Editor’s note: Transcript provided by CoverGov.
The Hurst City Council unanimously approved a resolution Oct. 14 to oppose the Oncor Electric Delivery request for an $834 million statewide revenue increase, becoming the latest governmental entity to try and block the move.
Oncor manages the state’s power network. The Oncor request, filed June 26 to the Texas Public Utility Commission, would result in a 12.3% increase in residential rates. Along with other cities, Hurst approved a resolution during the summer to suspend the rate increase.
“Now the suspension has expired and we have to take action, and this resolution would deny the rate case request from Oncor,” Clayton Fulton, Hurst assistant city manager, said Oct. 14 before the City Council.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas, or PUCT, will consider Oncor’s rate request.
“Rate reviews are part of a routine, regulated process governed by law and PUCT rules,” Roxana Rubio, an Oncor spokesperson, said in an emailed response to the Report after the Colleyville City Council recently approved the same resolution against Oncor’s request. “We will continue to work collaboratively as the rate review progresses.”
The increase to the PUCT would add an average $7.90 to monthly bills of 1,000 kilowatt hours of use, according to citiesservedbyoncor.org, a consumer interest group of 140 North and Central Texas cities served by Oncor.
The resolution passed by Hurst City Council will lead to a lower rate increase by the utility commission.
“The cities that have retained original jurisdiction, they work together in a steering committee under common representation, and then they’ll negotiate with Oncor, a settlement,” Fulton said. “We’ve done these a number of times, and what happens is there’s a negotiated settlement that comes back for approval at a later date for council to consider.”
To learn more about how the transcript that informed this report was created, visit covergov.com.
Eric Zarate is a freelance journalist.
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