CenterPoint to raise rates in Linden

Submitted by Casscounty1 on

 

By Bobbbby Horn Jr.
 
LINDEN—Despite efforts by Linden City Council to postpone the inevitable, residents within the city can expect to see an increase in their CenterPoint Energy bill starting this summer.
During a meeting of council April 11, the aldermen unanimously voted to suspend action on a CenterPoint Energy annual Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) rate increase.
CenterPoint provides natural gas service in the city.
Karen Bradshaw, operations supervisor for CenterPoint Energy, told council that if they approved the increase or took no action, it would go into effect May 30. However, if they chose to suspend action on the increase CenterPoint would wait until July 14 to enact the increase.
Customers should expect between a two and three-dollar increase in their bill. The increase is not limited to Linden, but to CenterPoint’s entire Beaumont/ East Texas region as part of the GRIP. Bradshaw said the Texas Railroad Commission allows utility companies to be reimbursed for capital improvements, such as replacing natural gas lines.
“Basically, we are paying for the improvements,” said Linden City Administrator Bob Swisher. CenterPoint says that they have spent $264,900 in capital improvements in Linden.
Rather than charge an individual city’s residents for infrastructure work done within that city, the cost is spread through the region regardless of where the work is done. “Bowie County is paying more for the work being done here,” Swisher added.
The last time CenterPoint asked for rate increase in Linden was in 2012, Bradshaw said.
The city council meeting opened with an unusual request from a group of high school students.
Members of Linden-Kildare High’s One Act Play told council that they would operate a dunking booth at the Wildflower Trails Festival and they would like some of the council members to serve as “dunkees.” Alderman Kenny Hamilton said he would, while others on council said they would consider it.
Emily Henderson, with the Linden Economic Development Corporations, told council that sales tax collections for March 2016 was 16 percent higher
than in March 2015. She also said that work is being done on billboards on Hwy. 59 and that the EDC is working with the Linden Heritage Foundation on their Main Street Program application. She also said that the EDC has been approached by investors looking to open businesses downtown.
Joe B. Lovelace, representing the Linden Heritage Foundation, gave an update on the Mains Street Program initiative.
As part of the application process, Mary Dowd has submitted a “Texas Main Street Program Intent To Apply” form to the Texas
Historical Commission. Earlier in the day a group from St. Augustine was in town to meet with the EDC, the foundation and other business owners about how they were able to revitalize their downtown area through the Texas Main Street Program.
Swisher reminded council that having a Texas Main Street designation would increase the city’s tax base.
Lovelace reminded council what while the whole city would benefit from the designation participation by businesses is “totally voluntary.”
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