ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION.
Austin City Code § 2-1-143
in effect§ 2-1-143 - ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION.
(A) The Electric Utility commission is composed of persons from within the service area of the City's electric utility. The commission may include as members:
(1) a registered professional engineer with experience in the area of power production;
(2) an attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Texas; and
(3) a person who receives electric service from the City's electric utility outside of City's corporate limits and who lives outside the City's corporate limits.
(B) The commission shall review and analyze all policies and procedures of the electric utility, including the electric rate structure, fuel costs and charges, customer services, capital investments, new generation facilities, selection of types of fuel, budget, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, billing procedures, and the transfer of electric utility revenues from the utility fund to the general fund.
(C) The commission shall advise the city council, the city manager, the electric utility, city departments, and city boards, commissions, and committees on policy matters relating to the electric utility. All advisory information given shall simultaneously be forwarded to the city manager.
(D) The commission may review, study, and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on proposed electric utility projects for inclusion in the Capital Improvements Program.
(E) The commission may request that the city council hire an outside consultant every five years to make a comprehensive review of the policies and procedures of the electric utility. The commission may initiate an external or internal review of the policies and procedures of the electric utility. If the commission initiates a review, it shall report its findings to the city council and the city manager.
(F) The commission shall interpret the role of the electric utility to the public and the role of the public to the electric utility. The commission may hold a public hearing and briefing session every six months to explain new policies and to take citizens comments, suggestions, and complaints.
(G) The commission may make recommendations to the city council before final council action on a policy or procedure of the electric utility.
(H) The commission shall request from the city manager any information which it deems to pertain to the electric utility.
(I) The commission shall, as a body, review customer complaint procedures, accept specific customer grievances and complaints, and make recommendations to the city council and city manager based on its findings. This duty does not supersede, replace, or substitute for the appeal procedures provided to customers in the City Utility Service Regulations.
(J) The commission shall seek to promote close cooperation between the city council, other city boards, committees, and commissions, city departments and individuals, institutions and agencies concerned with the policies, procedures, and operations of the electric utility to the end that all similar activities within the City may be coordinated to secure the greatest public welfare.
(K) The city manager shall provide the commission with a copy of a report, recommendation, or information given to the city council by the city manager relating to the commission's duties. Unless otherwise authorized by the city council, this subsection does not apply to:
(1) information exempt from public disclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (Public Information Act); and
(2) information legally subject to discussion in a city council closed or executive session under Government Code Chapter 551 (Open Meetings Act).
(L) A review, analysis, or recommendation concerning policies or procedures referred to in this section shall not be construed to cover policies or procedures relating to City personnel policies adopted by the city council.
Source: Ord. 20071129-011; Ord. 20110217-047.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2-1CIBO_ART2BO_S2-1-143ELUTCOFetched: 10/27/2026