Council considers resolution to continue participation in utility steering committee, approve 11¢ per capita payment to Encore

The Gunter City Council discussed a resolution authorizing continued participation in a regional steering committee that negotiates with Encore on electric system matters and the payment of 11 cents per capita to support that participation.

A council member described the 11¢ per-capita payment and the role of the steering committee: "What the steering committee does is negotiate with Encore when they seek to increase prices, do rate cases, and so forth," a council member said. Officials noted that cities that are not members of the steering committee do not have the committee’s negotiating leverage and thus may not receive the same terms.

Council members discussed whether participation is mandatory; one council member said membership is optional but warned that nonmembers may lose negotiating leverage. The transcript did not record a formal vote on the resolution; staff said a representative had not attended the meeting but had briefed the council at a prior session.

The resolution authorizes payment of the specified per-capita amount and continued participation in the steering committee, according to staff comments in the meeting.