City Ordinance

Austin's Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance

The Austin City Council approved the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance to improve the energy efficiency of Austin homes and buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy.

Improving energy efficiency can help reduce electricity bills for renters and owners of homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings. The ordinance also helps meet one of the goals of the Austin Climate Protection Plan, offsetting 700 megawatts of peak energy demand by 2020 to reduce Austin's carbon footprint.

The ordinance takes effect June 1, 2009.


As applied to Single-Family Homes:

The ECAD ordinance requires that before sale of their home, owners of a single-family home must have an energy audit performed on the property and must provide a copy of the audit to the purchaser or prospective purchaser. The auditor must provide a copy to Austin Energy of the energy audit.

Certain single-family homes may be exempt from the Austin Energy energy audit requirement if they meet certain conditions. The single-family home does not need an audit if it meets one of the following:

  • The home is less than 10 years old at the time of sale
  • The home has received at least three energy-efficiency improvements or a total of $500 in rebates through Austin Energy residential energy-efficiency offerings within 10 years before the sale
  • The home has received free energy-efficiency improvements through Austin Energy residential energy-efficiency offerings within 10 years before the sale
  • The home is a condominium
  • The home is manufactured housing (a mobile home) built on a permanent chassis and designed for use without a permanent foundation.
  • The home changes ownership and the transfer of the title occurs under one of the following:
    • Foreclosure sale, trustee's sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure
    • Pre-foreclosure sale, in which the seller reached an agreement with the mortgage holder to sell the property for an amount less than the amount owed on the mortgage
    • Threat or exercise of eminent domain
    • Gift from one family member to another family member without consideration
    • Court order or probate proceedings
    • Decree of legal separation or dissolution of marriage or property settlement agreement incidental to such a decree

Furthermore, under limited conditions, Austin Energy may grant a home a variance in which case that house may not be required to receive a mandatory City of Austin energy audit.

Austin Energy Brochure


As applied to Multi-Family Properties:

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance requires Austin multifamily properties that receive electricity from Austin Energy to have an energy audit by June 1, 2011.

Certain multifamily properties may be exempt from the City of Austin energy audit requirement if they meet certain conditions. The multifamily property does not need an Austin Energy energy audit if it meets one of the following:

  • The property is less than 10 years old on June 1, 2009
  • The owner has completed comprehensive duct remediation work through the Austin Energy rebate offering within 10 years before June 1, 2009
  • The owner has replaced air conditioning equipment for all units through the Austin Energy rebate offering within 10 years before June 1, 2009

The ECAD ordinance defines a multifamily property as a property with five or more dwelling units.

Austin Energy Brochure


As applied to Commercial Buildings:

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance requires Austin commercial buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy to have an energy rating by June 1, 2011.

Certain commercial buildings may be exempt from the energy rating requirement if they meet certain conditions. A commercial building does not need an energy rating if it meets one of the following:

  • Less than 10 years old as of June 1, 2009
  • An industrial building

The ECAD ordinance defines a commercial building as a non-residential, civic or commercial building that is not an industrial building.

Austin Energy Brochure


Read the Ordinance


To determine if your residence is subject to the mandatory City of Austin energy audit, contact Austin Energy at 512-974-7827 and follow the prompts to "Energy Disclosure Ordinance and Conservation Audit".

You can also call Austin Auditors at 512-879-3567 for help and/or more information.