HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolutions (RESOLUTION R-17-4146)-06/20/2017 RESOLUTION R-17-4146
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO
TRANSFER GAS UTILITY RATEMAKING AUTHORITY FROM THE TEXAS
RAILROAD COMMISSION TO THE TEXAS PUBLIC UTILITY
COMMISSION
WHEREAS, of all the activities of the Texas Railroad Commission, none
impacts so many Texans on a daily basis as its regulation of
gas utility rates; and
WHEREAS, most Texans are not aware of the connection between what
they pay for home gas service and the Railroad Commission,
causing widespread confusion that has allowed the agency to
operate with less accountability to ratepayers; and
WHEREAS, the current Railroad Commission process for establishing
annual rate changes involves the gas utility proposing a rate
increase and intervenors are not allowed to use Public Utility
Commission (PUC) methods to challenge the proposed rate
increase; and
WHEREAS, the substantive issues associated with setting electric utility
rates and gas utility rates are nearly identical; and
WHEREAS, no other state divides responsibilities for gas and electricity
rate regulation between two agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Railroad Commission has relatively limited resources that
it can devote to the protection of ratepayers in rate cases; and
WHEREAS, the potential for conflicts of interest exist for the agency's
three elected Commissioners in that the Commissioners
exercise regulatory responsibility over industries that also
contribute significant amounts to their election campaigns,
whereas such a direct conflict does not exist for Public Utility
Commission Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, no mandate exists in the Texas Constitution assigning to the
Texas Railroad Commission its responsibility for setting gas
rates and the Texas Legislature can transfer gas utility
ratemaking authority to the PUC through a simple statutory
change.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS:
Resolution R-17-4146
Page 2 of 2
Sec. 1. THAT the Colleyville City Council hereby requests the Texas
Legislature to immediately transfer the responsibility for
regulation of gas rates from the Railroad Commission to the
Public Utility Commission.
Sec. 2. THAT the hearings division at the Railroad Commission be
transferred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
AND IT IS SO RESOLVED.
APPROVED BY A VOTE OF C0 AYES, () NAYS, AND 0 ABSTENTIONS ON
THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JUNE 2017.
Mayor Richard Newton j Y6 Mayor Pro Tern Bobby
Place 1, Tammy Nakamura ��Y Lindamood /}f SC/JT
Place 3, Kathy Wheat /1ye Place 5, Nancy Coplen
Place 4, George Dodson nye Place 6, Mike Taylor f}i E
ATTEST: Y OF COLLEYVILLE
Christine Loven Richard Newton
- Assistant City Secretary Mayor