04-12-21 McLarrin sworn - Laserfiche WebLink

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(generally involving legislative matters or rulemaking proceedings before the Railroad Commission of Texas) to fund those efforts. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City of La Porte join the coalition of cities known as the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition of Cities in support of its review of CenterPoint's gas - utility rates, services, and operations. Further, although the City's ability to review and effectuate a change in CenterPoint's requested increase sought via the "GRIP" statute is limited, the City should exercise due diligence with regard to rate increases of monopoly utilities who operate within its boundaries, including increases requested under the GRIP statute to ensure compliance with the requirements of that law. This includes whether CenterPoint's current rates produce a rate of return in excess of its authorized rate of return. To exercise the City of La Porte's due diligence, it is necessary to suspend CenterPoint's proposed effective date of May 3, 2021 for 45 days, so that the City can evaluate whether the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate application are correctly done. Thus, if the Council adopts the accompanying resolution, the resolution: • Authorizes La Porte's participation in TCUC; • Authorizes TCUC's Special Counsel, the law firm of Herrera Law & Associates, PLLC (through Alfred R. Herrera), to represent La Porte as part of TCUC in review of CenterPoint's "GRIP" application to increase rates; and • Suspends CenterPoint's proposed effective date for 45 days. Assuming a proposed effective date of May 3, 2021, CenterPoint's proposed effective date is suspended until June 17, 2021. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the suspension resolution regarding CenterPoint's proposed increase in rates under the GRIP statute. ACTION REQUIRED BY CITY COUNCIL Approve or deny Resolution 2021-39 to suspend the effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division, to increase rates under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program for 45 days, and authorize the City's participation in a coalition of cities known as the "Texas Coast Utilities Coalition" ("TCUC") of cities. Approved for the City Council meeting agenda