Austin Utilities: Energy providers? (San Antonio, Commerce: sales, apartments, home)

[RCRanger03]

Hi moving to my first residence in Austin (rental house), and the management company won't give me the key until the utilities are established. I'm setting up things through the online portal, and it gives me the option for Electric of Residential Service or GreenChoice, does this mean I only can use Austin Energy? I've had the options of choosing an energy provider in the past at apartments, and the fiance would prefer to use Reliant... Any input is greatly appreciated!

PS: If it helps your answer I'll be living in 78744 off William cannon just east of I-35

[Trainwreck20]

I believe if you have the option to use AE, then you don't have an option - you have to use AE .

Green choice is basically agreeing to pay a set price more than the going rate, and that differential is added to the alternative energy budget of AE. A co-worker did this some years ago, and after about a year he was actually paying less than the going rate since he had locked in at the 'green' rate and the normal rate had risen past it. Not likely to happen again, but kind of funny.

Btw, AE (whether you like them or not) is typically cheaper than Reliant, usually by a noticeable amount.

[CptnRn]

AE is considerably cheaper then most other energy providers in the area. And your payments to them go to help fund other city sevices, further reducing Austin tax rates.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

AE is considerably cheaper then most other energy providers in the area. And your payments to them go to help fund other city sevices, further reducing Austin tax rates.

If you are thinking about investor owned such as Reliant, you are correct. But not cheaper than Perdenales or Bluebonnet Electric Coops, both of whom are "in the area". Also more expensive than San Antonio's city owned CPS, for most households.

As far as "other city services", you may judge for yourself the criticality of things AE has paid for (even in years when they failed to make a penny):

Central Texas Clean Air Task Force: $90,000
Juneteenth World Wide Celebration: $11,175
Austin Public Library summer reading program: $18,000
Austin Habitat for Humanity: $65,000
City of Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office: $8.5 million
Sickle cell anemia research: $54,000
American Heart Association Heart Walk: $5,000
Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce awards and series: $6,000
Black History Month program: $5,475
International Hispanic Network conference: $15,000
Urban Music Festival: $15,000
The Trail Foundation's Johnson Creek Trailhead and Eastside Dock cleanups: $50,000
2010 Austin Green Living and Home Products Expo: $50,233

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by scm53

...

As far as "other city services", you may judge for yourself the criticality of things AE has paid for (even in years when they failed to make a penny): ...

AE has always "failed to make a penny", as profit has never been their purpose. They consistently provide inexpensive electrical power to the vast majority of City of Austin citizens while funding numerous COA services and programs.

Seems like a Win-Win situation to me. I am very happy with Austin Energy.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

AE has always "failed to make a penny", as profit has never been their purpose. They consistently provide inexpensive electrical power to the vast majority of City of Austin citizens while funding numerous COA services and programs.

Seems like a Win-Win situation to me. I am very happy with Austin Energy.

The Office of the Public Utility Counsel doesn't agree with your assessment:

The reviewers also conclude that Austin Energy is paying for some city expenses, such as the economic development office, that should instead be supported by the city’s general coffers, which are mainly funded by city property and sales taxes. And the report states that Austin Energy’s new tiered rate structure, which charges progressively higher rates as electric consumption rises, “overemphasize(s) the conservation aspect … of rate design.”

San Antonio's city owned CPS, as well as nearby Bluebonnet and Pedernales Electric Cooperatives have lower rates than AE. Part of that disparity maybe in a Moody Investors Service May, 2010 report in AE:

Portion of electric system net revenues transferred to City's general fund (9.1%) is above the median for public power electric utilities

[Trainwreck20]

“overemphasize(s) the conservation aspect … of rate design.”

heh, well, if you CAN overemphasize it, I suppose.