RMC Monthly Report September 2021 FY21 Water Conservation Division City of Austin | Austin Water s t i n U f o r e b m u N 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Residential Program Participation, FYTD FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 237 249 253 200 192 14 12 15 8 23 57 29 20 31 Watering Timer Irrigation Upgrade Irrigation Audits Home Water Use Monitoring Device Drought Survival Tools Rainwater Harvesting 155 163 119 122 114 108 69 66 21 13 11 15 WaterWise Landscape + Rainscape RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 02 s t i n U f o r e b m u N 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Commercial & Multifamily Program Participation, FYTD FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 54 17 8 11 1 0 3 2 3 2 0 0 5 3 2 1 Commercial Audit Commercial Process Rebates Commercial Kitchen Rebates Rainwater Harvesting RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 03 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $ e v i t n e c n I $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 Rebates and Incentives Budget, FYTD FY21 Total Budget Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 $420,000 $245,000 $124,837.49 $65,000 $16,480.60 $- Commercial Commercial Multi-Family Multi-Family Residential Residential RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 04 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Water Waste/Watering Restrictions Enforcement Activity, FYTD Warnings Issued and 311 Reports 707 322 234 220 244 261 283 241 173 186 326 202 120 79 15 12 41 97 128 83 60 4 1 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Warnings 311 Reports Current Drought Response Stage: Conservation Stage RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 05 Regulated Compliance Program Activity 3057 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 258 183 24 235 57 Commercial Facility Irrigation Assessments Commercial Vehicle Wash Facility Efficiency Assessment Cooling Tower Efficiency Assessments Compliant Non-Compliant RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 06 Total Public Outreach Activity, FYTD Number of Events FY20 FY21 45 Populations Reached FY20 FY21 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 22 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 8,575 3 0 1,722 1,560 0 Community Events School Presentations Community Events School Presentations RMC Monthly Report – September 2021, FY21 07 Total Social Media Activity, FYTD Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug …
Customer Energy Solutions FY21 – Quarter 4 Report As of 09/30/2021 Quarterly Rebates by District and Outside of COA Solar PBI not included. Rebates paid may not align with AE Finance eCombs system as of 09/30/21. Dollars are unaudited. Data is as of 09/30/2021 and is not a complete year. The complete year of data will be available in the upcoming annual report. Energy Efficiency Services Residential Programs AE Weatherization (WAP) – Direct Install • Due to the contractual nature of the program, the final completion numbers for the WAP will not be finalized until the end of October/mid-November. The program anticipates 600+ homes weatherized in FY21, compared to 246 homes in FY20. Program changes implemented for FY21 have been very successful in attracting customers for weatherization. These program changes included increasing the income requirements to 80% Median Family Income, providing a self-attestation method for income validation, and streamlining the application process in a 1 page, mobile-friendly, online application that takes only minutes to complete. In FY21, the program also added Smart Thermostats as an eligible measure. • The Weatherization AC Rebate and Loan Program also had a banner year. In FY20, zero homes participated in this program. For FY21, program staff increased the rebates to match the HPwES program and also reduced the interest rate to 0%. As a result, 51 customers went through the Weatherization AC Rebate and Loan Program in FY21. • Both programs face difficult barriers such as labor force, supply chain issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a testament to the diligence and innovation of the contractors, program staff, and field staff who continue to find solutions that enable the program to continue to weatherize homes in spite of these barriers. 1 Appliance Efficiency Program (AEP) • For FY21 approved approximately 3,046-HVAC, 1,249-Smart Thermostat, 122-VS Pool Pump, 62-Window AC and 643- HPWH based on EECP reporting. • The AEP program in collaboration with Green Building, are in discussions of implementing installations of Heat Pump Water Heaters in new residential construction, with approved funding. • The successful transition of the AEP Pending Acceptance workflow step, from Shared Services to the Residential Team, with no impact to the end user. Home Performance w/Energy Star (HPwES) • 555 projects have been completed to date per EECP. • Program team developed a return to in person field inspection SOP for launch in FY22. • Developed and launched the …
Multifamily & Commercial Project Pipeline – Monthly Report 10/07/2021 Figure 1: Commercial and Multifamily Project Pipeline Commercial and Small Business 276 255 107 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 t n u o C t c e o r P j 78 68 Multifamily Multifamily Income Qualified Multifamily 13 2 29 13 Pre-Approval in Progress Approved: Installation FY21 Paid and Verification Pre-Approval in Progress Approved: Installation and Verification FY21 Paid Project Pipeline Notes: 1. Figures includes all leads and applications, regardless of estimated rebate amount. 2. “Pre-Approval in Progress” includes: 1) customer/contractor submitted leads; 2) applications in development but not yet submitted to Austin Energy; and 3) applications submitted to Austin Energy that are under review for eligibility and approval of project scope. 3. “Approved: Installation and Verification” includes projects: 1) approved with installation underway; and 2) where installation is complete and final inspection and quality review are ongoing. 4. “FY21 Projects Paid” includes projects in which the check or payment has been distributed to the customer in FY21 5. In coordination with the customer and contractor, Austin Energy periodically removes leads and new applications that do not proceed to Installation. 6. Multifamily COVID-19 Note: Multifamily projects are allowed to proceed. Tenant approval will be obtained for all interior upgrades. Projects will proceed in phases to limit contractor time spent in tenant spaces. 7. Commercial & Small Business COVID-19 Note: Program staff continue to process rebate payments. Inspections are proceeding with remote video software; limited in-person inspections occur when absolutely necessary. 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 t n u o C t c e o r P j Multifamily & Commercial Project Pipeline – Monthly Report 10/07/2021 Table 1: Multifamily and Multifamily Income Qualified – Estimated RCA Project Pipeline (for estimated rebates >$62k) Program Latest Workflow Enrollment(s) # Location Name Installation Address Council District Estimated kW savings Estimated kWh savings Estimated $ Incentive Measures Planned Multifamily Income Qualified Installation 1231787, 1231196, 1231197 Trove Eastside* 2201 Montopolis Dr 3 216.0 593,241 $281,549 Multifamily Paid 1212346 272.0 666,441 $251,134 Multifamily Installation 1225046 248.0 514,514 $241,049 Paid 1233990 4 119.1 268,123 $103,659 Installation 1225794 Melrose Trail* 6 122.3 373,831 $128,075 Installation 1227733 2 108.0 286,543 $163,026 Bluff Springs Townhomes* * projects in which the RCA Fact Sheet was submitted in a prior month’s report Bexley Anderson Mill* 8601 Anderson Mill Park Crestview* 8220 Research Blvd Svrd SB 6 …
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION October 19, 2021 6:30 p.m. Austin Energy Corporate Headquarters, Assembly Room 4815 Mueller Blvd., Austin, Texas AGENDA Members: Jonathan Blackburn, Chair (District 8) Kaiba White, Vice Chair (District 2) Sam Angoori (District 3) Shane Johnson (District 4) Tom “Smitty” Smith (District 5) Louis Stone (District 6) Kelly Davis (District 7) Dana Harmon (District 9) Rebecca Brenneman (District 10) Lisa Chavarria (Mayor) Vacancy (District 1) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/rmc CALL MEETING TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL- Speaker remarks limited to three minutes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve minutes of the August 17, 2021 Meeting of the Resource Management 2. Approve minutes of the September 21, 2021 Meeting of the Resource Management Commission. Commission. STAFF REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS Water Heating. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS 3. Update regarding Alternatives for EV ready, Electric ready, and Residential Multifamily 4. Briefing from Arushi Frank of the ERCOT Innovation Caucus on demand response 5. Discussion and possible action regarding a resolution on the Texas Gas Service technologies and opportunities. Conservation Programs. 6. Discussion and possible action regarding a resolution on the establishment of a community benefit charge for Texas Gas Service. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 7. Discuss potential future agenda items. T he 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 call (512) 322-6450 at least 48 hours before the meeting date. T TY users route through Relay T exas at 711. For more information on the Resource Management Commission , please call Natasha Goodwin (512) 322-6505. ADJOURN T he 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 call (512) 322-6450 at least 48 hours before the meeting date. T TY users route through Relay T exas at 711. For more information on the Resource Management Commission , please call Natasha Goodwin (512) 322-6505.
DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR COST‐EFFECTIVENESS OF TEXAS GAS SERVICE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS WHEREAS, energy‐efficiency programs should be designed to save energy at less than the cost of purchasing it; and WHEREAS, with the exception of the low‐income weatherization program, all of Austin Energy’s 18 other energy‐efficiency programs are cost effective, with a positive economic Benefit/Cost ratio for Total Resource Cost; and WHEREAS, several of the energy‐efficiency incentive programs operated by Texas Gas Service are not cost effective, resulting in imprudent expenditures billed to Residential ratepayers in Central Texas of as much as $1.9 million a year, or about $8 a year per customer; and WHEREAS, the flat‐rate Conservation Adjustment Clause that is currently funding the Texas Gas Service energy‐efficiency programs is regressive. This regressive rate has a detrimental impact on the poor and discourages energy conservation compared to fees imposed on the volume of gas consumed; and WHEREAS, a rate to fund conservation programs that is renewed every year rather than every three years is likely to be more sensitive to market changes and necessary program adjustments; THEN BE IT RESOLVED, that the Resource Management Commission make the following recommendations to the Austin City Council. 1. No energy‐efficiency incentive program run by Texas Gas Service should have a Benefit/Cost ratio for Total Resource Cost lower than 1.0 unless the programs are designated specifically for low‐income customers or are pilot programs lasting no longer than one year. Cost effectiveness tests will be conducted by the staff that Austin Energy designates to conduct cost‐effectiveness for its own energy efficiency programs, with reimbursement from Texas Gas Service for City staff time. Programs that currently fail this Benefit/Cost benchmark include incentives in both existing and new Residential buildings for high‐efficiency central furnaces, tankless water heaters, and gas clothes dryers that replace gas clothes dryers. 2. Beginning in 2021, the Texas Gas Service Conservation Adjustment Clause should be funded by a one‐year tariff instead of a three‐year tariff. 3. Beginning in 2021, the Texas Gas Service Conservation Adjustment Clause should be funded by a surcharge on each unit of gas sold and not as a flat regressive monthly fee. 4. Beginning in 2022, Texas Gas Service should make the cost of all of its individual incentives transparent to the greatest extent possible while still protecting customer privacy.
DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGE FOR TEXAS GAS SERVICE WHEREAS, Texas Gas Service and the other gas utilities that serve Austin have no effective plan for use of low‐carbon fuel; and WHEREAS, many types of biogenic gas such derived from landfills and composting are not cost‐effective compared to current gas prices for utility use, and serve as a diversion to pursue other gas alternatives; and WHEREAS, Research & Development are necessary to create “solar fuel” alternatives derived from wind and solar energy; and WHEREAS, there are gas utilities currently making R&D investments in low‐carbon alternatives; and WHEREAS, Texas Gas Service and the other gas utilities that serve Austin are not spending the amounts of money necessary to assist a substantial number of low‐ income customers with their bills; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy and Austin Water spend substantial amounts of money to provide equity in utility costs; and WHEREAS, equity in utility costs is one on the City of Austin’s core community values, and WHEREAS, Austin Energy has a Community Benefit Charge that includes clean energy funding as well as low‐income assistance; THEN BE IT RESOLVED, that the Resource Management Commission make the following recommendations to the Austin City Council. 1. The City of Austin, as Texas Gas Service’s primary regulator within the city limits, establish a Community Benefit Charge for the gas company that funds cost‐ effective energy‐efficiency programs, R&D for solar fuels; and customer assistance to income‐qualified low‐income customers. 2. Some of the money saved by elimination of funding for Residential energy‐ efficiency programs that are not cost effective be used to fund this Community Benefit Charge; and a similar Charge for Commercial and Industrial customers be established. 3. The City of Austin should begin the process of establishing a Community Benefit Charge for its customers of the other gas utilities that serve the Austin city limits, as well as identifying appropriate programs that will be funded in their service areas. 4. The City’s Office of Sustainability or Austin Energy’s Technology office will direct the expenditure of solar fuel R&D funds collected though this Charge. 5. Texas Gas Service will coordinate with the managers of Austin Energy’s Customer Assistance Program to reduce administrative costs and duplication of efforts for its bill assistance program. 6. The Community Benefit Charge will be funded by a one‐year tariff that is annually approved by City Council.
