REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION February 18, 2025 6:00 p.m. Austin Energy Headquarters; 1st Floor; Shudde Fath Conference Room 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, Texas 78723 Some members of the Resource Management 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 Natasha Goodwin, at Natasha.Goodwin@austinenergy.com or 512-322-6505. AGENDA Alison Silverstein Vacant Vacant GeNell Gary Martin Luecke Dino Sasaridis Raphael Schwartz Members: Louis Stone, Chair Paul Robbins, Vice Chair Charlotte Davis Trey Farmer 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 Resource Management Commission Special Called Meeting on February 3, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval authorizing negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Harris County in support of the Solar for All Program activities, for the term of March 27, 2025, through the grant period ending August 31, 2029, for a total agreement in the amount not to exceed $31,593,683. Funding in the amount of $31,593,683 is available starting in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund. 3. Recommend changes to Austin Energy’s Residential Rooftop Solar Program, with inclusion of energy storage batteries. (Sponsors: Sasaridis, Silverstein, and Robbins) 4. Discussion and recommend to City Council to commend Chair Louis Stone on his service to the Resource Management Commission. (Sponsors: Robbins and Silverstein) 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 Natasha Goodwin at Austin Energy, at (512) 322-6505 or email Natasha.Goodwin@austinenergy.com for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Resource Management Commission, please contact Natasha Goodwin at Austin Energy, at 512-322-6505 or email Natasha.Goodwin@austinenergy.com . 5. …
..De Posting Language ..Title Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Harris County in support of the Solar for All Program activities, for the term of March 27, 2025, through the grant period ending August 31, 2029, for a total agreement in the amount not to exceed $31,593,683. Funding in the amount of $31,593,683 is available starting in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund. Lead Department Austin Energy Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $31,593,683 is available starting in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Energy Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund. Prior Council Action: October 24, 2024- Council approved an ordinance to accept and appropriate grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and add three full-time equivalent grant positions to implement the Solar for All residential-serving community and residential rooftop solar program For More Information: Richard Génecé, Vice President, Customer Energy Solutions, Austin Energy, (512)-322-6327; Tim Harvey, Customer Renewable Solutions Manager (512)- 482-5386; Amy Everhart, Local Government Issues Director (512) 322-6087. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: February 10, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. February 18, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Resource Management Commission. Additional Backup Information: On December 17, 2024, Harris County received a subrecipient agreement from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for The Texas Solar for All Coalition. Harris County has asked for subrecipient acceptance during the next meetings of the Commissioners Court. Austin Energy as a Coalition Member and as a subrecipient, will be required to execute an interlocal agreement with Harris County to carry out the performance of this award. Subrecipient interlocal agreement is subject to applicable EPA regulatory and statutory provisions, all terms and conditions of the signed agreement for a five-year grant term. The objective of these funds is to accelerate community solar projects in the City of Austin over the next five years. Austin Energy plans to provide financial and technical assistance to low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy community solar and residential-serving distributed solar energy and storage projects. Solar projects receiving financial assistance from this federal funding may receive assistance for upgrades that maximize the benefits, such as energy efficiency improvements through existing Austin Energy weatherization programming. The expected outcomes include climate and air pollution benefits, equity and community benefits, and market transformation benefits. The intended beneficiaries include households in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The improvements …
A Resolution Summary Resolution on Changes to Residential Rooftop Solar Rebate Program D. SASARIDIS 16 JANUARY 2025 Overview Who: RMC Commissioners – Dino Sasaridis, Paul Robbins, Alison Silverstein. What: A resolution to improve and streamline Austin Energy’s solar rebate program and inspections, inclusive of solar and batteries. Why: Historic load growth will put stress on generation and transmission. Solar has the lowest cost of electricity generation and will fill this need, and batteries are needed to make the solar deployable at night, and reduce congestion. Costs and bureaucracy both bottleneck solar and battery deployments at the edge of the grid (on homes). This resolution aims to reduce bureaucracy, costs, and realign incentives towards this goal. When: Now, for a vote by RMC, to be presented to City Council. More about the ‘Why’ Claim: Significant demand growth is coming to the Texas grid. Summer baseline load is ~60 GW. This is mostly driven by electrification of carbon-based fuel activities. This is a good thing, but it will stress the electric grid. Passenger vehicle electrification: adds 12 – 18 GW to base load, 129 GWh/day Electrification of long-haul trucking: adds 8 – 12 GW to base load, 86 GWh/day • • • Growth of AI: 50 GWh/day • Air conditioner use: proportional to peak summer temperature, increases peak load on grid -> drives unreliability • Heat pumps displacing gas furnaces Industrial Heat via graphite heating • • Atmospheric carbon removal As Austinites, we will feel these changes impact us as rate increases and instability. Claim: Solar and batteries are a robust solution to adding capacity, but work is needed to reduce bureaucracy and streamline the process, which will decrease cost and increase competition. The language in this resolution can open Austin up to being a renewable energy superpower, setting an example for other cities, and making a difference in Texas. Content of the Resolution 1. Streamlining Administration 2. Consumer Protection 3. Standard for New Inverters 4. Improvements in AE Solar and Battery Inspections 5. Encouragement of Onsite Eneryg-Storage Batteries 6. Survey of Solar Inverter Installations to Determine Grid Protection Capability 7. Implementation Schedule 1. Streamlining Administration Eliminate the solar education course and quiz, which are presently required to receive the $2,500 rebate. The course and quiz are friction that discourage folks from installing solar, because receiving the rebate is gated by the quiz. Replace these two items with a flyer. • 26 …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Resolution on Changes to Residential Rooftop Solar Rebate Program WHEREAS, streamlining Austin Energy’s Residential Solar program will reduce customers’ and installers’ cost and time necessary for solar and battery installation while reducing administrative overhead for Austin Energy (AE); and WHEREAS, given the reasonably expected large increase in AE load growth in the next few years, aggressively increasing energy efficiency measures, distributed energy resources, solar installations, and onsite energy-storage batteries are critical means to achieve the Austin Energy Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan and advance local resilience; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission makes the following recommendations to the Austin City Council to modify AE’s rooftop solar program and initiate a battery incentive program. 1. Streamlining Administration A. AE shall eliminate the solar education course and quiz, replacing it with a digital information flyer and material integrated into the solar and battery installation application process that contains the most useful information, such as an explanation of Value of Solar, how much yearly energy production to expect per panel, explanation of kW vs kWh, and other basic information. B. AE shall not condition rebate approval upon the customer’s current electricity usage. AE should require the contractor to provide values for expected usage and production to the customer. AE may warn the applying customer if proposed arrays exceed a certain percentage of the customer’s present electricity usage, to help the customer understand that they may be buying more solar and/or battery equipment than they may need, C. AE shall not place additional requirements on the installation or parts used other than those covered by normal inspection. 2. Consumer Protection 1 A. AE shall specify a minimum set of 10-year warranty provisions that every contractor must offer to be eligible for the rebate list. Installers can offer other provisions beyond that minimum set. B. AE shall provide up-to-date interactive reference solar and battery benchmark cost estimates for a few house types and roof scenarios to give customers a valid point of comparison to evaluate solar contractors’ sales cost quotes. C. AE shall require 75% TSRF (Total Solar Resource Fraction) for 3 kW of the total proposed solar installation, but not for the entire array. AE may require the contractor to calculate the TSRF for the entire array and communicate that estimate to the customer with an explanation of what that means for estimated annual …
Resource Management Commission Resolution Regarding Commendation of Chair Louis Stone WHEREAS, Louis Stone has served on the City of Austin’s Resource Management Commission for over 3 years, and served as Chair for two years; and WHEREAS, he has run these meetings very efficiently, steering the Commission through complicated and controversial issues with good humor; and WHEREAS, his background as a Certified Public Accountant has trained him to ask hard questions about the feasibility of the Commission’s proposals, often with the result of improving them; and WHEREAS, the issues of the Commission are multifaceted, sometimes complex, and have history attached that can be confusing for newly appointed members; and WHEREAS, Chair Stone’s term expires at the end of February 2025 unless he is reappointed; THEN BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission enthusiastically thank Commissioner Stone for his valuable contribution to our work and encourage him to apply to other Boards and Commissions that work towards the betterment of Austin.
Resource Management Commission Resolution to Obtain Information on Austin Energy’s District Chilling System WHEREAS, in 2024, Austin Energy proposed to sell its district chilling system because it was not being operated profitably, and; WHEREAS, the Resource Management Commission passed a Resolution at its July 16, 2024 meeting asking the Austin City Council to delay consideration of the proposal to sell its district chilling system until it was more thoroughly reviewed by stakeholders in the community (Recommendation No. 20240716-00); and WHEREAS, Austin Energy delayed, but never officially cancelled, the proposed consideration of sale; and WHEREAS, information relevant to this sale that could reveal why the district chilling system is not being operated profitably has not been made publicly available; and WHEREAS, this information would be key to revealing how Austin Energy can correct the district chilling system’s economic problems; and WHEREAS, this relevant information will need to be revealed to potential bidders in the private sector anyway if this sale is to take place; THEN BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission requests that the Austin City Council direct Austin Energy to provide public information relevant to the district chilling system’s profitability, including the financial information for each individual district chilling system customer: A) the annual consumption for the last 3 fiscal years; B) the annual revenue collected for the last 3 fiscal years; C) the annual revenue required for profitability; D) the year that sufficient revenues can begin to be collected based on contract language. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission requests this information be provided by April 1.
Multifamily & Commercial Project Pipeline – Monthly Report 2/14/2025 Figure 1: Commercial and Multifamily Project Pipeline Commercial and Small Business Multifamily 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 t n u o C t c e o r P j 145 51 t n u o C t c e o r P j 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 84 106 8 7 Pre-Approval in Progress Approved: Installation and Verification Pre-Approval in Progress Approved: Installation and Verification Multifamily Multifamily Income Qualified 1. Figures includes all leads and applications, regardless of estimated rebate amount. In coordination with the customer and contractor, Austin Energy periodically removes leads and new applications that do not proceed to Installation. a. “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. b. “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. c. Paid projects are listed on the preceding RMC summary table in this report. Project Pipeline Notes: 2. Pipeline Definitions Multifamily & Commercial Project Pipeline – Monthly Report 2/14/2025 Table 1: Multifamily and Multifamily Income Qualified – Estimated RCA Project Pipeline (for estimated rebates >$72k) Program Latest Workflow Enrollment (s) # Location Name Installation Address Council District Estimated kW savings Estimated kWh savings Estimated $ Incentive Measures Planned Paid 1303113 56.9 272,632 $126,140 HVAC Tune-Ups, Smart Thermostats, MFIQ Supplemental Items Goodnight Commons The Lowell at Mueller 2022 E Slaughter Ln 1200 Broadmoor Dr 1270218, 1318840, 1318841 1301882 (paid), 1301882 (applicati on) Paid 69.7 408,189 $133,346 Installation West Koenig Flats 5608 Avenue F 35.7 165,346 Installation 1312972 Hunters Chase Apartments 128.5 625,426 $262,444 Installation 1324159 The Morgan 173.7 242,713 $199,895 Out of District $96,565 (paid), $25,870 (applicatio n) HVAC Tune-Ups, Smart Thermostats, Water Saving Devices, MFIQ Supplemental items Partial completion. Interrupted due to weather. HVAC Tune-up, Smart Thermostats, ECAD HVAC Tune-Ups, LED Lighting, Smart Thermostats, Water Savings Devices, ECAD Duct Remediation & Seal, Attic Insulation Installation 1327092 Agave at South Congress 625 E Stassney Ln 54.3 208,321 $138,852 Attic Insulation, HVAC Tune-Ups, Smart Thermostats, ECAD Installation 1320067, 1330404 Sage Hill Apartments Installation 1328775 Wildwood Apartments Installation 1329351 & 1331207 Hillside on Cannon 57.0 175,846 $142,412 …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20250218-004 Recommendation to Commend Chair Louis Stone on his service to the Resource Management Commission WHEREAS, Louis Stone has served on the City of Austin’s Resource Management Commission for over 3 years, and served as Chair for two years; and WHEREAS, he has run these meetings very efficiently, steering the Commission through complicated and controversial issues with good humor; and WHEREAS, his background as a Certified Public Accountant has trained him to ask hard questions about the feasibility of the Commission’s proposals, often with the result of improving them; and WHEREAS, the issues of the Commission are multifaceted, sometimes complex, and have history attached that can be confusing for newly appointed members; and WHEREAS, Chair Stone’s term expires at the end of February 2025 unless he is reappointed; THEN BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission enthusiastically thank Commissioner Stone for his valuable contribution to our work and encourage him to apply to other Boards and Commissions that work towards the betterment of Austin. Date of Approval: February 18, 2025 Vote: 7-0 Motioned By: Vice Chair Robbins Seconded By: Commissioner Luecke For: Against: Abstentions: Off Dais: Absences: Vacancies: None None None Attest: Natasha Goodwin, Staff Liaison Commissioner Paul Robbins, Vice Chair; Commissioner Charlotte Davis; Commissioner Trey Farmer; Commissioner GeNell Gary; Commissioner Martin Luecke; Commissioner Raphael Schwartz; Commissioner Alison Silverstein Commissioner Louis Stone, Chair; Commissioner Dino Sasaridis Mayor’s Office; District 10
