
AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin City Council members will tackle 79 items during Thursday's meeting at City Hall, including the first of two potential Austin Energy rate hikes, an effort to bolster protections for tenants in the city, and an effort to change the use of single-use plastics in restaurants and bars.
Council will consider a request from Austin Energy to set the utility's Power Supply Adjustment charges - otherwise known as a pass-through rate. The proposal before council would amount to about $20 a month for the average ratepayer. Any approved increase would go into effect beginning in November.
Utility officials say the pass-through rates are based are on the costs Austin Energy pays to purchase energy, along with regulatory and transmission costs from ERCOT and the Texas Public Utility Commission. As an example, natural gas costs this year are the highest they've been since 2008 - a 106 percent increase since last year.
Council could also consider adjusting the timeline that these pass-through charges are reviewed. Right now, it's an annual process leading up to each November.
Next month, Council members will pick up the utility's base rate review. That review process has been ongoing for several months, and the current proposal would amount to an increase of roughly $15 a month. Utility officials are proposing a change to the tiered rate structure, going from five tiers to three, meaning smaller energy users would see a bigger percentage increase in their monthly bills.
Another item on Thursday's agenda aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics by restaurants and bars in the city. It would call on the city manager to "implement a strategy, engage with stakeholders, and provide public information campaigns" about single-use plastics like cups, straws, containers, and bags. The proposal would call for the city to work with local establishments to replace those single-use plastics and Styrofoam with biodegradable materials.
Council members will also consider items related to tenant protections. One proposal would codify tenants' right to organize without a fear of retaliation; another proposal would create an assistance program focused on tenants' rights.
Thursday's meeting is set to get underway at 10am at Austin City Hall.