“Bills in both the Texas House and Senate would allow competition for electricity in Austin, but city officials have deemed the proposed laws unfair.
The proposals come as Austin Energy, a city-owned utility with approximately 400,000 customers, announced its first significant electric rate increase in 17 years. The increase is expected to be as much as 12 percent by 2012 and 35 percent by 2020.”
Is a policy analyst for TCAP, a coalition of cities and other political subdivisions that purchase electricity in the deregulated market for their own governmental use. Because high energy costs can impact municipal budgets and the ability to fund essential services, TCAP, as part of its mission, actively promotes affordable energy policies. High energy prices also place a burden on local businesses and home consumers.