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RESOLUTION NO. 2004-01
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIV,ERSITY PLACE
SUSPENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY
ENTEX'S REQUESTED RATE CHANGES TO PERMIT THE CITY TIME TO
STUDY THE REQUEST AND TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE RATES;
APPROVING COOPERATION WITH OTHER CITIES WITHIN THE
HARRIS, MONTGOMERY AND FORT BEND COUNTY AREA
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO CREATE A STEERING COMMITTEE TO
DIRECT THE EFFORTS OF LEGAL COUNSEL AND CONSULTANTS
NECESSARY FOR RATEMAKlNG OR LITIGATION; REQUIRING
REIMBURSEMENT OF CITIES' RATE CASE EXPENSES; AUTHORIZING
INTERVENTION IN ANY RATEMAKING PROCEEDING AT THE
RAILROAD COMMISSION THAT RELATES TO THE COMPANY'S
FILING; REQUIRING NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANY
\VHEREAS, 011 or about Decel11ber 19, 2003, Cel1terPoint Ellergy Entex, a division of
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. ("Entex") filed with the City of West Ul1i.versity Place a
Statement of Intent to change gas rates ill variou.s municipalities witllil1 tIle Harris, MOl1tgomery
and Fort Bend County area effective February 1, 2004; al1d.
WHEREAS, it is reaso.nable for the City of West University Place to cooperate witl1 otller
cities in a review of the COmpaI1Y's application. and create a Steering Committee to coordinate
and direct tIle worl( of lawyers and conSllltants aJld to oversee recoI1Uuendations to illdividllal
cities and to direct settlement negotiations and any l1ecessary litigation; and
WHEREAS, tile Gas Utility Reglllatory Act grants tIle City tIle rigllt to Sllspend E.ntex's
proposed effective date of Febrllary 1, 2004 for 90 days; and.
WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act provid.es tllat costs il1curred by Cities in
ratemaking activities are to be reilubursed by the regulated utility; aIld
WHEREAS, tIle Gas Utility Regulatory Act grants local regulatory authorities tIle rigllt to
intervene in rate proceedings filed at tile Railroad Commission.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
UNIVERSITY PLACE,..TEXAS:
1. That tIle effective date of tIle tariff cllanges sublnitted by Entex on or about
December 19, 2003, be suspended to the l11axilnu.m exteJlt provided by law to perlnit adeqllate
time to review the proposed CllaIlges atld to establish reasol1able rates.
2. Tllat t]le City is authorized to cooperate with other Cities withil1 tIle Entex
Distribution System to create a Steering COlmnittee to coordinate alld direct tIle worlc of lawyers
and COl1sultallts and. to oversee reconunendatiollS to individllal cities and to direct settlelnellt
negotiations and llilY l1ecessary litigation and appeals.
1
3. That the City's reasonable rate case expenses shall be reimbursed by Entex.
4~ That the City is authorized to intervene in any Railroad Commission proceeding
that relates to the Entex rate request.
5. That a copy of this suspension resolution be sent to Charles J. Harder of Entex.
ATTEST:
2
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-01
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
SUSPENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY
ENTEX'S REQUESTED RATE CHANGES TO PERMIT THE CITY TIME TO
STUDY THE REQUEST AND TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE RATES;
APPROVING COOPERATION WITH OTHER CITIES WITI-IIN THE
HARRIS, MONTGOMERY AND FORT BEND COUNTY AREA
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO CREATE A STEERING COMMITTEE TO
DIRECT THE EFFORTS OF LEGAL COUNSEL AND CONSULTANTS
NECESSARY FOR RATEMAKING OR LITIGATION; REQUIRING
REIMBURSEMENT OF CITIES' RATE CASE EXpENSES; AUTHORIZING
INTERVENTION IN ANY RATEMAKING PROCEEDING AT THE
RAILROAD COMMISSION THAT RELATES TO THE COMPANY'S
FILING; REQUIRING NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, on or about December 19, 2003, CenterPoint Energy Entex, a division of
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. ("Entex") filed with the City of West University Place a
Statement of Intent to change gas rates in various municipalities within the Harris, Montgomery
and Fort Bend County area effective February 1, 2004; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable for the City.ofWest University Place to cooperate with other
cities in a review of the Company's application and create a Steering Committee to coordinate
and direct the work of lavvyers and consultants an.d to oversee recommendations to individual
cities and to direct settlement negotiations and any necessary litigation; and
WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act grants the City the right to suspend Entex's
proposed effective date of February 1, 2004 for 90 days; and
WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act provides that costs incurred by Cities in
ratemaking activities are to be reimbursed by the regulated utility; and.
WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act grants local regulatory authorities the right to
intervene in rate proceedings filed at tile Railroad. Commission.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS:
1. That the effective date of the tariff changes submitted by Elltex on or ab01Jt
December 19, 2003, be suspended to the maximum extent provided by law to permit adequate
time to review the proposed chan.ges and to establish reasonable rates. J
2. That the City is authorized to cooperate with other Cities within the Entex
Distribution System to create a Steering Committee to coordinate and direct the worl( of lawyers
and consultants and to oversee recommendations to individual cities and to direct settlement
negotiations and any necessary litigation and appeals.
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3.. That th~ City's reasonable rate case expenses shall be reimbursed by Entex..
4~ That the City is authorized to intervene in any Railroad Commission proceeding
that relates to the Entex rate request~
5.
That a copy of this suspension resolution be sent to Charles J.. Harder of Entex.
ATTEST:
.~.
(ld~ ;i~f
City
2
City of West University Place
*' Recycled Paper
January 16, 2004
Glenn Cole
Regional Manager
CenterPoint Energy Entex
900 Lockwood
Houston, Texas 77020
via facsimile ~~ 713~ 674~5035
Subject: Suspension of the operation of a schedule of rates ('Proposed Rates") filed by
CenterPoint Energy Entex with the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") in
connection with a statement of intent to increase rates on or about Deceniber 19, 2003
(' 'Rate Filing")
Dear CenterPoint Energy Entex & Mr~ Cole:
This letter is sent as formal notice, under the Texas Gas Ut.ility Code, that the City is suspending
the Proposed Rates pending a hearing and decision on the Proposed Rates and the Rate Filing~
The suspension is for 90 days after the date the Proposed Rates would otherwise be effective,
although the City retains the discretion to make an earlier decision or disposition. Additional
information about th.is matter, including a statement of the City~ s reasons for suspension, are
described in the attached resollltion~ which is made a part hereof for all purposes~
Please send future correspondence regarding this matter to the in care of the undersigned, at the
address shown in the letterhead, above~
Yours very truly,
CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
7.~ L;Z~ .'
By:' ~ .f(,.,tUrfI/
City Manag. r
Attachments - 2
3800 Universit:y BoulevaI4d · "Vest University Place, Texas 77005 0 713/668-4441