Energy rate public hearing runs late

AUSTIN (KXAN) - While many Austinites were sleeping, Austin City Council was holding a public hearing on Austin Energy's proposal to increase rates.

That public hearing was supposed to start at 6 p.m. Thursday but didn't get underway until 10 p.m. It wrapped up after 1 a.m. Friday.

Enough people signed up for five hours of public comment, but by the time the hearing started many had left since it was getting late.

Still dozens stuck around to tell council members their concerns about Austin Energy's proposal to increase rates by 12.5 percent.

That would mean the average residential customer would pay about $13 more a month plus additional set fees.

On Thursday council members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo proposed an interim plan of raising rates across the board by 3.5 percent for the next year while council works with Austin Energy to come up with a more viable plan.

Austin Energy responded to the interim proposal by stating they have a $77 million deficit and, "We have laid out a case for what is needed. Until we are directed differently, that will be the proposal we have presented to the City Council."

Council doesn't meet again until March. At that time they are expected to vote on one of the plans.

Both the council members' interim plan and Austin Energy's would be effective in June.