REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION January 13, 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 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 Lauren Bellomy Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Randy Chapman Chris Kirksey Cyrus Reed Joshua Rhodes 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 November 18, 2024 and approve the minutes of the Electric Utility Commission Special Called Meeting on December 2, 2024. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval of an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Fund Operating Budget (Ordinance 20240814-007) by increasing transfers out to the Austin Energy Power Supply Stabilization Reserve (Ordinance 20240814-007) in the amount of $30,000,000; and amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Power Supply Stabilization Reserve Fund by increasing transfers in for the same amount. Funding is available in the Austin Energy Operating Fund balance. 3. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for vegetation management services on energized transmission lines for Austin Energy with Wright Tree Service, Inc., for an initial term of two years with up to four one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $42,000,000. Funding: $5,250,000 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. 4. Recommend approval authorizing a contract for electric meters and associated services for Austin Energy with Texas Electric Cooperatives, for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $62,000,000. Funding: $62,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. 5. Recommend approval authorizing …
..De Posting Language ..Title Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Fund Operating Budget (Ordinance 20240814-007) by increasing transfers out to the Austin Energy Power Supply Stabilization Reserve (Ordinance 20240814-007) in the amount of $30,000,000; and amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Power Supply Stabilization Reserve Fund by increasing transfers in for the same amount. Funding is available in the Austin Energy Operating Fund balance. Lead Department Austin Energy Fiscal Note A fiscal note is attached. Prior Council Action: For More Information: Rusty Maenius, Chief Financial Officer, 512-322-6133; Stuart Reilly, Deputy General Manager, 512-322-6817 Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: January 13, 2025- To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: Austin Energy’s financial policy No. 22 requires it to maintain 90 days of net power supply cost. These funds are maintained in the Power Supply Stabilization Reserve. In 2023, due to extreme high wholesale prices in the ERCOT market, Austin Energy transferred funds from its Power Supply Stabilization Reserve to working capital to pay the increased power supply costs. Austin Energy now seeks to come into compliance with this financial policy minimum by transferring funds to the Power Supply Stabilization Reserve to return to 90 days of net power supply costs. At fiscal year-end 2024, the Power Supply Stabilization Reserve is approximately $27 million less than the 90-day minimum of $140 million. Maintaining 90 days of power supply reserves is calculated as part of, and is not separate from, Austin Energy’s overall required policy minimum of 150 days cash on hand. Austin Energy’s Power Supply Adjustment (PSA) tariff authorizes the transfer of a PSA over-recovery to the Power Supply Stabilization reserve. The PSA over-recovery balance is now sufficient to transfer funds back to the reserve. Austin Energy seeks approval of an ordinance amending the FY 2024-2025 Austin Energy Power Supply Stabilization Reserve Fund budget by increasing transfers in from the Austin Energy Operating Fund in the amount of $30,000,000 and amending the FY 2024-2025 Austin Energy Operating Budget to increase transfers to the Power Supply Stabilization Reserve Fund in the same amount in order to fund the reserve in accordance with FY 2024-2025 Austin Energy Financial Policies and as outlined in the Power Supply Adjustment tariff.
..Title Posting Language Authorize a contract for vegetation management services on energized transmission lines for Austin Energy with Wright Tree Service, Inc., for an initial term of two years with up to four one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $42,000,000. Funding: $5,250,000 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. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $5,250,000 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: The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 SMB3026 for these services. The solicitation was issued on July 29, 2024, and closed on August 22, 2024. Of the six offers received, the recommended contractors submitted the best evaluated responsive offers. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=140989 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) 0.35% combined MBE/WBE participation. 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. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: January 13, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide vegetation management services on energized transmission lines for Austin Energy. The contractor will perform services on an as needed basis for capital improvement projects; circuit, grid, and substation facilities; individual customer requests; trouble work or storm restoration events; and vegetation suppression. This work is highly specialized, and the contractor will be required to follow standard processes which include notice of work and herbicide use and follow strict safety protocols. The contractor will also work in partnership with the Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division to reduce the risk of wildfires. An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored Wright Tree Service, Inc. as the best to provide these services based on Program, Experience, …
..Body Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for electric meters and associated services for Austin Energy with Texas Electric Cooperatives, for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $62,000,000. Funding: $62,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $62,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Purchasing Language: The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 PAB3015REBID for these goods and services. The solicitation was issued on August 5, 2024, and closed on August 22, 2024. Of the four offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=141498 . MBE/WBE: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the goods and services required for this solicitation, there were insufficient subcontracting opportunities; 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. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: January 13, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract is for the purchase of commercial and residential electric meters deployed throughout Austin Energy service area on an as-needed basis. Electric meters provide the ability for Austin Energy to measure, track, and bill for energy consumption. They are also used to provide additional insights into the distribution system such as voltage levels and outage information. Additionally, the contractor will provide technical support on metering features and functionality, testing, and training on new metering software and features. The contractor will also manage the meter remediation process when meters are sent for repairs or replacement. An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored Texas Electric Cooperatives as the best to provide these services based on project concept and strategy, safety and materials, remediation program, experience, price, Local Business and Small Business Preference. The recommended …
..Body Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for tire repair, maintenance, and replacement services for Austin Energy with Youngblood Automotive & Tire LLC d/b/a Youngblood Auto & Tire, for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $360,000. Funding: $120,000 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. Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $120,000 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: The Financial Services Department issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 1100 DPL1005REBID for these goods and services. The solicitation was issued on August 26, 2024, and closed on September 12, 2024. Of the four offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the most responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=141590 . MBE/WBE: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the goods and services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; 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. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: January 13, 2024 – To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This contract will provide tire repair, maintenance, and replacement services on leased Austin Energy utility vehicles, such as aerial bucket trucks, digging trucks, and cranes. These services will reduce downtime and avoid disruption of daily operations, including outage response, maintenance, and ongoing scheduled jobs for Austin Energy customers. This recommendation is in accordance with Local Government Code 271.905 and Resolution Number 20140807-113 to invoke local preference. This local bidder is offering the best combination of contract price and additional economic development opportunities for the City created by the contract award, including the employment of residents and increased tax revenues. …
..Title Posting Language Authorize a contract for electric system design software for Austin Energy with Spatial Business Systems, LLC., for an initial term of one year with up to four one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,500,000. Funding: $253,000 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. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Purchasing Language: Sole Source. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $253,000 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. 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: January 13, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract is for maintenance and support of Automated Utility Design and Utility Data Hub software applications, which are the primary design tools used by Austin Energy’s electric system distribution design teams. These applications apply Austin Energy’s design standards to drawings, cost estimates, pre- construction prints, and creating material lists for designing residential and commercial electric systems. They are capable of responding to changes in safety standards while preserving historic details for reference, important design capabilities for supporting the City’s growth. Spatial Business Systems LLC is the sole source provider of Automated Utility Design and Utility Data Hub licenses and services. The contractor does not authorize third parties to provide technical services for these solutions due to their complexity and proprietary nature, and the contractor is the sole provider of code support for integration between Automated Utility Design and Austin Energy’s Geographic Information System and Work Management System applications. Without this contract, Austin Energy would be unable to meet design goals related to project and site energization.
