Austin, TX

Texas Gas Service rate hearing at Council this Thursday – Austin Monitor

Published

1 year ago

August 28, 2024

Texas Gas Service rate hearing at Council this Thursday – Austin Monitor

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 by Jo Clifton

City Council will host a hearing on Thursday to allow members of the public, particularly customers of Texas Gas Service, to voice their opinions about a large rate increase the utility is proposing. The city has also joined a coalition of cities seeking to convince the Texas Railroad Commission, which makes the final decision about gas rates, to lower the increase that TGS seeks.

Consumer advocate Paul Robbins plans to be on hand for the item, which is on Thursday’s City Council agenda. He has prepared a lengthy explanation of the utility’s proposed rates and compared them with rates charged by CPS Energy in San Antonio. According to Robbins, if Texas Gas Service “gets its proposed rate increase, its residential rates per customer will have risen 105 percent in six years. Inflation between 2019 and 2024 was 23 percent.”

He noted that CPS Energy in San Antonio has had a net rate increase of 7 percent since 2014. Over the 10 years between 2014 and 2024, inflation was 33 percent when the new 2024 rate went into effect, he said.

“I do not believe San Antonio charges any taxes and fees,” he said, concluding, “So the current annual rate of $290 a year (for CPS) is less than half of the proposed rate increase from TGS at $596 a year.”

Safeena Walji, public relations manager for Texas Gas Service, told the Austin Monitor, “Texas Gas Service rates have been determined to be fair and reasonable. According to an internal rates analysis, the average monthly Texas Gas Service bill for Austin residents this year is $60.58, including all taxes and fees. Our rates are set through a rigorous review process conducted by the cities we serve and the Railroad Commission of Texas, making sure any adjustments are just and necessary to cover the costs of providing safe and reliable service.”

Robbins notes that Texas Gas Service has invested heavily in its infrastructure – he said those costs increased by 63 percent in a four-year period. He concludes that the infrastructure investment was the major cause of rate increases over the past five years “even though the company’s residential customer base grew by only 5 percent between 2019 and 2023.”

Walji said, “Our rate adjustments reflect the actual costs of maintaining and improving our infrastructure, including significant safety, reliability and efficiency investments.”

Even though Texas Gas Service is proposing a rate increase for residential customers, it is at the same time proposing to cut rates for industrial and commercial customers, Robbins noted. “TGS proposes a 31 percent increase in residential rates, while proposing a 34 percent decrease for industrial customers and a 7 to 9 percent decrease for commercial customers,” he said.

Robbins also complains that the TGS rate structure hurts lower-income people and discourages conservation. He notes, “Low-income utility customers use less energy than average because they have less disposable income.” He provided a chart from the U.S. Energy Information Agency’s residential energy consumption survey for 2020 in southern states. That chart clearly shows the link between income and residential energy consumption, with residents having the highest incomes also using the most energy and those with lower incomes using less energy. Robbins notes that both Austin Energy and Austin Water have progressive rate structures, charging those who have the highest consumption more than those who have lower consumption.

Austin Energy and Austin Water collectively spend at least $22 million a year in discounts to low-income customers, Robbins noted.

Austin Water rates for residents on the Customer Assistance Program are lower for people using the least amount of water. The opposite seems to be true for Texas Gas Service customers. There are no charts for the TGS customer assistance program for low-income customers, Robbins said, simply because TGS does not have one.

Walji disagreed, saying, “We’re committed to supporting our low-income customers and promoting conservation. Programs like ‘Share the Warmth,’ which we support annually, help with utility bills and encourage customers in need to apply for funds through community partners. These funds are often still available at the end of the year. Our Energy Efficiency program also aids in appliance repairs and updates. These initiatives keep bills manageable, promote energy conservation, and address concerns about their impact on low-income customers and sustainable practices.”

She also said the utility had surveyed its customers in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, with 64 percent indicating “high trust in their utility to set fair and reasonable rates.” She concluded, “90 percent of responses indicated positive overall satisfaction.”

Austin, as part of the coalition of 17 cities referred to as TGS cities, has legal counsel and rate experts working on the rate case. In July, Council approved a delay that will allow the legal counsel and outside experts to determine their strategy in representing the city, according to materials related to the Council agenda. That material notes that “complaints from TGS customers residing in Austin have triggered the city’s obligation to hold a public hearing.”

Even though Council is holding a hearing on Thursday, they will not be voting on TGS rates for quite some time. Their legal team, led by Thomas Brocato, will meet with lawyers and consultants for TGS and staff of the Railroad Commission, with the goal of reaching an agreement on rates. Should they come to an agreement, Brocato will advise Council, who will then vote on whether to approve the agreement. If they approve it, the matter will go before members of the Railroad Commission for their approval. If Council does not approve the agreement, the matter will still go to the Railroad Commission, but the process will likely take longer. Regardless, nothing is expected to come back to Council before November.

Photo made available through a Creative Commons license.

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Austin, TX

Flesh-eating screwworm may be moving closer to Texas on its own, ag commissioner says

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Flesh-eating screwworm may be moving closer to Texas on its own, ag commissioner says

article

AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas agency is concerned that the flesh-eating New World screwworm could be getting closer to Texas without commercial livestock movement.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is sounding the alarm again for livestock owners to remain vigilant in watching for signs of the parasite in their animals.

Screwworm sighting near Texas

The latest:

Miller said in a Thursday release that a screwworm had been detected in a cow in González, Tamaulipas, a little more than 200 miles from the southern Texas border.

According to the commissioner, the cow had no reported history of movement outside Tamaulipas, and is the third active case reported there.

Officials in Mexico have not reported a known population of the worm in Tamaulipas. They’re working with U.S. authorities to investigate further into the new case.

What they’re saying:

“The screwworm now may be moving closer on its own, with no apparent link to commercial animal movement,” Commissioner Miller said. “Texas producers must act now—stay informed, stay vigilant, and prepare immediately. We cannot drop our guard for even a moment.”

Inspect livestock for screwworm

What you can do:

Miller urged immediate action from ranchers along the Texas border.

“Inspect your animals daily,” Miller said. “Check every open wound. If anything looks suspicious, report it right away. Better a false alarm than a delayed response—early detection and rapid reporting are our strongest defenses against this devastating pest.”

U.S. plan to fight screwworm in Texas

Big picture view:

The threat to cattle has been deemed so potentially devastating to the U.S. food supply that the federal government is committing $850 million to fight it.

Most of that money will be spent on building a sterile male fly production facility near the border.

The facility will produce 300 million sterile male flies a week to be dropped into target areas where the screwworm is now. Those male flies help to reduce the population size through mating without reproducing.

A much smaller portion of the funding will be used for screwworm detection technology.

In addition, the federal government has already spent $21 million on a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.

What are New World screwworms?

Dig deeper:

The insect gets its name because it’s only found in the Americas.

It lays its eggs in the open wounds of animals, and its larvae become parasites, threatening livestock, domestic animals, and even people.

The screwworm was mostly eradicated in Texas and the rest of the United States in the 60s. But now, it’s moving north up from Panama and has a known presence a little over 300 miles south of the Texas-Mexico border.

The Source: Information in this article comes from Sid Miller.

Texas

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Austin, TX

LD Systems expands Texas Footprint with Austin Location and welcomes ILIOS Productions — TPi

Published

15 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

LD Systems expands Texas Footprint with Austin Location and welcomes ILIOS Productions — TPi

For over two decades, ILIOS Productions has been a key part of the live events community in Austin, TX, transforming spaces and audience experiences with a vast range of lighting and video design, as well as event production services across a diverse client portfolio. Now, with the backing of parent company Clair Global, LD Systems, a Houston-based premier provider of audio, video, and lighting for event production and installed technology solutions, is welcoming ILIOS Productions to the team, marking the group’s fourth location in Texas. ILIOS Productions will now operate under the LD Systems brand.

LD Systems will further resource ILIOS’ existing Austin operation to include additional services such as audio and rigging for live events, as well as integration solutions and services. This addition helps round out LD Systems’ ability to locally serve major metropolitan areas across Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin and reflects Clair Global’s continued focus on offering global resources while maintaining strong local-market expertise and responsiveness.

ILIOS Productions’ experience spans the concert and festival sector, corporate and activations, and high-end private, philanthropic and charitable events. The company’s commitment to critical event delivery has established trust with major brands including Lollapalooza, SXSW, Austin City Limits, Google, YouTube, the University of Texas System and many more.

Founder, President & Sr Ops Manager of ILIOS Productions, Bryan Azar, said: “After many years of working alongside LD Systems in Austin and beyond, we are delighted to be joining their world-class organisation. This is an exciting new chapter for a bolder future together.”

Zach Boswell, General Manager, ILIOS Productions, added: “We are passionate about the work we do, and the community and business culture found at LD Systems is the ideal next step for our dedicated employees to progress as a united workforce.“

LD Systems co-founder and President, Rob McKinley commented: “We are delighted to amplify our service offerings in Austin with the addition of Bryan and his exceptional team of technology professionals. They have made a significant difference to many Texans with the work they undertake, and LD Systems is proud to welcome both their talent and ethos to the company.”

Building on this momentum, LD Systems also announced plans to expand its San Antonio facility into a new location in January 2026. Together with the addition of ILIOS Productions in Austin, this investment reinforces the organisation’s long-term investment in Texas and its dedication to meeting growing client demand with enhanced capacity and infrastructure.

www.ldsystems.com

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Austin, TX

Austin airport one step closer to major expansion that will add 32 new gates

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Austin airport one step closer to major expansion that will add 32 new gates

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one step closer to getting a major makeover after finalizing lease agreements with airlines that will support future renovations, including the addition of 32 new gates.

The airport on Wednesday announced the completion of Airline Use and Lease Agreements and Signatory Cargo Agreements with several major airlines and cargo companies, including Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, FedEx and UPS.

According to a press release from the airport, the use-and-lease agreements allow companies to commit funding to the project through rent and fees “generated under the agreements’ cost-recovery structure, supporting the airport’s ability to deliver projects that expand capacity, strengthen resiliency, and improve the passenger experience.”

The agreements will support the following projects at Austin-Bergstrom over the next 10 years:

The addition of Concourse B, which will add 26 new gates, including 18 for Southwest Airlines and five with United Airlines.
Concourse M, adding six new gates, a bus to transport travelers to and from the Barbara Jordan Terminal, new concessions, restrooms and passenger amenities.
Enhanced seating and amenities, increased space and modernized concessions in Concourse A (home to all international flights). Delta Air Lines will have 15 gates, American Airlines will have nine, Alaska Airlines will have one and there will be eight common-use gates.
Updates to HVAC systems, electrical system, IT and telecommunications, storm drainage, water quality and de-icing infrastructure.

In a statement, District 2 Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes applauded the future job creation that’s to come out of the project.

“This expansion program represents a tremendous economic opportunity for Austin—not only through the trades and construction jobs created during the buildout, but also through long-term jobs in concessions, airport operations, and airline services after the program is complete,” Fuentes said.

“This agreement reflects years of partnership, thoughtful negotiations, and shared vision with our airline partners. Their commitment provides the financial foundation we need to modernize our facilities, transform customer experience, and build the infrastructure needed to support Central Texas’ continued growth for generations to come. AUS would not be where it is today without the collaboration and investment of our airlines, and we are deeply grateful for their trust and partnership as we shape the future of air travel in Central Texas,” said Ghizlane Badawi, CEO of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The final cost of the project is still under development, but is anticipated to grow from an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion. According to the airport, funding sources include airport cash reserves, airport revenues, bond proceeds and grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“No local Austin taxpayer dollars are used to fund the airport’s expansion program,” the release said.

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