MEETING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION July 20, 2026 ▪ 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. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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 to speak remotely, contact Nici Huff, at Nici.Huff@AustinEnergy.com or via phone at 512-972-8621. Members: Dave Tuttle, Chair Al Braden, Vice Chair Raul Alvarez Lauren Bellomy CALL TO ORDER Cesar Benavides Jonathon Blackburn Chris Gillett Chris Kirksey AGENDA Cyrus Reed Kaiba White 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 Called Meeting on May 11, 2026. 2. Recommend approval authorizing two contracts for electric protective devices to protect against reverse power flow for Austin Energy with Techline Inc. and KBS Electrical Distributors Inc., for a term of two years with up to three 1-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $10,000,000 divided between the contractors. Funding: $500,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. 3. Recommend approval authorizing an amendment to a contract for continued services of an electronic visitor management system for Austin Energy with Force 5, Inc., to increase the amount by $270,000, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $1,087,330. Funding: $55,000 is available in the 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 underground utility locating services for Austin Energy with Line Quest LLC, for an initial term of two years with up to three 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $11,050,000. Funding: $552,500 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. 5. …
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20260720-011 Date: July 20, 2026 Subject: Recommendations on AE Budget and Potential Rate Increases Motioned By: Vice Chair Al Braden Seconded By: Chair Dave Tuttle Recommendation Recommendation to require a separate public meeting on any rate increase proposed for FY 2027 and to initiate a rate case process with FY 2026 as the test year. Description of Recommendation to Council The Electric Utility Commission recommends that a separate public meeting to receive input should be required for any proposed residential rate increase. In addition, the Electric Utility Commission recommends that the City should begin a new rate case process in 2027, similar to the process implemented in 2016 and 2022. In terms of any rate increase that is part of the FY 2027 budget process, a separate public meeting, at a set time in the evening, should take place before consideration of any proposed change in electric rates or tariffs. In terms of a rate case, Austin City Council should begin the public portion of Austin Energy’s rate case process in 2027 to better keep Austin Energy budgets aligned with costs, while ensuring that rates are justified for all customer classes and that rate design aligns with established policy priorities. In preparation, the Austin City Council should ensure that Austin Energy conducts an assessment of its costs and revenues, using 2026 as a test case year. The City Council should direct the City Manager to initiate the process of hiring a consumer advocate to represent residential customers in the rate case and should initiate the hiring of an independent hearing examiner to preside over the rate case in 2027, with the goal of approving new rates in 2027 that are fair for all customers. Rationale: Austin Energy has an important mission to serve its customers with affordable, clean and reliable energy. The FY 2027 budget and tariffs should maintain the affordable rates approved by City Council in late 2022 and preserve the basic tenets and structure of the rate design approved. The appropriate amount for the monthly Customer Charge – not paid by CAP customers - for residential 1 of 3 customers and the price differentiation between the residential rate tires were hotly contested issues in the last Austin Energy rate case, in 2022. Austin Energy proposed increasing the residential Customer Charge – not paid by CAP customers - from $10 per month to $25 per …
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20260720-011 Date: July 20, 2026 Subject: Recommendations on AE Budget and Potential Rate Increases Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Recommendation to require a separate public meeting on any rate increase proposed for FY 2027 and to initiate a rate case process with FY 2026 as the test year. Description of Recommendation to Council The Electric Utility Commission recommends that a separate public meeting to receive input should be required for any proposed residential rate increase. In addition, the Electric Utility Commission recommends that the City should begin a new rate case process in 2027, similar to the process implemented in 2016 and 2022. In terms of any rate increase that is part of the FY 2027 budget process, a separate public meeting, at a set time in the evening, should take place before consideration of any proposed change in electric rates or tariffs. In terms of a rate case, Austin City Council should begin the public portion of Austin Energy’s rate case process in 2027 to better keep Austin Energy budgets aligned with costs, while ensuring that rates are justified for all customer classes and that rate design aligns with established policy priorities. In preparation, the Austin City Council should ensure that Austin Energy conducts an assessment of its costs and revenues, using 2026 as a test case year. The City Council should direct the City Manager to initiate the process of hiring a consumer advocate to represent residential customers in the rate case and should initiate the hiring of an independent hearing examiner to preside over the rate case in 2027, with the goal of approving new rates in 2027 that are fair for all customers. Rationale: Austin Energy has an important mission to serve its customers with affordable, clean and reliable energy. The FY 2027 budget and tariffs should maintain the affordable rates approved by City Council in late 2022 and preserve the basic tenets and structure of the rate design approved. The appropriate amount for the monthly Customer Charge for residential customers and the price 1 of 2 differentiation between the residential rate tires were hotly contested issues in the last Austin Energy rate case, in 2022. Austin Energy proposed increasing the residential Customer Charge from $10 per month to $25 per month and proposed reducing the tiered rates from five to three tiers and flattening the price differentials between them. The Independent …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize two contracts for electric protective devices to protect against reverse power flow for Austin Energy with Techline Inc. and KBS Electrical Distributors Inc., for a term of two years with up to three 1- year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $10,000,000 divided between the contractors. Funding: $500,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $500,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 1100 CPG1005 for these goods. The solicitation was published on February 16, 2026 and closed on March 24, 2026. Of the four offers received, the two recommended contractors submitted the lowest responsive offers. 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=143412 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the goods 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 Austin Financial Services - 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: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: These contracts will provide network protectors for Austin Energy. Network protectors are specialized heavy-duty circuit breakers paired with relays, designed to automatically connect or disconnect transformers in secondary grid networks. They protect against reverse power flow, ensuring reliability in high-density areas by isolating faults. The network protectors will be used on an as-needed basis to replace units as they reach their end of life. The contracts are replacing the previous contract, which expired on April 7, 2026. One of the recommended contractors, KBS Electrical Distributors Inc, was the previous contractor for these goods. Item 2 Network protectors are critical to the …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize an amendment to a contract for continued services of an electronic visitor management system for Austin Energy with Force 5, Inc., to increase the amount by $270,000, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $1,087,330. Funding: $55,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $55,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Contract Amendment. 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. Prior Council Action: April 18, 2024 - Council approved a contract for negotiation and execution of a contract for an electronic visitor management system with Force 5, Inc. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: This amendment is for the ongoing installation, maintenance and support of electronic logging systems via touchscreen kiosks placed at entry and exit points of Austin Energy facilities deemed as medium or high impact sites by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP). This equipment automates the process for logging visitors, eliminates errors associated with manual logging, and prevents security violations, allowing Austin Energy to maintain NERC CIP compliance. The requested amendment will allow for the development of a dedicated testing environment, additional services and kiosks required for Phase 2 expansion of the Visitor Management System implementation. Force 5 Inc. is the sole manufacturer of this electronic visitor management system that is specifically designed to meet utility industry compliance requirements. Without this testing environment, changes would need to be implemented directly in production, introducing risks to critical infrastructure operations and compliance Item 3 obligations. Contract Details: Contract Term Length of Term Contract Authorization Requested Additional Authorization Revised Total Authorization 5 years Initial Term Administrative Increase 1 Administrative Increase 2 Proposed Amendment Total $700,000 $76,000 $41,330 $817,330 $270,000 $270,000 $700,000 $76,000 $41,330 $270,000 $1,087,330 Note: Contract Authorization amounts …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize a contract for underground utility locating services for Austin Energy with Line Quest LLC, for an initial term of two years with up to three 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $11,050,000. Funding: $552,500 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $552,500 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 1100 LLM3005 for these services. The solicitation was published on March 2, 2026, and closed on March 31, 2026. Of the three offers received, the proposal submitted by the recommended contractor represented the best value to the City based on the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. 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=143605 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the 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 Austin Financial Services - 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: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide underground utility locating and marking services throughout the Austin Energy service area in support of compliance with Texas Utilities Code Chapter 251, Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act. Austin Energy relies on this contract to accurately mark, flag, and stake underground utility lines within the required response timeframe while maintaining the operational capacity to safeguard underground and subsurface infrastructure from excavation-related damage, protect public safety, minimize service disruptions, and support reliable utility operations across the service territory. This request allows for the development of a contract with a qualified offeror selected by Council. If the City Item 4 is unsuccessful …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize four contracts for engineering services for the 2026 Engineering Services for Austin Energy Plants and Distribution Systems Rotation List for Austin Energy with Stanley Consultants, Inc., HDR Engineering, Inc., Stantec Consulting Services Inc., and Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, Inc., for total contract amounts not to exceed $10,000,000 divided among the firms. Funding: $10,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Energy. Fiscal Note Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Qualifications solicitation RFQS CLMP391 for these services. The solicitation was issued on February 26, 2026, and closed on March 30, 2026. Of the 15 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=143444. MBE / WBE: These contracts will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 7.26% MBE and 3.15% WBE participation. For More Information: Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - 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: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: As a standard business practice, the City routinely engages the services of professional engineering firms to perform analysis, design, and support services associated with construction or improvement of City capital assets. Rotation List contracting allows the City to always have a group of qualified consultants available to perform a specific type of recurring work in a timely manner to meet the project and operational needs of the City. Prior to issuing, this solicitation was reviewed by the City’s Rotation List Advisory Committee, which is made up of staff from Austin Financial Services Austin Small and Minority Business Resource , Austin Transportation and Public Works , and other user departments. The total authorization amount, the number of firms to be recommended for selection, and the authorization amount per firm were discussed and reviewed by the Committee. Capital Procurement expects that user departments will require these services …
Posting Language ..Title Authorize negotiation and execution of all documents and instruments necessary or desirable to convey an approximately 0.55-acre (23,958 square feet) Electric Line Easement and Right of Way located at the Salem Walk Substation at the end of Salem Hill Drive, Austin, Texas 78745, to the LCRA Transmission Services Corporation, a not-for-profit company of the Lower Colorado River Authority for no cost in exchange for the release of the original approximately 0.646 acre (28,160 square feet) Electric Line Easement and Right of Way at the same location. Fiscal Note: This item has no fiscal impact. ..De Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Fiscal Note This item has no fiscal impact. For More Information: Brandon Williamson, Austin Financial Services, 512-974-5666; Michael Gates, Austin Financial Services, 512- 974-5639; Amy Everhart, Austin Energy, Director, Local Government Issues, 512-322-6087; David Tomczyszyn, Austin Energy, VP Electric Systems Engineering and Technical Services, 512-322-6821. Council Committee, Boards, and Commission Action: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is releasing the original Electric Line Easement and Right of Way through Austin Energy’s Salem Walk Substation and in exchange for a new Electric Line Easement and Right of Way from the City, bypassing Austin Energy’s substation. This is the result of a series of Austin Energy projects mitigating the risk of another utility’s static and/or conductor wire falling into the substation equipment in the event of a wire failure. LCRA rerouted their transmission line around the perimeter of the Austin Energy substation at Salem Walk to assist with the effort. The original easement measured approximately 0.646 acres (28,160 square feet), and the new replacement easement measures approximately 0.55 acres (23,958 square feet), a difference of approximately 0.096 acres (4,202 square feet), resulting in a smaller replacement easement. LCRA is incurring the costs associated with the relocation of the easement and infrastructure to make this exercise cost neutral to the City. Item 6
Posting Language ..Title Authorize negotiation and execution of a battery storage agreement with Balcones Ridge Resiliency II, LLC, a Jupiter Power subsidiary, for up to 200 megawatts of electrical power capacity from a utility-scale battery facility, in an estimated amount not to exceed $16,000,000 per year, for a term of up to 20 years, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $320,000,000. Funding: Contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..De Lead Department Austin Energy Fiscal Note Funding is contingent upon budgetary approval in future budgets. Similar to power purchase agreements, battery storage agreement costs are recovered through the Power Supply Adjustment pass-through charge. For More Information: Amy Everhart, Director, Local Government Issues (512) 322-6087; Pat Sweeney, Interim Vice-President, Market Operations & Resource Planning (512) 322-6183. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: July 20, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. Additional Backup Information: In November 2025, Austin Energy issued an All-Resource Request for Proposals (RFP) for local energy resources of all technology types. Out of this RFP process, Austin Energy (AE) received authorization from Council on May 21, 2026, to negotiate and execute a battery storage agreement with OCI Energy, LLC for up to 100 megawatts (MW) of electrical power capacity from a utility-scale battery facility, with operation slated for 2030. However, following this authorization, AE and OCI Energy, LLC were unable to come to agreement on commercial terms. Jupiter Power, with whom AE already has a Council-approved tolling agreement for 100 MW of battery capacity, also participated in the All-Resource RFP. Jupiter Power included proposals for additional battery storage at its Austin site that is under development. AE’s original evaluation favored OCI Energy’s project because it provided geographic diversity. However, since the OCI Energy project is no longer viable, AE recommends moving forward with Jupiter Power’s project instead. The recommended 200 MW, two-hour battery agreement is larger than the one it will replace, and offers comparable economic benefits that will help protect and mitigate local wholesale load price risk when it begins commercial operation in 2030. The agreement will not require AE to invest in the construction or maintenance of the project. This agreement will bring AE’s battery storage portfolio capacity to 340 MW, exceeding the Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan’s objective of studying the feasibility of installing 300 MW of battery storage by the end of 2030. Item 7
Annual Internal Review Covering the 7/1/2025 to 6/30/2026 time period Electric Utility Commission 1. Have the board/commission's actions throughout the year complied with City Council directives and bylaws? This should address all elements of the board's mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. Yes 2. If no, please explain. 3. How many recommendations did your board or commission approve? 1 4. Please list the recommendation numbers. 20251020-013 5. Which recommendations are closely aligned to the organization’s core mission and why? This recommendation was aligned with saving the City and Austin energy money that should lead to lower electricity prices to AE customers 6. Which recommendations are adjacent to the organization’s core mission and why? none 7. Please share any further context that could support or explain your recommendations. N/A 8. Is there another body that overlaps with the role and work of the board or commission you serve? No 9. If yes, which body? 10. Please explain their alignment. 11. Do bylaws need updating? No 12. If yes, what would be the amendment (including section) and why? 13. On a scale of 1-10, how engaged are the board or commission members? 9 14. On a scale of 1-10, how engaged is the community? 10 15. Please provide any relevant details or examples that influenced these ratings. For the EUC, one of the issues that commanded an extremely large amount of focus was Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035. With EUC engagement and support, AE has taken many actions to advance Energy Efficiency, Demand Response, local solar, batteries, and more transmission import capacity. However, over the course of the last year there has been considerable controversy related to the new proposed natural gas speaker plants. The EUC spent considerable time and effort to foster thoughtful debate in constructive forums and advise the AE management and City Council. 16. Do you see any gaps in important policies that are not currently covered by a board or commission? No 17. If yes, please explain. 18. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. • Encourage public discussion on the future policies and programs of Austin Energy • Review and provide public input to Austin Energy’s Distribution Reliability and Resiliency plan • Provide educational and practical learning opportunities for EUC members to become more familiar with the actual operations of the utility, …
