HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2024-3991 - Denying CenterPoint Rate IncreaseCity of La Porte, Texas Ordinance No. 2024-3991
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE RETAIL ELECTRIC RATES OF
CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC WITHIN THE CITY OF LA
PORTE, TEXAS; DENYING RATE INCREASE REQUEST AND REVISED RATE
SCHEDULES AND MAINTAINING CURRENT RATES IN EFFECT; CONTAINING
FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE FOREGOING SUBJECT;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2024, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
("CenterPoint") submitted a Statement of Intent and Application for Authority to Change
Rates ("Application") within the City of La Porte, Texas ("City"), requesting a rate increase,
riders, and tariff changes (collectively "New Rates"); and
WHEREAS, the City, as a local regulatory authority, exercises original jurisdiction
over the rates, operations and services of CenterPoint for customers located within the
City under Section 33.001 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act ("PURA") in the Texas
Utilities Code; and
WHEREAS, the City is a member of the Coalition of Cities ("Coalition") in this
CenterPoint electric base rate proceeding, as approved by Resolution 2024-09 by City
Council on April 6, 2024.
WHEREAS, the New Rates would affect rates, operations or services for
CenterPoint retail customers within the City; and
WHEREAS, the expert utility rate consultants retained to review CenterPoint's
New Rates on behalf of the Coalition are still reviewing CenterPoint's Application and
New Rates; and
WHEREAS, City Council determines that CenterPoint's rates in effect as of March
6, 2024, ("Current Rates") are the just and reasonable rates to be observed and to remain
in force within the City; and
WHEREAS, City Council anticipates that a denial of the New Rates will be
appealed to the PUC; and
WHEREAS, denial of the New Rates would maintain the Current Rates in effect
for customers within La Porte, Texas until further changed under the Utilities Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the public interest will be served by the
adoption of an ordinance denying the New Rates; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the facts contained in the preamble of this Ordinance are
determined to be true and correct and are hereby adopted as part of this Ordinance.
Section 2. That CenterPoint's Application for New Rates on file with the City is
denied in total.
Section 3. That the rates currently in effect as of March 6, 2024, for CenterPoint
customers receiving service within the City of La Porte, Texas shall remain in effect until
further changed under applicable law.
Section 4. That If any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase
of this ordinance, or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances is for
any reason held to be invalid, the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or
their application to other persons or sets of circumstances shall not be affected thereby,
it being the intent of the City Council in adopting this ordinance that no portion hereof or
provision or regulation contained herein shall become inoperative or fail by reason of any
unconstitutionality, voidness or invalidity of any other portion hereof, and all provisions of
this ordinance are declared to be severable for that purpose.
Section 5. That the City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares
that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the
City Council was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for
the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law,
Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public
as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof
has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further
ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof.
PASSED AND APPROVED this =day of ,y— 2024
APPROVED this day of—��ara_. , 2024.
Mayor of the City of La Porte, Texas