The Spring of 2010 will reshape Austin Energy and perhaps Austin itself.
Austin City Council is undertaking several major initiatives guiding Austin Energy, including:
- Adoption of updated Generation Plan through 2020
- Hiring of new General Manager to lead Austin Energy
- Possible changes to utility Transparency policies
- Contemplation of change to the utility’s fundamental Business Model
Transparency
The City of Austin values an informed citizenry but over the past three decades has seen significant changes in the level of transparency of the community owned utility. A state law passed in 1999 gave authority to Austin’s City Council to decide what information — if any — to keep confidential from the public. Austin’s “Competitive Matters” Resolution was adopted in 2001 and updated 2005.
Changes to Austin Energy’s practices on information disclosed to the public can come from:
1) Austin Energy can change its internal policies for information disclosure (AE sometimes does share items on their confidential list, as City Council has delegated to AE staff the responsibility to determine specifics of what to share with the public and what to keep confidential);
2) Austin City Council can change the “Competitive Matters” Resolution;
3) The Texas Legislature can change the enabling statute granting city’s extra confidentiality authority; and
4) The federal government can change requirements for information that municipal utilities must report nationally.
