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CC Resolution No. 2517RESOLUTION NO. 2517 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, RESPONDING TO THE APPLICATION OF CENTER -POINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., TEXAS COAST DIVISION, TO INCREASE RATES UNDER THE GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM; SUSPENDING CENTERPOINT'S PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN A COALITION OF CITIES KNOWN AS THE "TEXAS COAST UTILITIES COALITION" OF CITIES; MAKING SUCH OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. ****************************************************************************** WHEREAS, on or about March 29, 2018, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division ("CenterPoint") 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: R -2096 -I -GRIP 2018; 011 -relit $15.75 Proposed 2018 $0.72 Proposed $16.47 111crease to E..Ich $0.72 R -2096 -U -GRIP 2018 per customer per customer per customer per customer Residential per month per month per month per month GSS-2096-I-GRIP 2018; $18.25 $1.10 $19.35 $1.10 GSS-2096-U-GRIP 2018 per customer per customer per customer per customer General Service Small per month per month per month per month GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2018; GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2018 $180.00 $23.03 $203.03 $23.03 General Service per customer per customer per customer per customer Large Volume per month I per month per month per month anti WHEREAS, the City has a 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 (45) days, so that the City can assure itself that the data and calculations in CenterPoint's rate application are in accordance with Section 104.301 of the Gas Utility Regulatory Act; and WHEREAS, the effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 28, 2018, but a suspension by the City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to July 12, 2018. 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: The City suspends the requested effective date by CenterPoint for forty- five (45) 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. Section 3: 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 ("TCUC") of cities. Section 4: The City authorizes the law firm of Herrera & Boyle, PLLC, to act on its behalf in connection with CenterPoint's application to increase rates. Section 5: To the extent allowed by law, CenterPoint is ordered to pay 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: 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 vot of the City Council of the City of Baytown this the 26th day of April, 2018. ATTE T: LETICIA BRYSCH, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: OZIRACIO RAMIREZ, SR., i Attorney ST)EPHEN H. DONCARLOS, Ma acobfs01 legahl(aren\FilemCity Council Resolutions12018Wpril 26 CenterPoint-GRIP-Mar 2018 -TEXAS COAST Divisn-ACM Suspension Resolution- 0406 18. docx 2