Bruceville‑Eddy council votes to deny Encore rate increase, allows PUC appeal

The Bruceville‑Eddy City Council on July 24 voted unanimously to deny a proposed rate increase filed by Encore, keeping current local rates in place while the utility pursues approval through the Public Utility Commission. City Administrator Kent Minton told the council Encore had filed for a roughly 13% overall increase with the PUC and that no action by the city would result in automatic approval of Encore’s request.

Minton said the company’s filing proposed about a 12.3% rise for residential customers—about $8 a month for the typical customer—and a roughly 51% increase for street lighting. “My recommendation is to approve the denial on the rate increase for Encore,” Minton said during the meeting.

Council member Mr. Wiggins made the motion to approve the resolution denying the increase; a second was recorded and the motion passed unanimously. The denial preserves current local tariffs pending the PUC’s review and any state‑level decision.

The council did not discuss Encore’s justification for the requested increases; Minton said those explanations must come directly from Encore. The council packet and the city administrator noted that inaction would have allowed the filed increases to take effect automatically, so the vote was taken to maintain existing rates while the PUC process proceeds.

The action was taken under the council’s utility‑rate authority; residents or customers seeking Encore’s reasons for the request were directed to contact Encore or monitor the PUC docket for that filing.