Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grand Prairie council votes to suspend ENCORE utility rate increase for 90 days
Summary
The City Council approved a resolution joining a steering committee of cities to pause Encore's systemwide rate filing for up to 90 days while the committee evaluates the request and seeks possible settlement negotiations.
City staff told the council that Encore, the utility serving a coalition of Texas cities, filed a systemwide rate application with the Public Utility Commission on June 26 that would amount to about a 13% increase over current revenues and a 51% increase for street-light rates.
Staff asked the council to approve a resolution to suspend the proposed rates for up to 90 days so a 170-member steering committee of cities can review the filing, hire outside counsel if necessary and pursue settlement negotiations on behalf of member cities. The staff presentation said state law allows a city to suspend proposed rates for up to 90 days.
A council member summarized the effect as an attempt to reduce the approximately “$8 more a month” that staff said the Encore filing would cost the average residential customer.
The council approved the resolution to suspend the effective date of Encore’s proposed rate change for 90 days to allow the steering committee and counsel to evaluate settlement options. Staff said that without action, the proposed rates would go into effect on July 30.
The suspension is procedural: it pauses the utility’s filed effective date while the committee pursues negotiations. Any settlement or final outcome will require further review; the resolution directs staff participation through the steering committee and use of outside counsel paid for through the committee’s joint resources.
City staff will continue to work with the steering committee and provide updates to the council as negotiations proceed.
