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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1977-1073 - e - e ORDINANCE NO. 1073 . AN ORDINANCE RECITING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ENTEX, INC. STATEMENT OF INTENT TO CHANGE GAS RATES; SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE OF ENTEX, INC.; PROVIDING FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICE THEREOF; SUSPENDING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES OF ENTEX, INC. FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR THE DELIVERY OF A CERTIFIED COpy OF THIS ORDINANCE TO SAID UTILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS ORDINANCE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: Section 1. Entex, Inc., a private corporation, is a public utility supplying gas within the corporate limits of the City of La Porte. Section 2. On the 30th day of March, 1977, pursuant to the requirements of Paragraph (a), Section 43, Public Utility . Regulatory Act of the State of Texas, codified as Article l446c, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas (1925), said utility filed a Statement of Intent with said City as the regulatory authority having original jurisdiction over rate increases within its corporate limits. Section 3. Paragraph (d) of Section 43 of said Act authorizes said City, after delivery to the affected utility of a statement in writing of its reasons therefor and pending such hearing and a decision thereon, to suspend the operation of the schedule set forth in said Statement of Intent for a period not . to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days beyond the date on which the schedule of rates would otherwise go into effect. Section 4. The City Council of said City has determined and here now find that such rates should be suspended for such one hundred twenty (120) day period for the reason that the complexity of the case will in all probability not permit such public hearing to be entered upon and concluded prior to the May 4 effective date of such schedule and for the further reason that said, Statement of Intent is ambiguous, vague and indefinite regarding whether it is a "major change" or not in accord with Article l446(c), Section 43(b). '. .. . . . Ordinance No. 107~ . Section 5. Paragraph (c) of Section 43 of said Act requires that such public hearing be held at any time within thirty (30) days from the date on which such change would or has become effective. Section 6. A public hearing on the proposed rate increase mentioned above was begun by the City Commission of the City of La Porte on Monday, the 11th day of April, 1977, beginning at 7:00 o'clock, p.m., at the City Commission Chamber, of the City Hall of said City located at 124 S. Second Street, La Porte, Harris County, Texas, and recessed thereafter until the City consultants obtain further necessary information from Entex, Inc., and opportunity to analyze such information. Section 7. The City Clerk of said City cause written notice of such public hearing to be published once in the Bayshore Sun, a newspaper having general circulation within the corporate limits of said City, the official newspaper thereof, and that a copy of such public notice be sent to Entex, Inc., by certified mail, return receipt requested. Section 8. Pending the hearing and decision, the schedule of rates mentioned above be and the same are hereby suspended for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days beginning the 5th day of May; 1977, that is, such suspension shall be until the 2nd day of September, 1977, and that a copy of this ordinance containing this suspension and the reasons therefor be immediately mailed or hand-delivered by the City Clerk of said City to Mr. Weldon Randall of Entex, Inc. Section 9. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and approval. PASSED AND APPROVED this --32- day of April, 1977. - ATTEST: ~ " a . Cloty ~k~ ~VED: ../l / \ [~a( ~~ Cloty Attorney -2-