While Austin City Council continues to move forward with an ordinance to transfer governing authority of Austin Energy from our elected City Council to an unelected board, Austin democracy is being attacked at in the state legislature as well. Senate bill 410, sponsored by Senator Kirk Watson and Representative Paul Workman, would allow the city to establish an unelected board without a charter election, as our city charter calls for.
The issue of who should govern Austin Energy is important, but it’s also local in nature. There is no need for state to amend Austin’s charter. That is a right reserved for the citizens of Austin. If the changes proposed by City Council are truly in the best interest of our city, that case should be made to the voters and decided upon at the ballot box.
To have a state representative who doesn’t even live in Austin carrying a bill to change our charter is unacceptable.
The Austin City Charter was adopted by the people of Austin and the people of Austin approved a governance structure for Austin Energy that is accountable to the people through elections.
An unelected board won’t be directly accountable to the ratepayers and wouldn’t necessarily represent our values. As we debate this issue in Austin the unelected board at San Antonio’s CPS Energy is slashing the rate customers with solar installations will receive for their energy in half without first consulting the public or the solar industry. Austin Energy customers could be facing similar changes if we don’t act now to protect our rights.
SB 410 has passed the Senate and will be heard by the House Committee on State Affairs tomorrow.
Please consider attending the hearing and speaking against SB 410.
What: Hearing on SB 410 to change Austin’s charter to move Austin Energy governance to an undemocratic board without a vote by the citizens of Austin, as our charter requires.
When: 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 1
Where: John H. Reagan (JHR) building, room 140 – 105 W. 15th St., Austin, TX, 78701
Why: Because Austin Energy’s governance structure will impact decisions going forward, including on renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and rates. This is the decision that will determine how other decisions are made.
You can register against the bill at the kiosks outside of room 140. Even if you don’t wish to speak, registering against the bill would be helpful. We hope you’ll consider saying a few words about the value of local democracy though. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes each.
SB 410 is anti-democratic and is one more example of the state government trying to interfere with Austin’s internal policies and governance.
We need your help to stop this bill.
Public opposition to SB 410 at Wednesday’s hearing may be the only thing that can ensure that our Austin representatives don’t let this bad bill move forward.
Please email Kaiba White at kwhite (at) citizen.org if you can attend the hearing at 1:00pm on Wednesday.
