EUC approves consulting, EV‑charger maintenance and vegetation contracts
March 09, 2026 | Austin, Travis County, Texas
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At the March 9 meeting the Electric Utility Commission approved several items on the agenda after staff answered commissioners’ procedural and scope questions.
Item 2: Standby consulting contract (Rifeline). Tammy Cooper, deputy general manager for regulatory communications, said the contract is intended as a standby consultant for outreach and engagement on projects that may arise. Cooper described previous positive experience using Rifeline on the resource generation plan. Commissioners confirmed the contract authorization is up to $150,000 for the year and that the city will not spend that amount unless services are used. The motion passed with an abstention recorded.
Item 5: Plug‑In‑Everywhere EV charger maintenance. Richard Genesee, vice president of customer energy solutions, said the contract covers repair and, where necessary, replacement of networked chargers in Austin Energy’s Plug‑In‑Everywhere network (about 1,600 Level 2 chargers and 30 DC fast chargers). The contract can cover Austin Energy‑owned chargers, fleet chargers and privately owned chargers enrolled in the network; commissioners were told the contract is designed to cover full replacement in extreme cases. The item was moved and passed.
Item 7: Vegetation management. Commissioners asked why a multiyear vegetation contract ($1.5 million per year) exceeded the remaining FY26 budgeted amount ($650,000 remaining). Brock Carter, vice president, electric system field operations, explained the $650,000 figure represents the remaining FY26 balance and the contract aligns with annual vegetation management needs related to street lighting and other work. The motion passed.
Item 10: Recusal and housekeeping. Commissioners confirmed recusals for item 10 and approved the item after confirming votes. Several items on the consent calendar were approved earlier in the meeting.
Where commissioners recorded votes or abstentions, the meeting minutes and city records will contain the formal roll‑call tallies and any recusal details.
Item 2: Standby consulting contract (Rifeline). Tammy Cooper, deputy general manager for regulatory communications, said the contract is intended as a standby consultant for outreach and engagement on projects that may arise. Cooper described previous positive experience using Rifeline on the resource generation plan. Commissioners confirmed the contract authorization is up to $150,000 for the year and that the city will not spend that amount unless services are used. The motion passed with an abstention recorded.
Item 5: Plug‑In‑Everywhere EV charger maintenance. Richard Genesee, vice president of customer energy solutions, said the contract covers repair and, where necessary, replacement of networked chargers in Austin Energy’s Plug‑In‑Everywhere network (about 1,600 Level 2 chargers and 30 DC fast chargers). The contract can cover Austin Energy‑owned chargers, fleet chargers and privately owned chargers enrolled in the network; commissioners were told the contract is designed to cover full replacement in extreme cases. The item was moved and passed.
Item 7: Vegetation management. Commissioners asked why a multiyear vegetation contract ($1.5 million per year) exceeded the remaining FY26 budgeted amount ($650,000 remaining). Brock Carter, vice president, electric system field operations, explained the $650,000 figure represents the remaining FY26 balance and the contract aligns with annual vegetation management needs related to street lighting and other work. The motion passed.
Item 10: Recusal and housekeeping. Commissioners confirmed recusals for item 10 and approved the item after confirming votes. Several items on the consent calendar were approved earlier in the meeting.
Where commissioners recorded votes or abstentions, the meeting minutes and city records will contain the formal roll‑call tallies and any recusal details.
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