Austin Utilities Board of Commissioners approves 2020 budget with no increases to electric and natural gas costs

The Austin Utilities Board of Commissioners approved the 2020 Austin Utilities budget and related rate adjustments at their November board meeting.  The annual budget is used to set rates. For 2020, customers can anticipate their electric and natural gas costs to remain the same with no adjustments.

A water increase of 4.9% for both residential and business customers will become effective with the January 2020 utility bill. The effect of the overall residential water rate adjustments will be an average monthly bill increase of $1.48.  About 85% of Austin Utilities current customers are residential. Small to mid-sized business customers can expect to see monthly water increases in the range of $3.32 to $22.36.

 This news comes one year after AU announced an electric rate decrease and flat natural gas rates for 2019.  Mark Nibaur, General Manager of Austin Utilities stated that a major factor contributing to the electric and natural gas savings are stable wholesale power costs. 

The water increase comes as Austin Utilities continues to make investments to their water infrastructure. The largest item in the budget is the replacement of water mains in coordination with city street replacements.