Ord 2024-3983 - CenterPoint - Suspending New Rates

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ORDINANCE 2024-3983 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE RETAIL ELECTRIC RATES OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC WITHIN THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS; SUSPENDING FOR NINETY DAYS THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF NEW RATES; 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 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 8, 2024. WHEREAS, the New Rates would affect rates, operations or services for CenterPoint retail customers within the City; and WHEREAS, PURA Sections 36.102 and 36.108 provide that the New Rates take effect on the 35ih day after the local filing, unless the local regulatory authority suspends the effective date of the New Rates within 35 days of filing; and WHEREAS, PURA Section 36.108 further provides that a local regulatory authority may suspend the operation of the Application for ninety days beyond the date the New Rates would otherwise be effective (the "Suspension Period"); and WHEREAS, PURA Section 36.109 provides that unless the local regulatory authority establishes interim rates, the rates in effect at the time the Application is filed remain in effect during the Suspension Period; and WHEREAS, during the Suspension Period, the City through the Coalition's consultants and outside counsel will review the Application, perform a coordinated analysis of the New Rates, obtain additional information from CenterPoint, receive public comments, and prepare a rate ordinance recommendation to City Council; and WHEREAS, the expert utility rate consultants retained to review the Application on behalf of the Coalition have not had sufficient time to determine whether CenterPoint has justified its request for New Rates; and WHEREAS, the Coalition's consultants and outside counsel recommend that the City suspend CenterPoint's New Rates for ninety days beyond the proposed effective date, April 10, 2024, or