Weston Lakes has elected to join a coalition of cities to oppose a utility rate hike proposed by CenterPoint Energy.
City council voted to join the Gulf Coast Coalition, a group of predominantly smaller cities that will hire the Lloyd Gosselink law and consulting firm to represent its member cities’ interests in negotiations with CenterPoint over the rate increase.
Legal costs incurred by the coalition will be paid by the utility company and not the cities, Alderman Cliff Aldrich said.
“The city does not have to budget for that,” Aldrich explained. “If we do nothing, or if we acquiesce, we fall by the wayside and CenterPoint would be allowed to raise rates without approval of the (Public Utility Commission).”
Aldrich also said joining the group gave Weston Lakes “an opportunity to sit at the table” in the rate case.
The city’s action also suspended the proposed rate hike, which would have taken effect Aug. 6 if Weston Lakes had not acted.
The nearby cities of Fulshear and Simonton have also voted to join the coalition, as have such cities as Sugar Land, Missouri City and Rosenberg.
The city also had the option of joining a different coalition headed by the City of Houston, but instead opted to join with cities that have more common interests.
“There have been times when the interests (of the larger cities) have deviated from those of the smaller cities,” Aldrich said.
Alderman Trent Thomas agreed, citing an old African saying.
“They say, ‘When elephants dance, the mice can get trampled.’ I’d be much more comfortable joining the small cities so the mice don’t get trampled,” Thomas said.
Council members voted unanimously to adopt a resolution suspending the rate hike request and joining the Gulf Coast Coalition.
