Granbury's City Council voted 4-0 Dec. 23 to adopt Resolution No. 24-20 denying Atmos Energy Corporation's application filed on or about Dec. 16, 2024, to increase in-city residential natural gas delivery rates.

City staff member Kaufman, who briefed the council, said the filing would raise the residential delivery charge "from 14¢ point 14.846¢ per 100 cubic feet to 37.584¢, which is a 22.738¢ increase," and that the company proposed the increase only for residential customers, not commercial or industrial accounts. Kaufman recommended the resolution in the council's meeting packet and told the council the measure would permit the city to join other municipalities in a coordinated legal challenge before the Railroad Commission.

The resolution authorizes the city to participate in the Atmos Texas Municipalities Coalition of Cities, authorizes intervention in proceedings related to Atmos's filing, directs that Atmos reimburse municipal rate case expenses, and authorizes representation of the city by Herrera Law and Associates PLLC as special counsel. Kaufman told the council several cities were convening special meetings so a sufficient coalition could be formed and filings could be submitted promptly; he noted a deadline for submitting paperwork that day.

Council members asked clarifying questions about counsel and the coalition. One council member asked whether the "special counsel" designation referred to the rate case attorney (Alpert Herrera); Kaufman confirmed Herrera Law and Associates PLLC. A council member asked how many cities were required to proceed; Kaufman said he did not know an exact number but that about a dozen cities had acted and that filings needed to be submitted by 6 p.m.

A motion to adopt Resolution No. 24-20 was made and seconded; the mayor called for the vote and announced the motion passed with no nays, 4-0. The meeting contained no public comments and adjourned shortly after the vote.

The resolution gives city leaders authority to pursue a legal challenge and to recover municipal rate case expenses; the council did not discuss specifics of litigation strategy or a hearing date before the Railroad Commission during the meeting.