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CC Resolution No. 2832RESOLUTION NO.2832 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS ("CITY") RESPONDING TO THE APPLICATION OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., D/B/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS — TEXAS COAST DIVISION (CENTERPOINT), TO INCREASE RATES UNDER THE GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM; SUSPENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS RATE APPLICATION FOR FORTY-FIVE DAYS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN A COALITION OF CITIES KNOWN AS THE "TEXAS COAST UTILITIES COALITION OF CITIES" (TCUC); REQUIRING THE REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS; DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THE RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED COMPLIED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING SUCH OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ************************************************************************************* WHEREAS, on or about March 2, 2023, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas — Texas Coast Division (CenterPoint or Company) filed for an increase in gas utility rates under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program ("GRIP"), resulting in a requested increase in the monthly customer charges as shown in the table below: Proposed Current 2023 Interim Rate Customer Rate Adjusted Increase Per Schedule Charge Adjustment Charge Bill R-2096-I-GRIP 2023; $19.94 $2.01 $21.95 $2.01 R-2096-U-GRIP 2023 per customer per customer per customer per customer Residential per month per month per month per month GSS-2096-I-GRIP 2023; $24.93 $3.00 $27.93 $3.00 GSS-2096-U-GRIP 2023 General Service per customer per customer per customer per customer Small per month per month per month per month GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2023; $365.46 $104.91 $470.37 $104.91 GSLV-627-U-GRIP 2023 General General Service per customer per customer per customer per customer Lare Volume per month per month per month per month and WHEREAS, the City has a special responsibility to exercise due diligence with regard to rate increases of monopoly utilities who operate within its boundaries; and WHEREAS, the application to increase rates by CenterPoint is complex; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to suspend the effective date for the increase in rates for forty-five days, so that the City can assure itself that the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate application are correctly done, and whether CenterPoint's application otherwise conforms to the requirements of Texas Utilities Code § 104.301, commonly referred to as the GRIP statute; and WHEREAS, the effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 1, 2023, but a suspension by the City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to June 15, 2023; NOW THEREFORE, 1 of 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS: Section 1: That the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things approved and adopted. Section 2: That the City suspends the requested effective date by CenterPoint for forty-five days pursuant to the authority granted the City under Section 104.301 of the Texas Utilities Code. The City finds that additional time is needed in order to review the data and calculations that provide the basis for the rate increase application, and to determine whether CenterPoint's application otherwise conforms to the requirements of the GRIP statute. Section 3: That the City shall continue to act jointly with other cities that are part of a coalition of cities known as the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition of Cities (TCUC). Section 4: That the City authorizes the law firm of Herrera Law & Associates, PLLC, to act on its behalf in connection with CenterPoint's application to increase rates. Section 5: That CenterPoint is ordered to reimburse the City's reasonable rate case expenses incurred in response to CenterPoint's rate increase application within 30 days of receipt of invoices for such expenses to the extent allowed by law. Section 6: That the meeting at which this resolution was approved was in all things conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. Section 7: This resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage by the City Council of the City of Baytown. INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of Baytown this the 13' day of April, 2023. GF �PYI Ot%yy T�. BRANDON CAPETILLO, ayor T ST: 4Z00 o'v o � e t ° ANGELA J KSOlerk o° 0 APPROVED City Attorney R: Karen Anderson\RESOLUTIONS CITY COUNCIU2023\2023.04.13 CenterPoint-GRIP-2023-Tx Coast Division-3-Suspension Resolution- 030323.docx 2 of 2