Recent Awards (2006-2008)

Environmental Stewardship and Innovation

Computerworld: Top 12 Green-IT Users, 2008

• Computerworld honors Austin Energy as one of its Top 12 Green-IT Users leading the way in eco-friendly computing. Computerworld identified companies that implement smart, efficient strategies to achieve "green IT." The magazine worked with select experts to develop a set of criteria that best identifies companies working to reduce energy consumption by IT equipment and using technology to conserve energy and lower carbon emissions.

ENERGY STAR® Award for Sustained Excellence, 2007

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) award the ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence to organizations that go beyond program maintenance and demonstrate continued significant energy reductions and continuous improvement.

Green Power Partnership: Top 10 Local Government, 2007

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership recognizes governmental and private organizations for their annual green power purchases. The City of Austin and Austin Independent School District are ranked in the Top 10 for Local Government for the second year in a row, with Austin Energy as green power supplier and partner.

Arbor Day Foundation: Tree Line USA Utilities, 2007

• The Tree Line USA® program again named Austin Energy a Tree Line USA Utility. Tree Line USA Utilities must demonstrate excellence in three categories, including quality tree care, annual worker training, and tree planting and public education.

International Energy Agency Best Practice Award, 2007

• The International Energy Agency recognized Plug-In Partners for its rigorous promotion of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

ENERGY STAR Combined Heat and Power Partnership Recognition, 2006

• Austin Energy received an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership recognition for providing cleaner, more efficient power at the Mueller Energy Center (MEC), which serves as the onsite energy supply for Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Texas Environmental Excellence Award, 2006

• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) recognized Austin Energy for Environmental Excellence in Innovative Technology for developing a new way to encapsulate PCB contaminants in the repurposing of the utility’s retired Seaholm Power Plant. The TECQ recognizes 10 environmental projects annually. The winners must demonstrate the highest achievements in resource conservation, waste reduction, and pollution prevention.

International District Energy Association Gold and Bronze Awards, 2006

• Austin Energy earned the International District Energy Association Gold Award for serving the most new or recommitted buildings in 2006 and Bronze Award for serving energy to more than 6.4 million square feet of new or recommitted customer space.

Electric Utility Cost Group: Best Performer, 2006

• The Electric Utility Cost Group’s (EUCG) Hall of Fame awarded its Best Performer Single Year 2006 award for large coal/lignite plants with an average size of 250 MW and larger to the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Fayette Power Project. (Austin Energy is a partner in the project.) The EUCG is a non-profit association that provides feedback on utility and plant specific problems, with the purpose of increasing competitiveness and value.

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations: Quality Management and Performance, 2006

• The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) recognized the South Texas Project for leading all two-unit sites nationally in total generation over two years. (Austin Energy is a partner in the project.) The INPO promotes the highest levels of safety and reliability in the operation of nuclear electric generating plants.

CIO Magazine: CIO 100 Awards, 2006

• CIO Magazine honored Austin Energy in its 19th annual CIO 100 Awards for innovative and effective use of IT to create business value.

ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, 2006

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) named Austin Energy as an ENERGY STAR 2006 Partner of the Year.

Superior Publications and Marketing

Texas Public Relations Association: Silver Spur, 2007

• Austin Energy won a Silver Spur 2007 for Public Affairs and Governmental Relations for its Plug-In Partners campaign. The Silver Spur award demonstrates the incorporation of sound public relations objectives and philosophy and the implementation of high standards of research, planning, execution, and evaluation.

Texas Public Relations Association: Best of Texas, 2007

• Austin Energy won a Best of Texas Silver 2007 for Internal Newsletter for Powerline and a Best of Texas Bronze 2007 for External Newsletter for EnergyPlus. The Best of Texas award demonstrates superior use of communications tools employed and documents that the rationale and execution produced positive results in support of a specific public relations objective

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Austin Chapter: Bronze Quill Award, 2007

• The Austin Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) awarded a Bronze Quill Award to Austin Energy’s Plug-In Partners national campaign, Power Partner Program marketing campaign, Austin Energy Regional Science Festival, EnergyPlus customer newsletter, and corporate calendar.

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), US Southern Region: Silver Quill Award, 2007

• The US Southern Region of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) awarded Silver Quill Award honors to Austin Energy for its Power Partner Program marketing campaign and the Austin Energy Regional Science Festival.

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Austin Chapter: Bronze Quill Award, 2006

• The Austin Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) awarded a Bronze Quill Award to Austin Energy’s Solar Rebate Program Brochure.