Recent Awards 2012

Public Power Utility of the Year - SEPA

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has named Austin Energy the 2012 Public Power Utility of the Year. The award was presented in conjunction with the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in Seattle, Washington.

“SEPA is proud to name Austin Energy as its 2012 Public Power Utility of the Year,” said Julia Hamm, SEPA President and CEO. “Through a number of innovative measures and business actions over the past year, Austin Energy has made substantial and award-worthy advancements in the delivery of clean, affordable solar energy to its customers.”

The most innovative measure undertaken by Austin Energy in the past year was the development of a new residential solar rate that was approved by the Austin City Council on June 7, 2012. This new “Value of Solar Rate” ensures that customers are appropriately compensated for their investment in solar and creates a sustainable path forward for continued solar deployment by Austin Energy’s customers. Austin Energy conducted more than five years of research to support this rate model, and it was one of the first utilities to study this concept.

Last year, the City of Austin also became the largest local government in the United States to go 100 percent green powered thanks to the efforts and innovations of the public power utility. In addition, Austin Energy began purchasing the output of the third-largest PV project in the nation, the 30 MW Webberville Solar Project, adding value to their entire customer base.

Austin Energy was chosen from a field of SEPA's 290 public power utility members, and was joined by finalists Lakeland Electric, Long Island Power Authority and Seattle City Light.

EPA Green Power Purchaser Awards - Green Power Partner
of the Year

Austin, Texas is the state’s capital and home to nearly 800,000 residents. Carbon neutrality is core to Austin’s mission: To be the most livable city in the country. Despite the financial downturn, budget cuts, and changes in city management, the City of Austin has stayed the course of strong climate action.

This year, Austin set a powerful example for local governments and corporate entities across the nation by becoming the first large U.S. city to commit to using 100 percent renewable electricity for all City-owned operations and facilities. In doing so, Austin met one of its Climate Protection Plan goals – to power all City facilities with renewable energy by 2012. In response to residential and commercial customer demand, the City-owned utility, Austin Energy, established its GreenChoice® renewable energy program in 2000, which, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has ranked first in kilowatt-hours (kWh) sold for nine years in a row. By committing to using 100 percent green power, the city has become its own best customer for GreenChoice.

International Association of Business Communicators Austin Bronze Quill Award of Excellence - Marketing Communications: Federal Weatherization Program and Plug-In EVerywhere Network

The Bronze Quill Awards celebrate Austin's best communicators and their talent, creativity and innovation in a sometimes challenging business environment. The award is designed to recognize the outstanding work of local business and government communicators.