RES 1579 04/23/2019RESOLUTION NO. 15-7?
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF CIBOLO, TEXAS, ("CITY")
RESPONDING TO THE APPLICATION OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY
RESOURCES CORP., SOUTH TEXAS 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 CONTINUE
TO PARTICIPATE IN A COALITION OF CITIES KNOWN AS THE
"ALLIANCE OF CENTERPOINT MUNICIPALITIES;" 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 28, 2019 CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., South Texas
Division ("CenterPoint") filed for an increase in gas utility rates under the Gas Reliability
Infrastructure Program ('GRIP"), which if approved, results in an increase in the monthly customer
charges as follows:
"Charges shown are per customer per month
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, it is necessary to suspend the effective date for the increase in rates for forty-five
(45) days, so that the City can assure itself that the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate
application are correctly done and are in conformity with section 104.301 of the Gas Utility
Regulatory Act; and
Current
Proposed 2019
Proposed
Proposed
Customer
"GRIP"
Adjusted
Percentage
Rate Schedules
Charge"
Adjustment**
Charge"
Increase**
R -20974 -GRIP 20179; R-
2097 -U -GRIP 2019
Residential
$19.00
$2.04
$21.04
11%
GSS-2097-I-GRIP 2019; GSS-
2097-U-GRIP 2019
General Service Small
$25.00
$4.16
$29.16
17%
GSLV-628-GRIP-I-2019;
GSLV-628-GRIP-U-2019
General Service Large Volume 1
$99.50
$27.20
$126.70
27%
"Charges shown are per customer per month
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, it is necessary to suspend the effective date for the increase in rates for forty-five
(45) days, so that the City can assure itself that the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate
application are correctly done and are in conformity with section 104.301 of the Gas Utility
Regulatory Act; and
WHEREAS, the effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 27, 2019 but a suspension by the
City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to July 11, 2019.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CIBOLO, 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 (45)
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 to act jointly with other cities that are part of a coalition of
cities known as the Alliance of CenterPoint Municipalities ("ACM").
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 CenterPoint's application to increase rates under section 104.301 of
the Gas Utility Regulatory Act (GURA) is considered a ratemaking proceeding, CenterPoint is
ordered to reimburse 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. A copy of this resolution shall be sent to Mr. Keith Wall, Director of Regulatory
Affairs, CenterPoint Energy, P.O. Box 2628, Houston, Texas 77252-2628; and to Mr. Alfred R.
Herrera, Herrera Law & Associates, PLLC, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 950, Austin, Texas 78701.
Section 7. 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 8. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 23`d day of April, 2019.
ATTEST:
Peggy Cimics, City Secretary
Stosh Boyle or
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