Cities with original jurisdiction are expected to intervene at the PUC to help ensure the new rates are fair.
On April 5, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric filed an application with the PUC and municipal authorities to increase system-wide transmission and distribution rates by $161 million annually. In its filing, CenterPoint asserted that it is entitled to an increase of $154 million in retail transmission and distribution rates (an increase of about 7.4%) and $6.8 million in wholesale transmission rates (an increase of about 1.8%).
CenterPoint cites as a reason the recent growth in the Houston area, including the addition of approximately 400,000 customers since the last change to its base rates. CenterPoint’s filing also seeks to recover approximately $64 million in costs related to Hurricane Harvey.
In addition, CenterPoint requested a separate rider to continue returning savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The rider would provide approximately $97 million to customers over the next three years.
Cities with original jurisdiction over CenterPoint’s electricity rates are expected to intervene at the PUC to help ensure the new rates are fair. Without action by cities, the new rates would go into effect on May 10.