Ordinance No. 2022-21 Entergy Increase In RatesORDINANCE NO.2022-21 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE SUSPENSION OF THE EFFECTIVE DA TE FOR AN ADDITIONAL NINETY (90) DAYS BEYOND THE AUGUST 5, 2022, EFFECTIVE DATE PROPOSED BY ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.. IN CONNECTION WITH ITS RATE INCREASE APPLICATION ENTITLED "APPLICATION OF ENTERGY TEXAS, INC. FOR AUTHORITY TO CHANGE RA TES", FILED ON JULY 1. 2022; AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH THE ENTERGY TEXAS, INC. SERVICE AREA CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE HIRING OF EXPERTS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS; REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT OF MUNICIPAL RATE CASE EXPENSES; FINDING THAT THE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT, AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, on or about July 1, 2022, Entergy Texas, Inc. ("Entergy") filed a Statement oflntent with the City to increase electric rates in the Entergy Service Area; and WHEREAS, Cities have exclusive original jurisdiction over the rates, operations and services of an electric utility in areas in the municipality pursuant to the Public Utility Regulato1y Act §33.00l(a); and \VHEREAS, Public Utility Regulato1y Act § 33.021 requires a local regulato1y authority to make a reasonable determination of rate base, expenses. investment and rate of retum and retain the necessary personnel to determine reasonable rates; and WHEREAS, the City's reasonable cost for regulato1y expenses in ratemaking proceedings shall be reimbursed by the electric utility under Public Utility Regulat01y Act §33.023; and\.VHEREAS, Public Utility Regulato1y Act § 36.108(a) authorizes a municipal regulatory authority to suspend a utility's proposed rate change for not longer than 90 days after the date the rate change would otherwise be effecti\'e; and WHEREAS, given the complexity of the proposed rate increase and the need to fully review the proposed base rate and riders. it is necessa1y to suspend the effective date for implementing the proposed rates until at least November 3. 2022, in order to allow the City's rate experts sufficient time to detennine the merits of Entergy·s proposed rates; and