HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2021-39 to suspend the effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. RESOLUTION NO. 2021-39
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF LA PORTE TEXAS,("CITY")REGARDING
THE APPLICATION OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.,
TEXAS COAST DIVISION, TO INCREASE RATES UNDER THE GAS
RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM; SUSPENDING THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS RATE APPLICATION FOR FORTY-FIVE DAYS;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A COALITION OF CITIES
KNOWN AS THE "TEXAS COAST UTILITIES COALITION" OF CITIES;
DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THE RESOLUTION WAS
ADOPTED COMPLIED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING
SUCH OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,on or about March 4,2021 CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.,Texas Coast
Division ("CenterPoint") filed for an increase in gas utility rates under the Gas Reliability
Infrastructure Program(`GRIP"), and proposed increases in the monthly customer charges for all
retail customer classes as shown below:
Proposed
Current 2021 Interim
Rate Customer Rate Adjusted
Schedule Charge Adjustment Charge Increase Per Bill
R-2096-I-GRIP 2021; $17.77 $0.88 $18.65 $0.88
R-2096-U-GRIP 2021 per customer per customer per customer per customer
Residential per month per month per month per month
GSS-2096-I-GRIP 2021;
GSS-2096-U-GRIP 2021 $21.48 $1.36 $22.84 $1.36
General Service per customer per customer per customer per customer
Small per month per month per month per month
GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2021;
GSLV-627-U-GRIP 2021 $262.84 $33.15 $295.99 $33.15
General Service per customer per customer per customer per customer
Large Volume per month per month per month per month
and
WHEREAS,the City has a special responsibility to exercise due diligence with regard to
rate increases of monopoly utilities who operate within its boundaries; and
WHEREAS,the application to increase rates by CenterPoint is complex; and
WHEREAS,given the complexity of setting rates and to maximize efficiency in reviewing
CenterPoint's application to increase rates, the City finds it prudent to join in the Texas Coast
Utilities Coalition of Cities ("TCUC")to undertake review of CenterPoint's application; and
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WHEREAS,it is necessary to suspend the effective date for the increase in rates for forty-
five days, so that the City can assure itself that the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate
application are correctly done; and
WHEREAS,the effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 3, 2021, but a suspension
by the City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to June 17, 2021.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LA PORTE,TEXAS THAT:
Section 1. That the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this resolution
are hereby in all things approved and adopted.
Section 2. The City suspends the requested effective date by CenterPoint for forty-five
days pursuant to the authority granted the City under Section 104.301 of the Texas Utilities Code
to allow the City to review the data and calculations that provide the basis for CenterPoint's
proposed increase in rates.
Section 3. The City joins coalition of cities known as the Texas Coast Utilities
Coalition ("TCUC") of cities to act jointly with other cities that are part TCUC to review
CenterPoint's application to increase rates.
Section 4. The City authorizes the law firm of Herrera Law & Associates, PLLC, to
act on its behalf, through TCUC, in connection with CenterPoint's application to increase rates.
Section 5. To the extent allowed by law, CenterPoint is ordered to pay the City's
reasonable rate case expenses incurred in response to CenterPoint's rate increase application
within 30 days of receipt of invoices for such expenses to the extent allowed by law.
Section 6. The meeting at which this resolution was approved was in all things
conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter
551.
Section 7. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 12th day of April 2021.
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LOUIS R. GBY,MA R
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