BORGER, Texas — The Borger City Council voted unanimously Aug. 5 to deny Texas Gas Service Company's proposed revenue and rate changes filed June 30, 2025, and authorized outside counsel to represent the city before the Railroad Commission of Texas.

City staff presented the resolution during the council meeting and said the company is proposing a statewide consolidation of service territories that could raise fixed monthly charges for local customers. “One of the biggest changes is the per MCF rate is planning on going down, but they're increasing the base rate,” City staff member Spradlin said during the presentation. “On average, the base rate's looking to go up about $5 a month per customer.”

The resolution, R-014-25, directs the city’s legal counsel, Herrera Law and Associates, PLLC, to intervene at the Railroad Commission and seek to recover reasonable rate-case expenses. Staff said the city and a coalition of municipalities expect to incur legal costs estimated between $20,000 and $30,000; those costs are typically reimbursable through the final rate case but may be collected from customers in future charges.

Spradlin told the council the proposal would consolidate Borger with other, higher-rate service areas — including parts of Austin — and that the effect could raise bills for low-usage, fixed-income customers even if heavy users see reduced per-unit charges. He said forming a municipal alliance will allow multiple cities to coordinate intervention at the Railroad Commission.

Council members approved the motion to deny the filing and appoint Herrera Law; the transcript records the motion passing without a roll-call vote included in the public minutes. The action opens a formal intervention period at the Railroad Commission, where staff said municipalities can argue for geographic adjustments or rate-design changes.

The resolution does not itself change utility rates; it authorizes legal review and participation in the state regulatory process. The city expects to coordinate with other West Texas municipalities about shared legal strategy and cost recovery.