Gardner: here is the best way to see the change in electric bills over the years due to the fuel charge.

 

To summarize: the energy charge (base electric rates) has not changed since 1994. The energy charge on the electric bill covers the cost of Austin Energy operations; staff, the electric system, power plants, vehicles etc.

 

The fuel charge on the electric bill is a dollar-for-dollar recovery of the cost of fuel, purchased power and Austin’s share of fees to maintain the state electric grid. The fuel charge goes up or down each year based on the level of the expenses which it recovers.

 

A consistent way to see changes in the fuel charge over the years was to show you the total electric bill in August for each year. We used 1,000 kilowatt-hours of energy usage which is the average monthly usage year-round for Austin Energy residential customers.

 

...

 

Ed Clark

Communications Director

Austin Energy

 

1,000 kWh bill—August of each year.

Components of the electric bill:

• Customer Charge - $6.00
• Energy Charge- 3.55 cents for first 500 kWh, 7.82 cents for next 500 kWh
• Fuel Charge as shown for each year
• Fee for statewide transmission costs added in Nov 2010

 

 

Year       Fuel Charge                        Total August Bill

 

1994       1.629 cents/kWh              $79.14

 

1995       1.4040 cents/kWh            $76.89

 

1996       1.522 cents/kWh              $78.07

 

1997       1.311 cents/kWh              $75.96

 

1998       1.455 cents/kWh              $77.40

 

1999       1.372 cents/kWh              $76.57

 

2000       1.635 cents/kWh              $79.20

 

2001       2.682 cents/kWh              $89.67

 

2002       1.774 cents/kWh              $80.59

 

2003       2.004 cents/kWh              $82.89

 

2004       2.796 cents/kWh              $90.81

 

2005       2.796 cents/kWh              $90.81

 

2006       3.634 cents/kWh              $99.19

 

2007       3.044 cents/kWh              $93.29

 

2008       3.653 cents/kWh              $99.38

 

2009       3.653 cents/kWh              $99.38

 

2010       3.653 cents/kWh              $100.20 (includes 82 cents/1,000 kWh-Transmission Fee)

 

2011       3.105 cents/kWh              $94.72 (includes 82 cents/1,000 kWh- Transmission Fee)