lauren Bellomy. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Chair Tuttle shared a few words about Austin Energy’s 130th Anniversary and played the video, History of Austin’s Moonlight Towers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Regular Meeting on April 14, 2025. The motion approving the minutes of the Regular Electric Utility Commission meeting of April 14, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Gillett’s motion, Commissioner Braden’s second on an 9-0 vote, with Commissioners Blackburn and Rhodes absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for power engineering software solutions for Austin Energy with CYME International T & D, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. Funding: $166,666 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. The motion to recommend approval authorizing execution of a contract for power engineering software solutions for Austin Energy was recommended on Commissioner ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 12, 2025 Gillett’s motion, Commissioner Kirksey’s second on a 9-0 vote with Commissioners Blackburn and Rhodes absent. 3. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for Network Perception software for Austin Energy with Dragos, Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $600,000. Funding: $40,000 is available in the 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. The motion to recommend approval authorizing execution of a contract for Network Perception software for Austin Energy was recommended on Commissioner Kirksey’s motion, Commissioner Gillett’s second on a 9-0 vote with Commissioners Blackburn and Rhodes absent. 4. Recommend approval authorizing an amendment to a contract for continuation of the Better Building Energy Efficiency Lending Program for Austin Energy with Velocity Credit Union, to increase the amount by $5,000,000 and to extend the …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION April 14, 2025 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS/SHUDDE FATH CONFERENCE ROOM 4815 MUELLER BLVD AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Electric Utility Commission maybe participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register contact Nici Huff, at Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-972-8621. AGENDA Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Al Braden Chris Gillet Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Kaiba White, Vice Chair Raul Alvarez Lauren Bellomy CALL MEETING TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Regular Meeting on March 10, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval authorizing an amendment to a contract for continued energy-related research services for Austin Energy with The University of Texas at Austin, to increase the amount by $300,000 and to extend the term by three years for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $874,000. Funding: $300,000 is available in Austin Energy’s Operating Budget. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. 3. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the Cap Ex South, CKT 987 & 1031 Structure Relocation 2021 Project for the public use of relocating various structures along the existing circuits 926, 927, 987, and 988 requiring the acquisition of a Permanent Electric Transmission and Distribution Easement, consisting of a total of approximately 0.0329 acres (1,434 square feet) of land consisting of two parts, out of the William Cannon League Survey No. 19, Abstract No.6, Travis County, Texas, being a portion of Lot 3, “Block A”, Oaks at Slaughter, a Subdivision recorded October 10, 2019, in Document No. 201900203, Official Public Records, Travis County, Texas, said Lot 3 conveyed to SOCO Parcel Property Owners’ Association, Inc. by Special Warranty Deed dated August 23, 2021 as recorded in Document …
