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R2021-063 2021-04-12RESOLUTION NO. R2021-63 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pearland, Texas ("city") regarding the application of Centerpoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division, to increase rates under the gas reliability infrastructure program; suspending the effective date of this rate application for forty-five days; authorizing the city to continue to participate in a coalition of cities known as the "Texas Coast Utilities Coalition" of cities; 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 4, 2021 CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division ("CenterPoint") filed for an increase in gas utility rates under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (`GRIP"), and proposed increases in the monthly customer charges for all retail customer classes as shown below: Rate Schedule Current Customer Charge Proposed 2021 Interim Rate Adjustment Adjusted Charge Increase Per Bill R-2096-I-GRIP 2021; R-2096-U-GRIP 2021 Residential $17.77 per customer per month $0.88 per customer per month $18.65 per customer per month $0.88 per customer per month GSS-2096-I-GRIP 2021; GSS-2096-U-GRIP 2021 General Service Small $21.48 per customer per month $1.36 per customer per month $22.84 per customer per month $1.36 per customer per month GSLV-627-I-GRIP 2021; GSLV-627-U-GRIP 2021 General Service Large Volume $262.84 per customer per month $33.15 per customer per month $295.99 per customer per month $33.15 per customer 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 WHEREAS, the effective date proposed by CenterPoint is May 3, 2021, but a suspension by the City will mean that the rate increase cannot go into effect prior to June 17, 2021, now therefore; BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, 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 days pursuant to the authority granted the City under Section 104.301 of the Texas Utilities Code to allow the City to review the data and calculations that provide the basis for CenterPoint's proposed increase in rates. 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 Law & Associates, 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. 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 be effective immediately upon passage. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 12th day of April, A.D., 2021. ATTEST: CRYSTAL ROAN, TRMC, C4 CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: ("L ` 4►-� DARRIN M. COKER CITY ATTORNEY EVIN COLE AYO R 0