SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 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 Amy Everhart, at Amy.Everhart@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-322-6087. AGENDA Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Kaiba White, Vice Chair Ayo Akande Raul Alvarez Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Randy Chapman Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes Vacant 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. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Recommend conducting a public hearing and consider proposed terms, rate and fee changes for Austin Energy – Solar Standard Offer Rider – Solar Integrator; High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW); and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20 MW). 2. Recommend approval of the Solar Standard Offer Program. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. Staff briefing on the initial modeling results for Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan by Lisa Martin, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer; 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 Amy Everhart at Austin Energy, at (512) 322-6087 or email Amy.Everhart@AustinEnergy.com, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Electric Utility Commission, please contact Amy Everhart at (512) 322-6087 or email Amy.Everhart@AustinEnergy.com. Michael Enger, Vice President of Energy Market Operations and Resource Planning; and Ben Anderson, Resource Planning Manager at Ascend Analytics. 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 …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Electric Utility Commission Resolution 20240930-xx on Solar Standard Offer Program WHEREAS, Austin Energy needs more clean renewable local generation; and WHEREAS, Google Project Sunroof estimates that Austin has about 7,900 MW of rooftop solar potential, with about 4,000 MW coming from rooftops with capacity for less than 50 kW;1 and WHEREAS, the vast majority of Austin's rooftop solar potential is still unrealized; and WHEREAS, opportunities to build new solar farms or other clean renewable energy production within the Austin Energy Load Zone are limited; and WHEREAS, while Austin Energy's solar incentive programs have been successful in deploying local rooftop solar for those with access to capital, many residential and commercial property owners do not have enough capital to take advantage of these programs; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy started working with stakeholders, including from the Resource Management Commission, in 2018 to identify a way to expand access to rooftop solar for residential properties; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s last two local solar requests for proposals have not yielded new local solar developments; and WHEREAS, Austin does not currently offer a solar program that allows property owners to host rooftop solar owned by others without utilizing the host’s own capital, even though such a program would enable more solar development on sites that cannot participate in the current solar incentive programs for financial reasons; and 1 While actual potential is likely less once the downtown network and older buildings are excluded, the potential is still large enough to make a significant contribution to Austin Energy’s generation needs. 1 WHEREAS, Austin Energy could significantly increase the amount of solar development within the Austin Energy Load Zone by facilitating solar development on more rooftops in Austin, where solar developers lease the rooftop from the property owner; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy supports new behind-the-meter solar projects under 10 MW with photovoltaic incentives, treating the Value of Solar payment for all PV generation as a bill credit (which renders it non-taxable income), and including the 2.3 cent/kWh societal benefits portion of the Value of Solar tariff; and behind-the-meter rooftop PV projects are exempt from property tax; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s proposed Solar Standard Offer program will apply to new solar projects under 10 MW connected to Austin Energy’s distribution system on the grid side of the customer meter, but will not offer any solar incentive, the solar project will be subject to property tax, the …
Item 17 Posting Language ..Title Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed terms, rate and fee changes for Austin Energy – Solar Standard Offer Rider – Solar Integrator; High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW); and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20 MW). ..De Lead Department Austin Energy Prior Council Action: Fiscal Note The Solar Standard Offer Rider is funded through the Power Supply Adjustment. For More Information: Amy Everhart, Director, Local Government Relations (512) 322-6087; Russell Maenius, Sr. VP and Chief Financial Officer, (512)-322-6133. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: Sept 9, 2024 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Sept 17, 2024 - To be reviewed by the Resource Management Commission. Additional Backup Information: If the Solar Standard Offer Rider is approved, the Standard Offer Program will allow Austin Energy to procure locally sited solar generation at market-based rates and increase the Community Solar generation portfolio through a standardized and streamlined approach with pre-established project criteria and published energy value. This method allows developers of solar installations to have price transparency which enables them to obtain financing, engage potential host customers, identify viable projects, and meet project criteria set by Austin Energy. Through the Standard Offer Program, Austin Energy will purchase the production at a value equal to the avoided costs of energy and transmission expenses. Through the Standard Offer Program customers who may not have normally moved forward with solar projects due to split incentives between a building owner and a customer paying for utilities will now have a new opportunity through direct compensation for ahead of the meter interconnections. The Community Solar program increases solar access while helping Austin Energy achieve our local solar goals. The Standard Offer Program is designed to facilitate the expansion of the Community Solar Portfolio. In addition, in support of customer-sited, third-party owned renewable energy, Austin Energy is proposing the removal of the maximum capacity limits for on-site renewable generation associated with High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW) and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW) rate schedules. This change to the tariff language means that customers in these rate categories can build larger on-site renewable generation, if desired.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Electric Utility Commission Resolution 20240930-xx on Solar Standard Offer Program WHEREAS, Austin Energy needs more clean renewable local generation; and WHEREAS, Google Project Sunroof estimates that Austin has about 7,900 MW of rooftop solar potential, with about 4,000 MW coming from rooftops with capacity for less than 50 kW;1 and WHEREAS, the vast majority of Austin's rooftop solar potential is still unrealized; and WHEREAS, opportunities to build new solar farms or other clean renewable energy production within the Austin Energy Load Zone are limited; and WHEREAS, while Austin Energy's solar incentive programs have been successful in deploying local rooftop solar for those with access to capital, many residential and commercial property owners do not have enough capital to take advantage of these programs; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy started working with stakeholders, including from the Resource Management Commission, in 2018 to identify a way to expand access to rooftop solar for residential properties; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s last two local solar requests for proposals have not yielded new local solar developments; and WHEREAS, Austin does not currently offer a solar program that allows property owners to host rooftop solar owned by others without utilizing the host’s own capital, even though such a program would enable more solar development on sites that cannot participate in the current solar incentive programs for financial reasons; and 1 While actual potential is less once older buildings are excluded, and the hosting capacity of the distribution grid accounted for, the potential is still large enough to make a significant contribution to Austin Energy’s generation needs. 1 WHEREAS, Austin Energy could significantly increase the amount of solar development within the Austin Energy Load Zone by facilitating solar development on more rooftops in Austin, where solar developers lease the rooftop from the property owner; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy supports new behind-the-meter solar projects under 10 MW with photovoltaic incentives, treating the Value of Solar payment for all PV generation as a bill credit (which renders it non-taxable income), and including the 2.3 cent/kWh societal benefits portion of the Value of Solar tariff; and behind-the-meter rooftop PV projects are exempt from property tax; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s proposed Solar Standard Offer program will apply to new solar projects under 10 MW connected to Austin Energy’s distribution system on the grid side of the customer meter, but will not offer any solar incentive, the solar project will be …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Electric Utility Commission Recommendation No. 20240930-002 Recommendation on Solar Standard Offer Program WHEREAS, Austin Energy needs more clean renewable local generation; and WHEREAS, Google Project Sunroof estimates that Austin has about 7,900 MW of rooftop solar potential, with about 4,000 MW coming from rooftops with capacity for less than 50 kW;1 and WHEREAS, the vast majority of Austin's rooftop solar potential is still unrealized; and WHEREAS, opportunities to build new solar farms or other clean renewable energy production within the Austin Energy Load Zone are limited; and WHEREAS, while Austin Energy's solar incentive programs have been successful in deploying local rooftop solar for those with access to capital, many residential and commercial property owners do not have enough capital to take advantage of these programs; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy started working with stakeholders, including from the Resource Management Commission, in 2018 to identify a way to expand access to rooftop solar for residential properties; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s last two local solar requests for proposals have not yielded new local solar developments; and WHEREAS, Austin does not currently offer a solar program that allows property owners to host rooftop solar owned by others without utilizing the host’s own capital, even though such a program would enable more solar development on sites that cannot participate in the current solar incentive programs for financial reasons; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy could significantly increase the amount of solar development within the Austin Energy Load Zone by facilitating solar development on more rooftops in Austin, where solar developers lease the rooftop from the property owner; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy supports new behind-the-meter solar projects under 10 MW with photovoltaic incentives, treating the Value of Solar payment for all PV generation as a bill credit (which renders it non-taxable income), and including the 2.3 cent/kWh societal benefits portion of the Value of Solar tariff; and behind-the-meter rooftop PV projects are exempt from property tax; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s proposed Solar Standard Offer program will apply to new solar projects under 10 MW connected to Austin Energy’s distribution system on the grid side of the customer meter, but will not offer any solar incentive, the solar project will be subject to property tax, the compensation for solar production will be a stand-alone payment that counts as taxable income, and the proposed compensation will not include a the societal benefits portion of the Value of Solar; …
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 30, 2024 ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 30, 2024 The Electric Utility Commission convened in a special called meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, 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 Kaiba White, Vice Chair; Commissioner Cyrus Reed; Commissioner Joshua Rhodes Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Ayo Akande; Commissioner Raul Alvarez; Commissioner Cesar Benavides; Commissioner Jonathon Blackburn; Commissioner Randy Chapman; Commissioner Chris Kirksey PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL • Jen Cregar- Gen Plan • Al Braden- Gen Plan • Susan Lippman- Gen Plan • Ben Suddaby- Gen Plan DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Recommend conducting a public hearing and consider proposed terms, rate and fee changes for Austin Energy – Solar Standard Offer Rider – Solar Integrator; High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW); and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20 MW). The motion to approve a recommendation conducting a public hearing and consider proposed terms, rate and fee changes for Austin Energy – Solar Standard Offer Rider – Solar Integrator; High Load Factor Primary Voltage; and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage was approved on Vice Chair White’s motion, Commissioner Rhodes’s second on a 10-0 vote with one vacancy. 2. Recommend approval of the Solar Standard Offer Program. The motion to approve a recommendation on the Solar Standard Offer Program was approved on Commissioner Reed’s motion, Chair Tuttle’s second on a 10-0 vote with one vacancy. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. Staff briefing on the initial modeling results for Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation, ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 30, 2024 and Climate Protection Plan by Lisa Martin, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer; Michael Enger, Vice President of Energy Market Operations and Resource Planning; and Ben Anderson, Resource Planning Manager at Ascend Analytics. The briefing was presented by Lisa Martin, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Enger, Vice President of Energy Market Operations and Resource Planning, and Ben Anderson, Resource Planning Manager. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair Tuttle adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m. without objection. The meeting minutes were approved at the October 21, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Chapman’s motion, Commissioner Reed’s second on an 10-0 vote with one …
