Thank you to all who participated in Austin Energy’s Resource Generation Plan Update Survey. The summary of results is presented below and a full list of comments received is available here. Please note all responses to question five are in their entirety, with redactions limited to personal information of respondents and some explicit language.

The Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 Overview

The Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 (2030 Plan) is the utility’s guide to balancing how it produces electricity while achieving clean energy goals. It analyzes risks, costs, and opportunities regarding Austin Energy’s generation to meet future demand for electricity while meeting environmental, efficiency, and affordability goals.

Currently, Austin Energy’s electric generation assets include wind, solar, natural gas, coal, nuclear, biomass, and battery storage. In addition, Austin Energy makes significant investments in energy efficiency, which not only helps meet climate goals but also saves customers money.

An example from the 2030 Plan of how Austin Energy works to meet climate goals is the Reduce Emissions Affordably for Climate Health strategy, or REACH. This establishes a new way for Austin Energy to run its share of the Fayette Power Project (FPP). Until the utility can retire its share of the plant, Austin Energy increases the dispatch price, so that it will run less, providing a highly effective, flexible and affordable means to reduce carbon emissions from FPP.

REACH takes a substantial step toward meeting the carbon reduction goals outlined in the 2030 Plan while protecting customer rates as the market continues to evolve and transition to a lower carbon-intensive grid. 

Resource Generation Plan Update

Another component of the 2030 Plan is that it is flexible and dynamic, allowing Austin Energy to meet changing circumstances. This current update is part of that adaptability.

In late 2022, the Austin City Council directed Austin Energy to update the 2030 Plan. The 2030 Plan commits Austin Energy to continue safely delivering clean, affordable and reliable energy sufficient to meet customer demands while pursuing the City of Austin’s climate protection and sustainability goals.

Because Austin’s community-owned utility serves all types of customers from renters and homeowners to schools and hospitals to small businesses and large industries, Austin Energy wants feedback from all customer classes. This feedback will help inform Austin Energy as it develops recommended updates to the Plan that balances a reliable and affordable supply of electricity while pursuing the City of Austin’s climate protection and sustainability goals.  We ask that you share your priorities and recommendations for how we reach our goals via the survey or at a public meeting. Your feedback is appreciated and valued, and we thank you for your input so we can continue to serve our community.