City-owned utility to boost spending on electric car infrastructure

Austin Energy could spend as much as $28 million over next five years.

By Asher Price

Austin Energy could invest as much as $28 million during the next five years on public charging equipment and promotion for electric cars.

The investment mirrors efforts by utilities across the state to elbow their way into the American transportation energy market. In effect, the power generating companies want to displace gasoline from a pump with electricity from a plug.

Austin officials say as many as 190,000 electric-powered cars, including plug-in hybrids, could be rolling around Austin in a decade. Other studies suggest that figure is optimistic, but whatever the number, the utility officials want to make the possibility a reality.

"We expect to get a lot of new revenue off that $28 million investment," said Karl Rábago, vice president for distributed energy services at the city-owned utility.

Beyond a business decision, the utility couches the electric car money as an environmental and security effort.

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