Austin Energy celebrates 130 years of powering Austin

May 1, 2025

Austin’s public power utility, Austin Energy, is proud to celebrate 130 years of service this month. It all began in 1895, when the utility lit up the now-iconic moonlight towers for the very first time. Now, we’re honoring that legacy—and looking ahead to the future. The public is invited to join Austin Energy for coffee and doughnuts as this historic milestone is marked with a ceremonial lighting of the Moonlight Tower—a tribute to our legacy of service. Stop by to take a photo with our moonlight tower replica and learn more about Austin Energy’s 130-year history!

Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 6-8 a.m., Ceremonial Lighting of Moonlight Tower begins at 6:20 a.m.
Location: Meet us across the street from the moonlight tower on 9th and Guadalupe in front of the Austin History Center
Parking: Street parking is available along 9th Street and around Woolridge Square Park

This event is open to all—employees, retirees and our community.

Our Legacy: Then and Now

For our nearly 2,000 employees, it’s about much more than just keeping the lights on. Austin Energy provides industry-leading energy conservation programs, a focus on clean energy, nationally recognized customer assistance programs and, of course, reliable electric service. This commitment to provide value for the community is the foundation on which Austin Energy was built—and continues to stand on today.

Beyond providing our customers electricity, Austin Energy makes an impact through:

• Pioneering renewable energy investment and committing to a carbon-free future by 2035
• Expanding Austin’s EV charging network to more than 1,500 chargers
• Serving more than 70,000 of our neighbors in the Customer Assistance Program
• Weatherizing homes for low to moderate-income customers
• Working with area schools to teach classes on electrical safety
• Constructing the Zilker Holiday Tree, an Austin tradition for more than half a century

Explore an interactive timeline and watch a short documentary trailer about the utility.

“The essential services that Austin Energy provides are even more important today, as we are not only powering our community, we are helping to power Austin’s economy,” said Stuart Reilly, Austin Energy interim general manager. “I am so proud of the contributions Austin Energy has made to this community for the last 130 years and the work we will do for years to come.”

About Austin Energy

Austin Energy, the City of Austin’s electric utility, serves more than 560,000 residential and commercial customer accounts and more than one million residents in Greater Austin. The utility’s mission—to safely deliver clean, affordable, reliable energy and excellent customer service — has guided Austin Energy in powering the community and supporting the region’s growth since 1895. For more information about Austin Energy, visit austinenergy.com.