Energy In the News: City Council nixes Austin Energy’s base rate hike

City Council nixes Austin Energy’s base rate hike, approves new rates

By Nolan Hicks – American-Statesman Staff

Posted: 3:17 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, 2016

The Austin City Council unanimously approved Austin Energy’s bid to redo its residential electric rates Monday, after the city-owned utility dropped its controversial proposal to increase its base electric rate….

The base rate fight quickly became a battle over who would ultimately pick up the tab: millionaires living in energy-efficient downtown condos or poor families who don’t use much electricity simply because they can’t afford it.

 a review of yearly data from Austin Energy by local activist Paul Robbins found that on average — over 12 months — lower income meant lower energy use.