47th Annual Zilker Holiday Tree Installed Today

The Zilker Holiday Tree is standing tall for its 47th consecutive year, as Austin
Energy electricians and linemen construct the 155-foot-tall Austin icon today. Strung from Zilker's moonlight tower with more than 3,000 lights, it is visited each year by thousands and can be seen from miles away.

The tree will be lit the first Sunday in December in a public ceremony, then remain on from 6 p.m. until midnight every night until the end of the year. Winners of a children’s Zilker Holiday Tree art contest sponsored by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department will have the honor of flipping the switch to light the tree.

Photos from today's installation:

Good Progress Toward Energy Efficiency Goal

We are almost halfway to the goal of completing our second "conservation power plant" for the Austin community by offsetting 800 megawatts (MW) of energy use through energy efficiency by 2020. From 2007 through September 2013, Austin Energy has offset 365 MW, leaving 435 MW to achieve over the next seven years.

Our strategy to achieve the 800 MW goal includes an accelerated target mix of green building, energy efficiency and demand response products and services such as the smart thermostat program. These strategies also include services to capitalize on the growth of the electric vehicle market and other emerging technologies.

Our first conservation power plant was completed by offsetting 700 MW between 1982 and 2006.

Adding attic insulation is a common home energy efficiency improvement.

Heavy Rains Flood Substation and Nearby Fallwell Lane

Heavy rain deluged the I-35 corridor through Central Texas overnight into Thursday morning, with southeast Austin particularly hard-hit as Onion Creek and Boggy Creek rose swiftly, flooding property, damaging roads and causing outages to thousands of Austin Energy customers.

 

At peak, about 8,500 customers were without power. As rainwater runoff flowed across the Onion Creek Substation on Fallwell Lane and adjacent property, the substation was under several feet of water for several hours, as Onion Creek rose to its highest recorded level. In addition to trapping staff at Sand Hill Energy Center for several hours, the floodwater damaged fences, washed out parts of the roadway and downed trees. As water receded Thursday, crews were able to access flooded areas and restore power to circuits that were brought down during the flooding. The substation remained offline Friday as Austin Energy crews worked to clean up and assess the damage.

 

These photos were taken Thursday by Sand Hill Energy Center staff during the flood and the cleanup at Onion Creek substation on Friday.

  

Ground level view of Austin Energy's Onion Creek Substation near Fallwell Lane off Hwy 71 East. The mostly submerged fence in the foreground is 10 feet tall.
 

Heavy overnight rain caused flooding on Oct. 31, 2013, as water swept through the substation and Sand Hill Energy Center, washed out fences and part of the Fallwell Lane roadway that leads to the facilities.

   

View of floodwaters from Sand Hill Energy Center.

   

A gas company employee's truck was caught in the rushing water on Fallwell Lane.

 

An emergency helicopter pulled the trapped man from his truck.

   

This truck was washed away by the floodwaters.

  

View of the flooding as seen from Sand Hill Energy Center

  

The floodwater rose to waist height in the buildings (center of the picture) housing relay equipment at the substation.

 

The rains washed out fences and part of the Fallwell Lane roadway that leads to the Sand Hill plant.

 

More floodwaters along Fallwell Lane.

 

Chris Ayers sprays bleach water to wash out a relay cabinet that was flooded at the substation.

A crew ground lines before they can begin repairs Nov. 1, 2013, at the substation that had several feet of floodwater in buildings and equipment following heavy rain.

 

"Safety Starts With Me" Rap Video Serves As A Safety Reminder

Crew members and staff of the Austin Energy Electric Service Delivery (ESD) Division recently made this in-house video to remind all employees about the utility's safety principles, focusing on the idea that 'safety starts with me.' 

The crowd-pleasing and super-hip lyrics and music are educational; the video debuted at Austin Energy's recent Safety Summit, a full-day training event for all employees within ESD. Link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdPQsRiqi4

New Equipment To Help Power A Growing Downtown Austin

Inside a new electrical vault, Austin Energy crews move a transformer into place that will help power the "3 eleven" residential tower at 5th and Bowie Streets.

With the recent economic boom in downtown Austin, our crews are busy building vaults to house electrical equipment that will power new apartments, condos and other large projects. One of those vaults (pictured) will power the 3eleven apartment building under construction at 5th Street and Bowie. 

We are installing four large transformers at the base of the 36-story tower, three of which weigh 18,000 pounds. A specialized crane is used to lower these transformers onto heavyweight rollers, allowing crew members to roll the transformers into their designated space. We are also working on a similar project for the new ballroom and parking garage at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Barton Springs Road.

A specialized hydraulic lift is used to move the transformer into place.

One of four new transformers that crews are installing into an electrical vault that will help power the 3 eleven building, under construction.

The vault's Electrical Room houses switchgear, circuit breakers and other controls used to manage electrical current that passes through the vault to power the building.

The site on which the new equipment is being installed.

A similar vault will be constructed on the site of the Hyatt Regency Austin to power a new ballroom and parking garage.

$500 Prize Awarded in Refrigerator Recycling Drawing

Winners of the $500 award, Mike and JoAnn Riggen, pictured with grandchildren and an Austin Energy representative at the check presentation ceremony.

Austin Energy customers Mike and JoAnn Riggen won $500 from Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA) in a drawing by Austin Energy, held for customers who recycled their old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers. More than 415 appliances were recycled during the contest period of August 1 through September 15. 

Next to air conditioning/heating systems and water heaters, refrigerators use more electricity than any other household appliance, especially when located in the garage, where the Texas heat makes it work even harder. We provide free pickup and pay customers $50 for old, working refrigerators. The contractor, ARCA, recycles 98 percent of the appliance’s materials and correctly captures and disposes of any harmful refrigerants. 

More than 26,000 appliances have been recycled since the program’s 2005 inception, saving more than 5 megawatts of electricity, or the equivalent energy used by 2,500 Austin homes during the hottest part of the summer. Call (800) 452-8685 to schedule your free pickup. More details on our website at http://bit.ly/OseNfx

Austin Energy Launches Energy Use Application

Austin Energy’s residential customers have a new, free tool to help monitor home energy use. The Web-based interactive application can be accessed on a mobile device or personal computer. In addition to daily energy consumption, the app displays your bill history and a future forecast of your electricity bill cost. Once logged in, you can activate an option to receive a text or email alert when your energy use approaches the next electric rate tier.

Along with energy use data, the app offers practical conservation tips for helping you reduce energy consumption and save on energy costs. Try the AE app today by visiting www.austinenergyapp.com and logging in with your City of Austin Utilities (online bill pay) username and password. 

To share your feedback on the app or if you experience any problems, email the application developer at: support@smartebuilding.com.

Sample view of energy usage history as displayed in the Austin Energy app