Austin Energy's 92-million dollar rate increase, imposed last year, could be rolled back to a mere 8.7-million dollar increase. That is, if the group, Homeowners United for Rate Fairness, wins it's rate case to the Public Utility Commission. HURF Attorney Roger Borgelt maintains that 87-million of the rate hike is unjustified, saying the the State Office of Public Utility Council actually recommended that almost all of the increase be disallowed...even more than what his group thinks is unjustified. 

Borgelt says city council pulls too much money out of Austin Energy revenue to fund unrelated city services and projects, effectively treating Austin Energy as their cash cow. 

Austin Energy officials maintain the rate increase was overdue after not raising base rates for eighteen years. The hearing is scheduled to get underway in three weeks.