Longview delays Atmos and CenterPoint rate changes for 45 days while staff reviews filings

The Longview City Council on March 26 voted to delay the effective date of two pending gas‑utility rate filings for 45 days so city technical staff can review the companies’ submissions.

Councilmember Robert Ray asked staff to summarize the filings during the consent‑agenda discussion. City staff said Atmos Energy’s filing shows a residential customer increase of roughly $10 per month, while CenterPoint’s proposed change would raise residential bills by approximately $2 to $3 per month. The council approved resolutions to delay the effectiveness of those rates to allow the city’s experts time to evaluate the filings and identify any statutory or technical issues before the cases move to state regulators.

"They gave a table. It is in the ordinance. I believe the one that concerns us the most, of course, is residential customers For Atmos, I believe it was a little over $10 per month per customer increase," said Robert Ray during the discussion. City staff warned that after the local review period the matters will proceed to the Railroad Commission, which will make the ultimate decisions in those filings.

City officials characterized the council’s step as a review mechanism rather than a final determination. The 45‑day delay is the maximum postponement the city may impose to allow additional analysis and potential input into the regulatory process before state action.

The resolutions were approved as part of the council’s consent agenda by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally or the names of members voting yes or no.

What happens next: staff will review the utilities’ filings and report back to the council if they identify issues for the Railroad Commission to consider. The Railroad Commission will ultimately rule on the filings and any requested rate adjustments.