HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 7247: SETTLEMENT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., DBA CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS'S P.O. No. 7247
04/26/24 gt
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS
AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY
RESOURCES CORP., D/B/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND
CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS'S STATEMENT OF INTENT TO
INCREASE RATES IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS COAST, SOUTH TEXAS,
AND BEAUMONT/EAST TEXAS DIVISIONS, FILED OCTOBER 30,
2023; FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN
MEETINGS ACT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, on or about October 30, 2023, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas ("CenterPoint" or
"Company") filed a Statement of Intent with the City of Port Arthur ("City") and
concurrently with the Railroad Commission of Texas ("Railroad Commission") to increase
gas rates in the Houston, Texas Coast, South Texas and Beaumont/East Texas Divisions
by $37.4 million per year; and
WHEREAS, the Company revised its Statement of Intent on December 19, 2023,
and increased its requested revenue increase to $38.8 million; and
WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur joined the Steering Committee of Cities to
intervene and participate in the Railroad Commission proceedings; and
WHEREAS, CenterPoint, Railroad Commission Staff, and other intervening parties
including the Steering Committee of Cities participated in settlement discussions to
resolve all contested rate case issues without litigation; and
WHEREAS, CenterPoint agreed to settle the rate request at an overall rate
increase level of $5 million per year for the Houston, Texas Coast, South Texas and
Beaumont/East Texas Divisions combined; and
WHEREAS, the agreed rate increase is expected to have no bill impact on
customers in the Beaumont/East Texas Division; and
WHEREAS, the Railroad Commission Staff, the Lawton Law Firm, and counsel for
other city groups participating in these proceedings have recommended approval of the
Settlement terms as a reasonable alternative to resolve all contested rate case issues
without the need for prolonged litigation.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS:
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Section 1. That the statement and findings set out in the preamble to this
Ordinance are hereby in all things approved and adopted.
Section 2. That the City of Port Arthur hereby authorizes the settlement of the
CenterPoint rate case proceedings at an overall rate increase level of $5 million per year.
Section 3. That the meeting at which this Ordinance was approved was in all
things conducted in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas
Government Code, Chapter 551.
Section 4. That this ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of May, A.D., 2024, at a
Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor:
Councilmembers:
NOES:
Thurman Bill Bartie, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherri Bellard, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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M. Black, Interim City Attorney
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
Ronald Burton, CPM, City Manager
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