Multi-Family Partnership Program News

April 27, 2006 - Attention Apartment Managers

Ordinance Change

On April 20th, the Austin City Council approved an ordinance amendment that allows a company purchasing a multi-family property after May 1, 2006 to continue participation of that property in the Austin Energy Multi-Family Partnership (MPP) continuous service program without paying the one time $20-per-unit program initiation fee.

Under the ordinance amendment, the $20-per-unit fee is avoided as long as the property is in the program at the time of the sale and the purchasing company completes the MPP enrollment forms requesting program participation. MPP enrollment forms must be submitted within 10 business days of the sale of the property.

The 10-day limited transfer period is necessary because once an owner cancels participation in the continuous service program, Austin Energy must begin dispatching trucks for each turn-on and turn-off as tenants move into or out of units at the complex. In addition, the purchasing property owner must provide information and sign a continuous service program agreement, which delineates both rights and responsibilities.

A new property owner who declines to participate in the continuous service program and later decides to enroll in the program after 10 business days will be subject to the $20-per-unit program initiation fee.

This change is the result of a joint effort between the Apartment Association and Austin Energy to encourage more participation in the Multi-Family Partnership Program.

March 13, 2006 - Attention Apartment Managers

Improved Payment Process

In an effort to improve the payment process for multiple accounts, Austin Energy has implemented a new payment process for its Multi-Family Apartment Community customers at the Rosewood-Zaragosa (East Branch) pay station:

To ensure timely processing, these payments should:

	Include a receipt tape, spreadsheet, and/or payment stubs indicating account numbers and payment amounts (payments must balance)
	Provide a contact person with phone number
	Be made before 3 p.m. at the East Branch service station for same-day processing

For information about other ways to pay including online, pay-by-phone, and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), see Payment Options.

Austin Energy provides Payment Locations around the community for your convenience.

December 12, 2005 - Attention Apartment Managers

New Utility Status Report Now Available

Austin Energy's Multi-Family Partnership Program is pleased to announce the release of the New Utility Status Report. This report replaces the current Completed Action Report, sent each business day to provide information about scheduled move-ins and move-outs at your property. As with the original report, you will receive this new report only when there is activity.

The Utility Status Report will be delivered each business day by e-mail or fax, dependent upon your current delivery request. Most importantly, the new report will now show requested actions. Based on your feedback, the new Utility Status Report features:

• A design format where service actions are grouped by service type with descriptive headings and a companion legend for easy identification.
• Requested action dates, scheduled dates, and completion dates of all service orders. The report will also show when a service action is 'Pending' or 'Cancelled.'
• Service actions initiated on behalf of the owner, and service actions initiated by residents.
• Unit and meter numbers of large multi-family properties, duplexes, four-plexes and single-family properties enrolled in MPP.

We are committed to expanding our services to make doing business with Austin Energy simple and easy for the apartment community. We value your feedback, please let us know how we can continue to improve our services to you.

To update your delivery request, or for any questions or comments, please
e-mail program staff.

Please include your:

	Account numbers or complete addresses
	Tax ID numbers
	Contact person
	Phone number
	E-mail address

May 27 , 2005 - Attention Apartment Managers

Free Apartment Manager Training has been
Rescheduled - Date TBD

This training class is designed to help apartment managers conduct business with Austin Energy. The class will cover Austin Energy policies and procedures that impact the apartment community.

Participants will receive the Apartment Manager Handbook while hardcopy supplies last. Apartment Managers can always download the latest version of the Apartment Manager Handbook from our Web site.

Class Time and Location
	TBD

August 24 , 2004 - Attention Apartment Managers

Austin Energy Apartment Manager Handbook Available

Download the Apartment Manager Handbook (pdf) for a comprehensive look at utility services from the apartment manager's perspective. The handbook was created in collaboration with the Austin Apartment Association to help new apartment managers familiarize themselves with Austin Energy and the
Multi-Family Partnership Program.

New and existing apartment managers will find its content valuable to their business operations. If you have specific questions about the handbook, please e-mail program staff.

May 7, 2004 - Attention Apartment Managers

Service Issues

Austin Energy is dedicated to resolving any outstanding issues with your electric accounts. If you have specific concerns, please e-mail program staff.

Please include your:

	Account numbers or complete addresses
	Tax ID numbers
	Contact person
	Phone number
	E-mail address
	Detailed description of the issue

A program representative will contact you within one business day for a preliminary assessment of the issue. We will set a timeline to resolve your issued based on the factors involved.