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Sugar Land council delays CenterPoint gas rate increase for 45 days
Summary
Council adopted a resolution to suspend the April 18 effective date of a CenterPoint Energy gas-rate filing by 45 days, giving residents extra time; staff said the filing raises the base customer charge by $2.47 to $24.83 and the council's power is limited to a temporary postponement.
The Sugar Land City Council voted March 17 to adopt a resolution that delays the effective date of a CenterPoint Energy interim gas-rate adjustment by 45 days, a postponement permitted under state law.
City Attorney Meredith Reedi told council the city's legal authority is limited to delaying the rate increase for 45 days to provide residents extra time to respond. She said CenterPoint's filing proposed an increase to the base customer charge of $2.47, which would raise the residential base charge to $24.83 under the company's filing. "Legally all you can do is postpone the implementation by 45 days," Reedi said.
Council voted unanimously (mover: Vandar; second: Fer) to adopt the resolution and directed staff to deliver the resolution to the company and the city's legal counsel. Reedi noted staff and the city routinely engage filings and sometimes negotiate reductions where possible, but the suspension itself is a short-term procedural action required to extend the effective date.
The resolution does not change the amount sought by the utility; it delays the effective implementation to allow for additional review, notice or potential responses during the suspension period.
