HomeMy WebLinkAbout19720 ORD - 05/01/19870
A RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 1221 AND HOUSE
BILL 1770 WHICH WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION
WORK IN PROGRESS IN UTILITIES RATE BASE AND ELIMINATE
REASONABLE REIMBURSEMENT TO CITIES FOR COSTS OF EMPLOYING
EXPERTS IN RATE MAKING PROCEEDING; AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1221 and House Bill 1770 would make it far easier
to include construction work in progress in the utility's rate base rather than
the present standard which requires the company to demonstrate that inclusion of
such costs is necessary to its financial integrity; and
WHEREAS, the bills would require such costs to be included unless the
PUC finds imprudence which would effectively shift the burden of justification
from the utility to ratepayers; and
WHEREAS, it is much more difficult to make an accurate prudence
determination on a piecemeal basis prior to completion of a major project, the
scales will be heavily tilted against ratepayers and a precedent will be
established in piecemeal cases to make it even more difficult to exclude
imprudent costs; and
WHEREAS, these bills would eliminate reasonable reimbursement to
municipalities for costs of employing experts in ratemaking proceedings; and
WHEREAS, although they cannot match the resources of the utilities,
cities have provided a reasonably effective countervailing viewpoint to
utilities' inflated rate requests; and
WHEREAS the amendment would require city taxpayers to shoulder a heavy
burden if they wish to effectively participate in rate cases and this burden
comes at the very time cities and all levels of government are strapped for
resources and will result in less effective city participation; and
WHEREAS, the attorney general would be prohibited from advocacy before
the Public Utility Commission thereby removing a potentially effective voice on
behalf of the State as a consumer;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council expresses its opposition to Senate
Bill 1221 and House Bill 1770.
SECTION 2. That upon written request of the Mayor or five Council
members, copy attached, to find and declare an emergency due to the need for
efficient and effective administration of City affairs, such finding of an
emergency is made and declared requiring suspension of the Charter rule as to
05P.024.01
19720 MICROFILMED
consideration and voting upon ordinances or resolutions
meetings so that this resolution is passed and shalljake
reading as an emergency measure this thea $� day of
ATTEST:
City Secretary
MAYO
APPROVED: 1 DAY OF /1,1 , 1937
HAL GEORGE, CITY ATTORNEY
By 0_0_
Assisttant C
05P.024.01
ney
R
at three regular
effect upon first
, 19 5'f
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Corpus Christi, Texas
a8I'% day of
, 1987
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Corpus Christi, Texas
For the reasons set forth in the emergency clause of the foregoing ordinance
or resolution, an emergency exists requiring suspension of the Charter rule
as to consideration and voting upon ordinances or resolutions at three
regular meetings; I/we, therefore, request that you suspend said Charter rule
and pass this ordinance or resolution finally on the date it is introduced,
or at the present meeting of the City Council.
Respectfully, Respectfully,
Council Members
OR J
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
The above ordinance was passed by the following vote:
Betty N. Turner
David Berlanga, Sr.
Leo Guerrero
Frank Mendez
Clif Moss
Bill Pruet
Mary Rhodes
Mary Pat Slavik
Linda Strong
99.045.01
19720