This week, Austin City Council is set to vote on a new Resource, Generation, & Climate Protection Plan for Austin Energy, our city’s electric utility. And that’s a really big deal, because the plan impacts everything from our city’s climate goals to what we all pay for electricity.

But understanding the plan & how electricity works in Texas is super confusing… which is why we put together these two short explainer videos, trying to simplify the basics of how Austin Energy & the Texas electric grid even works.

After you watch the videos, if you’re looking for a deeper dive into the issue, be sure to check out the latest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour. We interview a local environmental leader and Austin Energy staff.