HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2022-08 to Suspend CenterPoint GRIP rate increase and authorize the joining of similar situated cities to the TCUC coalition of citiesRESOLUTION NO. 9-2022-08
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
CENTERPOINT'S PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR FORTY-FIVE DAYS;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION 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 3, 2021 CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast
Division ("CenterPoint") filed for an increase in gas utility rates under the Gas Reliability
Infrastructure Program (`GRIP"), resulting in a requested increase in the monthly customer charges
as shown in the table below:
Proposed
Current
2022 Interim
Rate
Customer
Rate
Increase Per
Schedule
Charge
Adjustment
Adjusted Charge
[sill
R-2096-I-GRIP 2022;
$18.62
$ l .32
$19.94
$1.32
R-2096-U-GRIP 2022
per customer
per customer
per customer
per customer
Residential
per month
per month
per month
per month
GSS-2096-1-GRIP 2022;
GSS-2096-U-GRIP 2022
$22.81
$2.12
S24.93
$2.12
General Service
per customer
per customer
per customer
per customer
Small
perinonth
per month
per month
per month
GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2022;
GSLV-627-U-GRIP 2022
S295.14
570.32
$365.46
S70.32
General Service
per customer
per customer
per customer
per customer
Large Volume
per month
pC1. month
per month
per month
and
WHEREAS: The City has a 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: It is necessary to suspend CenterPoint's proposed effective date of May 2,
2022, for its 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 in accordance with the Section 104.301 of the
Gas Utility Regulatory Act; and
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WHEREAS: The effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 2, 2021 but a suspension
by the City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to June 16, 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.
The City finds that additional time is needed in order to review the data and calculations that
provide the basis for the rate increase application.
Section 3. The City shall continue its participation with other cities that are part of a
coalition of cities known as the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition ("TCUC") of cities.
Section 4. The City authorizes the law firm of Herrera Law & Associates, PLLC, to
act on its behalf 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.
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 ON ` } day of 2022.
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