Extensive outreach and expanded community partnerships have helped push enrollment in Austin Energy’s Customer Assistance Program to new levels, the Texas public power utility said on Aug. 3.
In December 2022, approximately 35,000 Austin Energy customers were enrolled in the CAP Discount Program. That number now stands at more than 53,000 customers and is set to climb higher as the public utility looks to meet ambitious CAP enrollment goals in the next two fiscal years, Austin Energy said.
Austin Energy's Customer Assistance Program provides bill discounts on city utility services, weatherization, emergency financial assistance and arrearage management programs for income-qualified and medically vulnerable customers.
It is estimated that as many as 93,000 customers in the Austin area could be eligible for the program.
An Austin, Texas, City Council Resolution set targets for enrollment, with Austin Energy reaching the first goal of 46% of eligible customers (42,780 households) enrolled by June 2023. Upcoming goals include 72% of the eligible population being enrolled in the Discount Program by June 2024 and 90% by June 2025.
To reach these goals, Austin Energy has initiated targeted discussions with its Discount Steering Committee (comprised of representatives from community partners and nonprofit agencies) to share ideas about potential avenues for enrollment.
The utility has also requested data from Texas Health and Human Services Commission to examine enrollments in other programs not currently included in the CAP Discount Program auto-enrollment.
It has also started planning data-sharing arrangements with city and county housing authorities as well as the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ Light Up Texas program.
Austin Energy has also started exploring how to ensure households with students in the free and reduced lunch programs are receiving discount benefits, beginning with a partnership with the Austin Independent School District.
