Oct 21, 2020 Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee

[00:00:02]

COUNCIL MEMBER

[Call to order]

UM, AS VICE CHAIR WILL INDICATED, UM, EARLIER THEIR PART-TIME, OUR OFFICE REACHED OUT THIS MORNING AND INDICATED SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN A LITTLE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GLENIGAN'S OFFICE DID THE SAME.

SO I AM GLAD THAT THE REST OF YOU ALL DID SO THAT WE COULD GET STARTED WITH OUR QUORUM.

UM,

[1. Approval of Minutes Approve the minutes of the August 19, 2020 meeting of the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee.]

COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR MOVES APPROVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER LS, SECONDS.

IT ALL IN FAVOR.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DYESS.

THANK YOU.

UM, WE WILL, WE ARE AIMING TO WRAP UP A LITTLE BIT EARLY, UM, IN THE EVENT THAT, THAT WE DON'T, I'LL BE LEAVING AT ABOUT TWO AND TURNING OVER THE HELM TO VICE CHAIR.

COOL.

BUT I, AS WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE WE STARTED, WE DO HAVE A PRETTY SHORT AGENDA.

SO MY, MY GOAL IS TO WRAP UP RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

SO LET'S START

[2. General Manager’s report: Upcoming recommendations for Council action Innovations, events and awards.]

AND IF I MAY, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GO FROM THE GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT.

NUMBER TWO, THE DECKER CREEK POWER STATION, WORKFORCE NUMBER FOUR.

UM, AND THEN SOMEBODY ORDERED THEM A BIT.

SO IF, IF WE COULD HAVE THE STAFF MEMBER WHO IS GOING TO BE DOING THE PRESENTATION FOR, FOR PREPPED AND READY TO GO FOR AFTER NUMBER TWO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND I SEE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AS SIGNED BACK INTO YOU, DON'T SEE HER, BUT WE SEE HER NAME GREAT, MS. SERGEANT, GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

UH, I AM JACKIE SERGEANT AUSTIN ENERGY, GENERAL MANAGER.

AND IN ADDITION TO MY REPORT TODAY, ERIC VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKET OPERATIONS AND RESOURCE PLANNING.

WE'LL PRESENT THE ERCOT AFTER SUMMER MARKET REPORT AND INTERIM DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ELTON RICHARDS WILL PRESENT THE DIFFERENT WORKFORCE UPDATES.

SO HE'LL DO THAT RIGHT AFTER MY GENERAL MANAGER REPORT.

AS YOU REQUESTED NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

I WANT TO START TODAY WITH AN UPDATE ON OUR PLUS ONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM HELPS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

THEY'RE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY.

AS YOU KNOW, ON APRIL 9TH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ADDING $10 MILLION FOR THE PLUS ONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, 5 MILLION FROM AUSTIN ENERGY AND 5 MILLION FROM OSTEON WATER.

UH, THIS WAS AN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AMOUNT OF 2.3 MILLION.

UM, DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 CITY OF AUSTIN UTILITIES APPROVED OVER 21,700 REQUESTS FOR PLUS ONE TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TO OVER 14,000 CUSTOMERS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF OVER $7.4 MILLION IN RELIEF FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE 7.1 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO HELP CUSTOMERS DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME.

OUR ASSISTANCE EFFORTS ARE ONGOING AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19 OR OTHER FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS TO CONTACT US OR APPLY FOR HELP WITH THEIR UTILITY BILLS@BOSTONBILLHEALTH.COM OR BY CALLING (512) 765-9721.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UH, NEXT I WANT TO BRIEF THE COMMITTEE ON FOUR UPCOMING REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL ACTION.

THE FIRST ITEM IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO REPLACE THE DOMAIN DISTRICT COOLING PLANTS, WHICH GEAR FOR $4.2 MILLION.

UH, THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING 40 PLUS YEAR OLD ELECTRICAL SWITCH GEAR THAT HAS, UH, BEEN IN SERVICE PAST THAT EXPECTED LIFE.

THE FACILITY, AS YOU MAY RECALL, WAS BUILT BY IBM IN 1980, AND THEN WAS LATER PURCHASED BY AUSTIN ENERGY IN 2001.

UH, THIS REPLACES ELECTRICAL SWITCHING EQUIPMENT WITH MORAL, RELIABLE SWITCHGEAR AND ENSURES THE DOMAIN PLANT CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING RELIABLE DISTRICT COOLING TO BUILDINGS IN THE DOUGHNUT DOMAIN BUSINESS DISTRICT.

THE NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THREE FIVE-YEAR CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES ON ENERGIZED DISTRIBUTION LINES.

THESE CONTRACTS ARE FOR AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF UP TO $85 MILLION AMONG THE CONTRACTORS.

THE CONTRACTORS WILL PERFORM VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO SUPPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UH, MAINTENANCE OF THE ELECTRICAL GRID AND SUBSTATION FACILITIES AND STORM RESTORATION EVENT.

THE WORK IS VERY SPECIALIZED AND THE CONTRACTORS MUST ADHERE TO STRINGENT SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT BOTH WORKERS AND EQUIPMENT.

THE CONTRACTORS WILL ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, A WILDFIRE DIVISION TO HELP REDUCE A WILDFIRE RISK.

THE NEXT ITEM

[00:05:01]

THE CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE AUSTIN ENERGY WITH A CLOUD HOSTED SOFTWARE APPLICATION FOR A FINANCIAL PLANNING AND REGULATORY REPORTING SOLUTION.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS SOLUTION WILL IMPROVE THE INTEGRATION WITH CITY OF AUSTIN FINANCIAL SYSTEMS. AND THE LAST ITEM I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS A CONTRACT AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE CONTINUED WATER TREATMENT SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.2 MILLION.

UH, THIS WATER TREATMENT PROTECTS ASSETS SUCH AS CHILLED WATER LOOPS, UH, POWER BOILERS AND CONDENSER WATER LOOPS.

THIS IS ALSO NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND REDUCE CORROSION AND EROSION WITHIN PIPING SYSTEMS, POWER PLANTS, CHILLED WATER FACILITIES, AND VARIOUS CITY BUILDINGS, INCLUDING AT THE AIRPORT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AN AWARD AUSTIN ENERGY RECENTLY RECEIVED THE PRIME AND AUSTIN-BASED ENERGY RESEARCH COMPANY WHO SPONSORS THE ENERGY THOUGHT SUMMIT ACKNOWLEDGED AUSTIN ENERGY AS A 2020 UTILITY INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNER.

THE AWARD RECOGNIZES COMPANIES WHO ARE ADVANCING UTILITY LEADERSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE, INNOVATION RESEARCH, CLEAN ENERGY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION.

I'M REALLY PROUD THAT AUSTIN ENERGY WAS AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAMS, OINTMENTS EDUCATION POINT, UH, PROGRAMS AND MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE AUSTIN ENERGY'S ELECTRIC DRIVE UBS FOR SCHOOLS, ELECTRIC GREATER THAN GAS CAMPAIGN.

AND MY FAVORITE STEVIE, THE EVIE LOVING T-REX.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AS I WRAP UP, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE 18 CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING 17 FROM AUSTIN ENERGY AND ONE FROM FLEET SERVICES, UH, THEIR NAMES ARE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.

THEY LEFT ON OCTOBER 10TH AND HEADED TOWARDS 3.3 PORT LOUISIANA TO HELP WITH HURRICANE DELTA RESTORATION.

UH, TWO HOURS INTO THE TRIP SHREVEPORT SAID THAT THEY HAD THE RESOURCES THEY NEEDED.

SO THEY WERE REROUTED TO ABBYVILLE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

THE CITY OF ABBYVILLE ONLY HAS SEVEN LINE WORKERS.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE OUR CREWS ROLL IN AFTER COMPLETING WORK IN ABBYVILLE AUSTIN ENERGY, MOVED OVER TOWARDS LAFAYETTE TO SUPPORT SLEMCO A LOCAL UTILITY COOPERATIVE AND THE CREWS RETURNED HOME SAFELY ON, ON SATURDAY.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN, CONVEY MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THESE EMPLOYEES AND THANK THEIR FAMILIES, UH, FOR THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDED WHILE OUR TEAM PERFORMED THIS CRITICAL WORK.

ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO STAYED BEHIND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON HERE AT HOME.

THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION OF EXCEPTIONAL TEAM EFFORT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME AND AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEES HAVE STEPPED UP LEANED IN AT A TIME WHEN OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IT, THE MOST HATS OFF TO ALL OF OUR CENTRAL TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

FINALLY, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE AUSTIN ENERGY EXECUTIVE TEAM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CHARLES DICKERSON LEFT AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, TO TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP OF A GLOBAL UTILITY BASED IN NEW JERSEY.

UM, WITH HIS DEPARTURE, I APPOINTED ELTON RICHARDS VICE-PRESIDENT OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM FIELD OPERATIONS AS THE INTERIM DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND COO AS WE GO THROUGH THE RECRUITING PROCESS TO PERMANENTLY FILL THIS POSITION, UH, ELTON IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AND A CULTURE OF SAFETY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

AND I APPRECIATE HIS WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND SERVE AT THIS TIME WITH THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT.

I WILL PAUSE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. SERGEANT, AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGHLIGHTING OUR AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEES, UM, WHO ARE HELPING OUT WHEREVER THEY'RE NEEDED.

THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S ALWAYS REALLY INSPIRING.

AND I WOULD JUST SAY, I KNOW AT TIMES WE'D RECOGNIZE THEM WITHIN OUR AUSTIN ENERGY MEETING.

AND SO I HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT WHEN WE'RE BACK TOGETHER, FACE-TO-FACE THAT WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR OUR GENERAL MANAGER? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOW COUNCIL MEMBER.

I THINK YOU MAY STILL BE MUTED COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'RE MUTED AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT KEEPS SWITCHING ON AND OFF.

[00:10:03]

IT'S OFF NOW.

IT'S ON AGAIN.

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS. WE CAN HEAR YOU.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I WANT TO THANK JACKIE AND HER CREW FOR A STANDING OUTSTANDING WORK.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IS I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, IT WAS TONING, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING THAT IS OWNED BY BOWELS.

DID YOU CHILL IT TOO? Y'ALL GONNA PUT A, UH, A SUBSTATION THERE.

I WAS WONDERING, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S RIGHT NOW IS BEING USED AT A BIG PARKING LOT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE NEXT DOOR.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF Y'ALL GUYS WERE AWARE OF THAT AND ARE THEY RENTING THAT OUT OR DO YOU KNOW WHETHER, YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE A LEASE ON THERE TO USE THAT AS A PARKING AREA COUNCIL MEMBER? I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU.

OKAY.

I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS OUR, IT'S OUR PROPERTY.

THERE ARE YOU USING IT AS A PARKING LOT? AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER ANY KIND OF REVENUE THAT WE CAN GET FROM THAT.

AND THEN USING THAT SITE AS A, AS A WORK SITE.

YES.

THANK YOU.

I'LL LOOK INTO THAT.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL

[3. Decker Creek Power Station Workforce Planning]

WHY DON'T WE MOVE ON TO DECKER AND THEN I MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND SERGEANT FOR YOU BASED ON THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

AND I BELIEVE IT'S MR. RICHARDSON.

MR. RICHARDS, MR. RICHARDS.

THANK YOU.

I SEE YOU ON THE LINE.

GOOD AFTERNOON THERE BY SEA CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS TIME TO UPDATE ON DECKER.

ACTUALLY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EXCITING OUT AT THE DECKER.

WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVE MOVEMENT.

THE DECKER ONE UNIT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TILL THE END OF OCTOBER DUE TO SOME DAMAGES ON IT.

UH, WE DID DECIDE TO SHUTTER THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE SET UP A CALL WITH PAT SWEENEY AND MYSELF.

HE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT DEGENERATION HEAD OF TEAM CALL OUT THERE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATED ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE UNIT.

ONE THAT GOT US THROUGH THE SUMMER.

IT DID EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THAT OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR CONTRIBUTED THE FACTOR.

DID THEY GET TO KEEP THAT UNIT ONLINE? WE THEN REINFORCED THAT WE WERE THERE FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

WE BROUGHT IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, JOHN BERSTON TO DO THE JOB SHADOWING.

HE WENT THROUGH A BIG PRESENTATION ON WHAT THE JOB SHADOW CONSISTED OF.

I ALSO ASSIGNED A TRAINING REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PLANT POWER PRODUCTIONS TO WORK CO IN HAND WITH MR. THURSTON.

THAT WAY THEY'VE GOT A FACE THAT THEY RECOGNIZE ON THE JOB SHADOWING.

THE EXPECTATION IS THAT EACH EMPLOYEE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED WILL HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE WITH THEIR MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITY.

I GAVE MY EXPECTATION, ANYONE THAT DECLINED THE JOB SHADOWING.

I WANTED TO KNOW THE REASON WHY THAT WAY I COULD FOLLOW WITH THE EMPLOYEE.

THEN MYSELF.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY GET HIRED INTO AUSTIN ENERGY THAT MET THE QUALIFICATIONS AND WENT THROUGH THE MCS PROCESS.

UH, WE HAVE THE, WE WERE DOING QUARTERLY MEETINGS MYSELF AND PAT SWEENEY ARE NOW MOVING THAT UP, GO MONTHLY MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES SO WE CAN KEEP THEM UPDATED ON WHAT ACTIONS ARE BEING DONE.

I'M ALSO SETTING UP A SKIP LEVEL MEETING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERVISORS AND BELOW WITH A HR REPRESENTATIVE TO FIND OUT ANY CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE, THAT THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING IT UP.

THAT WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE AS THEY COME.

I RECEIVED A COUPLE OF POSITIVE PHONE CALLS FROM THE MEETING THAT WE HAD.

UH, THEY APPRECIATED THAT WE WERE CONCERNED WITH THEIR WELLBEING.

UH, THEY FELT THAT WE HAD THEIR FUTURE, UH, IN CONSIDERATION AND THEY WERE APPRECIATIVE OF THE JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE COMING UP.

SO THAT IS THE UPDATE ON BECKER, UH, PENDING ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COUNCILMEMBER ALTER.

CAN YOU JUST SAY AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IF YOU DIDN'T SAY IT, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY ARE GOING TO BE PRODUCING A REPORT OF ALL AFFECTED PERSONNEL AND THEN ACTUALLY LISTING WHAT THE STATUS OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE.

A PET SWINNEY WOULD HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS 49 PAD.

IS THAT CORRECT? OR IS THAT LOW? SO DECKER THERE'S 46 FOLKS ON THE PAYROLL.

THANK YOU.

I JUST NEED THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.

THAT'S FINE.

GOOD QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS.

I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT COUNCIL

[00:15:01]

SO NO, WE'RE NOT PLANNING ANY REDUCTION IN FORCE THIS TIME.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THOSE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY APPLY FOR JOBS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND RECENTLY HAD, UM, HAD SOMEONE THAT WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WAS HIRED AND PUT INTO ANOTHER POSITION.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT.

AND WHEN WAS THE JOB SHADOWING, THE STARTING OR TAKING POLLS? WE'VE GOT AN ESTIMATED RIGHT NOW, STARTING IN DECEMBER.

SO WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE ORGANIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING IS THEY'RE LOOKING AT POSITIONS WITHIN THE AUSTIN ENERGY THAT THEY BUILD.

THEY HAVE A, AT LEAST A 50 OR 60% OF SKILLSET ON THEY'LL DO THE JOB SHADOWING STARTING IN DECEMBER, AND THEN LOOK FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO CLOSE ANY GAPS.

IF THAT IS THE AREA THAT THEY WANT TO GO INTO THAT WAY, THAT THE FULLY QUALIFIED, IF THAT MCS POSTING COMES UP.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

SO JUST SO I'M CAPTURING THIS INFORMATION CORRECTLY.

SO, UM, POSITIONS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEY BEING THE EMPLOYEES, ARE THEY BEING THOSE WHO ARE HELPING PROVIDE THAT, PROVIDING THAT COUNSELING ARE LOOKING FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE 50 TO 60% WHERE AN EMPLOYEE HAS THE PERCENT OF THE QUALIFICATIONS? SO IT WASN'T, UM, UM, THE CHAIR ACTUALLY, UH, OH, I'M SORRY.

NO WORRIES IS THE VICE CHAIR.

SHE'S GOING TO BE TAKING OVER HERE A FEW MINUTES.

UM, YOU SAID THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE POSITIONS WHERE AN EMPLOYEE MIGHT HIT 50 TO 60% OF THOSE QUALIFICATIONS.

I WASN'T SURE WHO THEY WAS IF THEY WERE THE, OR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE TRAINING SPOT FROM THE PLANT.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE POSITIONS AND THEN TALK TO THE EMPLOYEES AND IT BUYS THEM ON HERBALLY MULTIPLE POSITIONS THAT THEY WOULD BE POTENTIALLY QUALIFIED FOR THAT WAY.

THEY'VE GOT MORE THAN JUST ONE CHOICE.

GREAT.

SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS, UM, WITH, WITH ALL OF THOSE 4,600 ISH, 46 ISH, UH, HELPING IDENTIFY SOME POSITIONS FOR WHICH THEY WOULD BE QUALIFIED ABOUT 50 TO 60% QUALIFIED, AND THEN HELPING THEM IDENTIFY, UM, SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES, THAT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN CLOSE THAT GAP AND BE COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? AND THEN YOU HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT MEETING, UM, ONE-ON-ONE THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL, EVERY ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH A MANAGER, WITH THE MANAGER, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP AND FIND OUT FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T, DIDN'T AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WHAT WAS, WHAT CORRECT.

WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO, AND JACKIE AND I ARE CONCERNED THAT OUR MESSAGING WILL POTENTIALLY NOT MEET AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE JOB SHADOWING IS, WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE FOR THE JOB SHADOWING.

AND THEN IF THEY COULD CLIMB THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON WHY, SO I CAN SEE IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF A TREND THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ON OUR FAULT FOR NOT PROVIDING SOMETHING TO THEM.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE BEST THAT THEY CAN IN THEIR CAREER.

THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT FOLLOW UP.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD PLAN.

UM, ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD IS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET WITH REGARD TO LOCAL SOLAR AND INCREASING, UM, AUSTIN, ENERGY'S LOCAL SOLAR, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE HAD A CONTRACT COME THROUGH RECENTLY.

OUR IS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

ALSO LOOKING TO THOSE AS OPPORTUNITIES POTENTIALLY FOR SOME OF THOSE 46 ISH EMPLOYEES, THAT THEY MAY BE QUALIFIED FOR SOME OF THOSE NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

AND IF SO ARE THOSE, UM, IS THERE A WAY IN WHICH THOSE RFPS CAN BE WRITTEN SO THAT WE ACCOMMODATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES? I DON'T THINK WE'RE WRITING ANYTHING TO ACCOMMODATE THEM, BUT I WILL CHALLENGE THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX, SO TO SPEAK AND JUST THE NORMAL PLANT OPERATIONS JOBS, WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH DO HAVE THE SKILLSET AT THE FORM PERFORM THOSE ACTIONS.

SO I'LL TAKE THAT ACTION ON CHAIR.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

AND IF, AND IF WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT OUR RFPS DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE OR, UM, TO, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO, UM, BUILD THAT IN TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE ARE THESE, I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, A GOOD, UM, PATH FORWARD SO THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS YOU'VE EXPRESSED IT SORT OF OUTSIDE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN ENERGY PLANS, BUT FOR THOSE ALIGNED IN OUR, IN OUR ENERGY GOALS, I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FULLY CONCUR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, OTHERS.

[4. ERCOT Market After Summer Report]

[00:20:01]

WELL, I THINK THAT BRINGS US NOW TO OUR CUT MARKET AFTER SUMMER REPORT AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL.

I WAS GOING TO ASK IF YOU WOULD ALL BE HERE FOR A BIT LONGER, BUT IF YOU WOULD TAKE OVER FROM THIS POINT, I THINK THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE CONTINUITY.

SO I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO, TO YOU.

UM, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ERIC AND I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF ENERGY MARKET OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH PLANNING.

AND I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH AN ERCOT MARKET SUMMER RECAP.

UM, I THINK WE'LL BE PULL, WE'LL BE, CTMD PULLING THAT UP.

THE THERE'S A DECK.

THERE WE GO.

AND ERICA, WHILE YOU'RE GETTING PREPARED, YOU MAY NEED TO LEAN IN A LITTLE BIT TO THE MIC SO YOU CAN MOVE BETTER.

OH, GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE LOUDER.

IS THAT BETTER? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING IT.

OKAY.

UH, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KICK THIS OFF BY SHOWING YOU A COMPARISON OF LAST YEAR'S AND THIS YEAR'S WEATHER AVERAGED OVER THE THREE SUMMER MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH AUGUST.

WHAT THIS SLIDE IS POINTING OUT IS THAT THIS YEAR, SUMMER, AND LAST YEAR, SUMMER, UH, WERE BOTH, UH, BOTH HAD ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

UM, ALTHOUGH BOTH SUMMERS WERE HOT, THEY EACH HAD VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES WITH REGARDS TO MARKET COSTS.

SO IN 2019, UM, UH, THAT YEAR EXPERIENCED HIGHER PRICES, TIGHTER CONDITIONS, BUT THIS PAST SUMMER, SUMMER OF 2020 ACTUALLY AVERAGED HARDER THAN 2019 AND DID NOT HAVE THOSE SAME, UM, HIGHER PRICES AND TIGHTER CONDITIONS.

UH, 2019 EXPERIENCED EMER EMERGENCY ALERTS, WHICH, UH, COMMUNICATES TO THE MARKET THAT THE, AND, AND THE PUBLIC THAT THE GRID CONDITIONS ARE TIGHT AND POSSIBLE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO SECURE THE GRID.

THERE WERE SEVERAL DAYS OF THOUSAND DOLLAR PLUS, UH, PRICE SPIKES AND INTERVALS, WHICH REACHED THE $9,000 CAP.

SO WHAT'S DRIVING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO SUMMERS.

CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THANK YOU.

SO THIS SLIDE COMPARES BOTH AUGUSTS.

IT SHOWS US THAT 2019 AUGUST DID COME IN HOTTER THAN 2020, WHICH IS WHEN WE SAW THESE EMERGENCY ALERTS AND EXTREME PRICES, BUT THE DEMAND WAS STRONG THROUGHOUT BOTH SUMMERS.

CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO SUMMER DEMAND WAS AS PEAKY THIS YEAR, AS IT WAS LAST YEAR AND PEAKY, MEANING THAT THE DEMAND IS STRONG.

IT'S TRYING TO SET NEW HIGHS.

THIS YEAR'S JULY CAME IN ABOVE LAST YEAR'S.

UM, BUT THEN LAST YEAR, SEPTEMBER BEAT OUT THIS YEAR'S SEPTEMBER, BUT LOOK AT AUGUST, THEY WERE IDENTICAL.

BOTH SUMMERS HAD STRONG, SIMILAR DEMAND, AND BOTH SUMMERS HAD HOT SIMILAR WEATHER.

SO WHAT ABOUT PRICES? CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THANK YOU.

SO THESE GRAPHS ARE WHERE THE AVERAGE SUMMER ON PEAK AND OFF-PEAK PRICES CAME IN FOR BOTH SUMMERS PRICES IN 2019 WERE HIGHER ACROSS THE BOARD ON PEAK AND SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO IN AUGUST, UM, THIS IS ALSO TRUE FOR, FOR THE OFF PEAK ON THE RIGHT SAVE ONE MONTH.

THESE PRICE DIFFERENCES ARE DUE TO STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE SUPPLY STACK IN THE ERCOT MARKET.

THESE STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE AFFECTING ELECTRIC PRICES AND THE RISK IN MANAGING THE NEW SUPPLY IN THE MARKET.

CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS NATURAL GAS PRICES.

IT SHOWS WHERE THEY SETTLED EACH SUMMER MONTH FOR BOTH YEARS, AND ALSO ON YOUR RIGHT, HOW THEY TRENDED OVER THIS TIMEFRAME.

I'M SHOWING YOU THIS TO EXPLAIN ANOTHER PART OF THE STRUCTURAL CHANGE THAT'S OCCURRING ARE PLANTS FIRED WITH NATURAL GAS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY CALLED UPON WHEN SUPPLY DEMAND BALANCES ARE TIGHT AND THE MARKET IS CALLING FOR MORE POWER.

FOR THIS REASON, THE FUEL THAT USE NATURAL GAS HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN LINKED TO OR DRIVEN POWER PRICES.

SO IF NATURAL GAS IS A DOLLAR, WE MIGHT SEE $10 POWER.

IF IT'S $2, WE MIGHT SEE $20 POWER IF IT'S $3 THAN 30.

AND SO ON, THIS RELATIONSHIP IS BREAKING DOWN DUE TO AN INCREASING NUMBER OF RENEWABLES ENTERING THE MARKET.

THE GRAPH ON YOUR RIGHT SHOWS, GAS PRICES TICKED UP STEEPLY IN 2020 MORE SO THAN IN 2019, BUT POWER PRICES IN 2020, WE'RE NOT DRIVEN HIGHER AT ALL AS THEY WERE IN 2019.

THE GRAPHS REFLECT THIS SHIFT THAT'S OCCURRING IN MARKET PSYCHOLOGY.

DID YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO, SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THE SUPPLY STACK IS MADE UP OF, UM, AND HOW IT'S CHANGING OR THE LAST TWO SUMMERS THE GENERATION THAT FUELED THIS

[00:25:01]

SO THIS RENEWABLE INCREASE CAME, UM, AT THE EXPENSE OF NATURAL GAS AND COAL, UH, MARKET DEMAND INCREASED YEAR OVER YEAR BY 500, UH, GIGAWATT HOURS.

IT'S SUPPLY MADE UP OF THE RENEWABLES, UM, INCREASED OVER 5,000 GIGAWATT HOURS, CLOSE TO 5,500 GIGAWATT HOURS.

SO THE EXTRA SOLAR ON THE MARKET KEPT PRICES FROM GETTING INTO THAT THOUSAND DOLLAR PLUS TERRITORY FROM REACHING THE $9,000 PRICE CAP.

AND YOU DID THE PRICE ADDERS, WHICH THE MARKET USES TO REWARD GENERATION FOR BEING ONLINE DURING TIGHT SUPPLY DEMAND CONDITIONS.

SO THIS MARKET IS STRUCTURALLY CHANGING MARKET PRICES ARE DRIVEN.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT MARKET PRICES REALLY ARE DRIVEN BY HOW WE SUPPLY DEMAND IN THE MARKET.

AND WHEN WE SUPPLY IT, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO LET'S LOOK AT PRICES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY TO EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN, OR TO SEE IT A LITTLE, UH, MORE VIVIDLY THE BARS IN FRONT OF YOU ARE ALL THE PRICES IN THE MARKET EXPERIENCED IN REAL TIME FOR BOTH SUMMERS, THE ORANGE BARS ON THIS GRAPH ARE THIS SUMMER'S PRICES IN REAL TIME.

AND THE GRAY BARS ARE LAST SUMMERS ON YOUR LEFT.

THERE'S A LONG, VERTICAL CIRCLE HIGHLIGHTING PRICES IN THE EIGHT TO $15 RANGE.

THERE WERE MORE OF THESE IN 2020, AND IN 2019 ON YOUR RIGHT THERE'S TWO SMALLER GRAPH CIRCLES, EXCUSE ME, HIGHLIGHTING PRICES IN THE 20 TO $40 RANGE.

AND THEN THE OTHER FURTHER TO YOUR RIGHT CIRCLING PRICES IN THE PLUS HUNDREDS TO PLUS THOUSAND DOLLAR RANGES, THERE ARE MORE OF THESE HIGHER PRICES IN 2019, OR THERE WERE IN TRIENTINE THAN WE SAW IN 20, 20 MORE WIND AND SOLAR ON THE MARKET MUTES ELECTRIC PRICES UNTIL THE NEXT WAVE OF THERMAL RETIREMENT.

CAN YOU GO? THANK YOU.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THREE DISCRETE DAYS IN THE MARKET FOR SUMMER 2020 TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THE MARKET IS STRUCTURALLY CHANGING.

SO JULY 12TH, 2020 WAS THE FIRST REALLY HOT DAY OF SUMMER.

WE WENT INTO THE DAY PROJECTING DEMAND TO PEAK AT OVER 70,000, WHICH HAD PRICES IN THE DAY AHEAD MARKET AT CLOSE TO $180.

THAT'S THE BLACK LINE ON YOUR LEFT, THE PRICE CLEARED HIGH IN ORDER TO BRING ON NATURAL GAS UNITS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN REAL TIME IS PRICES BARELY MADE IT OVER $20 FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO NOW THE NEXT DAY THERE'S A SIMILAR HEAT AND DEMAND PROFILE AND SETTING UP TO BE AN ALL-TIME PEAK IN ERCOT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY.

BUT GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE DAY AHEAD MARKET IS PRICING ENERGY AT $70, WHICH IS LOWER, DESPITE A HIGHER PEAK DEMAND PRICES IN THE DAY AHEAD, MARKET ARE STILL HIGH ENOUGH TO BRING ON THIS NATURAL GAS UNITS AND WHAT HAPPENS.

REAL-TIME STILL COMES IN CONSIDERABLY UNDER THAT.

CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT LINE? OKAY.

THE LAST DAY, UM, SEPTEMBER 12TH HERE, YOU HAVE A DAY WHERE DEMAND ISN'T AT ITS PEAK.

AND WE EXPECT WHEN TO BE CLOSE TO ZERO, EVEN THOUGH WIND FORECAST IS LOW DAY AHEAD, HAS SEEN SUCH MODERATE PRICES MANIFESTING THEMSELVES.

THEY PRICED THE MARKET LOW AND FLAT PRICES THIS LOW, AND THE DAY AHEAD DO NOT BRING ON NATURAL GAS UNITS.

AND THEN WITH LOW WIND, THERE IS A TIGHTER SUPPLY THAT THERE WAS A TIGHTER SUPPLY DEMAND BALANCE THAN PROJECTED FOR THAT DAY CAUSING SETTLEMENT PRICES IN REAL TIME TO BE CLOSE TO $1,400 FOR SOME INTERVALS.

SO OVERALL HIGH PRICES FOR MANY HOURS IN THE DAY, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE WELL BELOW OUR PEAKS.

SO HIGH PRICES AREN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATING WITH HIGH PEAK DAYS AS CONSISTENTLY AS THEY USED TO.

WE CAN SEE HIGH PRICES ON LOW DEMAND DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER DRIVEN SUPPLY IS ALSO LOW.

CAN YOU GO TO THE LAST SLIDE? SO HERE, THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS OUR COTS, WIND ADDITIONS AND SOLAR ADDITIONS, UH, GOING BACK, UH, QUITE A WHILE ON THE WIND AND A LITTLE BIT ON THE SOLAR.

BUT WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE HERE IS THAT WIND IS, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, IS MORE MATURE THAN SOLAR AND ERCOT.

SO WE STILL SEE SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY COMING ONLINE.

THE LIGHT BLUE HATCHED IN THE, ON THE WIND GRAPH ON YOUR LEFT, UH, IS, UH, THIS, THESE ARE MEGAWATTS THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE COMING.

THAT'S COMING IN A LITTLE UNDER 4,000 MEGAWATTS, UH, AND THAT'S DOUBLE AES CURRENT WIND PORTFOLIO.

SO WE EXPECT THAT TO COME ONTO THE MARKET OF THE MAROON COLORED CAPACITY, UH, REPRESENTED.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW MUCH WILL MATERIALIZE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN ANSHUL BACKING.

SO WE WILL SEE A GOOD PORTION OF THOSE AS

[00:30:01]

SOLAR HAS SERIOUS GROWTH AND IT'S NEAR FUTURE.

I KNOW THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE, AND I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF IT SAW 60% GROWTH FROM 2019 TO 2020.

AND ALTHOUGH WE DO BELIEVE COVID IS AFFECTING SOME TIMELINES FOR SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, WE SEE THOSE, UM, AS BEING MORE DELAYS THAN DISRUPTIONS TO PROJECTS ALTOGETHER.

AND I THINK, YEAH, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS TARA.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, ALISON.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SHOWING US THAT THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE MARKET STRUCTURE, WHAT DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO, OR OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR A BOTTOM LINE, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT? WE WILL SEE, UM, UH, WE WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF, UH, MUTED PRICES OF, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SOLAR THAT'S, UH, THAT IS COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET NOW.

UM, SO THAT'S, UH, A BENEFIT.

UM, BUT WHAT WE'LL ALSO SEE IS ADDITIONAL RISK BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENCY AND THE VOLATILITY THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN THE MARKET.

SO, UM, IT'S A TRADE OFF.

UM, WE HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO HOW WE ARE MANAGING OUR PORTFOLIO.

WE ALWAYS HAVE.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE REALLY, UM, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING WITH, UM, JUST THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLES THAT ARE COMING ONLINE AND, AND WHAT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO MANAGE THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLUSES AND MINUSES THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, UH, THERE'S COSTS AND BENEFITS THAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, AS THIS MARKET CHANGES.

AND, UM, IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY HOW OUR RATES WILL BE IMPACTED.

UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE'LL, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO PROTECT, UH, OUR, OUR RATES TO KEEP THE BENEFITS, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TRY AND TRANSFER OUT THAT RISK, UM, THAT WE SEE IN THE MARKET.

OKAY.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME, UM, TO WHAT EXTENT WE'RE BUILDING ON ALREADY EXISTING PROGRAMS, UM, TO HELP MANAGE DEMAND WHEN WE GET INTO THOSE SITUATIONS, I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T GET A, YOU KNOW, A NEW GAS, I GUESS, PLANT, UM, ONLINE, IN TIME TO, TO MITIGATE THE BANKING, BUT YOU COULD REDUCE DEMAND.

UM, AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS TO HELP DO THAT.

UM, BUT IT, LIKE IF THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A FACTOR IN THE MARKET THAT WE MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT, UM, EXPANDING THAT OR ACCELERATING THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD TO USE IN CALIFORNIA.

UM, BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT, WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN LIGHT OF THESE CHANGES, UM, TO ACCELERATE AND, UM, SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT WORK.

SURE.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTERNATE, WE, UM, ARE WORKING INTERNALLY TO, UH, NOT ONLY DEVELOP OUR PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO IN, AND MEET THE NEEDS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE MEET NEEDS WE MEET NEED THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE MARKET.

UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO, UM, DEVELOP OUR KIND OF OUR DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE ROADMAP, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR VISION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

SO THEN WE'RE PROTECTING OUR CUSTOMER FIVE, 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, UH, WITH THE RESOURCE PLAN THAT JUST GOT PASSED IN MARCH.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, ESTABLISHED TEAMS, UM, THAT ARE WORKING, UM, AS A STEERING COMMITTEE, UH, TO HELP, UH, THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS UNITS KIND OF ACROSS OUR, UH, OUR ORGANIZATION.

SO WIRE SIDE MARKET SIDE, AND THEN OUR CUSTOMER PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING THAT, UM, WE BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THEN WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THE BIGGEST GAPS ARE AND THEN HOW WE CAN MEET THOSE GAPS.

SO THERE'S THAT TYPE OF WORK THAT'S GOING ON INTERNALLY WITHIN AUSTIN ENERGY.

UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL SEE THE BENEFIT OF THAT AS WE BRING SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR APPROVALS AND SO FORTH, UH, DOWN THE PIKE HERE, HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER, BUT, UH, THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS MARKET IS CHANGING, UH, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, UM, ENERGY-WISE, BUT ALSO ARE COTS MARKET RULES ARE ALSO CHANGING TO MEET THESE, UH, TO MEET EMERGING TECHNOLOGY, UH, AND, AND TO MEET SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO INTERMITTENCY, UH, ON THE RESOURCE, UH, ON THE RENEWABLE SIDE.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE AS WELL.

SO TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ENCAPSULATE ALL OF THAT IS, IS, IS, UH, UH, IS, UH, IS A CHALLENGING TASK, BUT IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A VERY INTERESTING ONE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ORGANIZING OURSELVES TO HANDLE IT.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING EXTREMELY CONCRETE TO POINT TO AS FAR AS A PROGRAM IS CONCERNED, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY ACTIVE IN, IN MANY

[00:35:01]

I'LL JUST UNDERSCORE THAT I WOULD BE VERY EXCITED FOR US TO, UM, BE DOING ADDITIONAL WORK ON MANAGING THAT DEMAND AS THIS SHIFTS AND CHANGES, UM, TO HELP BOTH THE OVERALL GRID, THE OVERALL USAGE FOR US AND ENERGY, BUT ALSO FOR SPECIFIC CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO REMIND YOU THAT WHEN WE DID THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A PIECE OF THAT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THINKING A LONGER TERM ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE SOME OF THESE, UM, STORAGE DEVICES THAT MIGHT BE ON CARS OR OTHER THINGS, OR ON PEOPLE'S HOMES TO REALLY BE ABLE TO HELP US, UM, MANAGE THE GRID AND THESE, THESE PEAK TIMES, AND JUST THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS.

AND I KNOW THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THERE YET.

UM, JUST WANT TO KEEP PUSHING THAT WE OUGHT TO BE, UM, WORKING TO ADVANCE THAT IN ANY WAYS THAT WE CAN UNDERSTOOD.

THAT'S GREAT.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS GOOGLE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERICA.

[5. 2021 Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee Meeting Schedule]

AND, UM, THOSE DATES ARE IN THE BACKPACK.

THERE ARE SIX OF THEM OR LOOKS TO YOUR, I WILL READ TO THE HAND.

THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE IS, UH, ALL OF THESE WOULD BE ON WEDNESDAYS, BEGAN AT ONE MORE FEBRUARY TOWN, MUCH 41 MAY 26, JULY 21, SEPTEMBER 22.

AND THEN I JUST ADD THAT.

I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD TRY TO KEEP THESE MEETINGS AND 24, ONE 29 AND A HALF, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO START AT ONE POINT AGAIN, GREAT INFORMATION.

AND ALSO EVERYBODY, IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW THAT STAFF, DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS OR DO YOU WANT TO LET IT LIE FOR A MONTH AND THEN HAVE US RESPOND BACK ON ANY CHANGES THAT YOU NEED TO NOTE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO CHECK OFF YOUR STUFF IS FINISHED YET.

IT DOES FIT NICELY WITH THE SCHEDULE THAT WE'VE ADOPTED FOR ALL OF OUR, SO I DID LOOK AT THAT ON MY PHONE.

HI, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

THIS IS ROBIN AUTO STAFF LIAISON.

YES.

NEED TO ADOPT, UM, AT LEAST A MEETING DATE FOR, UM, THE FIRST ONE FOR 2021 AS WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, WELL, I GUESS WHAT WE COULD DO IS GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE SIT STATES AND THEN ADJUST AS NECESSARY.

AND UNLESS THERE'S, UM, SOME OBVIOUS CHANGES THAT NEED TO MOVE TO IT TODAY, ANYBODY.

YES.

PAIGE I'M COMFORTABLE.

WELL WITH THAT, I JUST NOTICED THAT PO WAS TRYING TO SPEAK AND I THINK HIS NEW IT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH.

SO I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING HE NEEDED BEFORE WE DID THAT.

THANK YOU.

AT TWITCHING YEARS HERE, WE CAN'T HEAR YA.

THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH.

NOW WE CAN.

YEAH, I WOULD.

I WOULD SUGGEST, I MEAN, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER, MY OTHER COLLEAGUES ARE NOT HERE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

I'M REALLY FLEXIBLE.

SO REHAB.

UM, OKAY.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? THERE'S UH, FIVE OF US SHOWING.

UM, SO, AND I CAN'T TELL IF GREG IS HERE, GREG, ARE YOU, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? SO WHAT WE MIGHT DO IS FOR HAVING TAKE A MOTION, UM, HERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL? OKAY.

AND THEN MAYBE SOMEBODY SECONDARY, IF I CAN EVEN GET GREG ON HERE TO ADD TO THE BOAT BANKS PAGE AS A SECOND, AND THEN, UH, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE THAT THESE ARE ALWAYS ADJUSTABLE.

UH, THERE WE GO.

OKAY.

UM, SO RIGHT.

WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A MOTION TO ADOPT THOSE SIX DATES FOR 2021.

YOU PROBABLY WERE.

WE'RE HEARING ALL OF IT.

SO, UM, HERE HAS MADE THE MOTION AND PAGE AND SECONDED IT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

LET'S VOTE ON THE, UM, DATES FOR 2021.

I WOULD FAVOR THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

UM, SIX TO ZERO.

THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

UM, GENERAL MANAGER, SERGEANT, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE BUSINESS IN FRONT OF US? UM, ANY ITEMS THAT YOU'VE NOTICED

[00:40:01]

AND IDENTITY THERE.

ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE? UH, SEEING THAT EVERYBODY IS WELL SATISFIED.

JACKIE, THANK YOU.

AND YOUR TEAM AS ALWAYS FOR GOOD, UH, GOOD MEETING AND VERY INFORMATIVE.

AND WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN ENERGY UTILITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

AT WHAT TIME IS IT? 12 TO 13.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYBODY.

YOU .