Mineral Wells council denies Texas Gas Service rate increase, authorizes joining legal coalition
Summary
The council passed a resolution denying a proposed Texas Gas Service rate increase and authorized the city to join a coalition of cities working with Herrera Law & Associates to challenge the filing; the city expects no legal cost to taxpayers.
The City Council adopted a resolution unanimously to deny the rate increase proposed by Texas Gas Service and to participate in a coalition of cities to contest the company’s filing. The motion carried 7-0.
City staff said the company filed a statement of intent to change rates on or about June 30, 2025. The resolution instructs the city to deny the proposed increase and authorizes the city to join a coalition of municipalities represented by Herrera Law & Associates to pursue legal review of the filing. Staff told the council there is no direct cost to the city for joining the coalition: during these types of regulatory cases the utility typically pays reasonable legal fees that arise from the rate-review process.
City staff compared the gas-item process to a recent electric rate case involving Encore and said the same law firm is assisting in assembling a coalition of affected municipalities. Council members had no additional questions and voted to adopt the resolution.
The staff presentation noted the action was taken in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act; staff also said this is not expected to require city-funded legal expenditures because the utility would bear those costs as part of the rate-case process.
