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Item 6MCITY OF SOUTHLAKI MEMORANDUM September 25, 2013 To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager From: Sharen Jackson, Chief Financial Officer Subject: Ordnance No. 1076, 2nd Reading, Approving a Negotiated Resolution between Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corp. Action Requested: Approval of Ordinance No. 1076 Background Information: Southlake, along with approximately 164 other cities served by Atmos Energy Mid -Tex Division ("Atmos"), is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee ("ACSC"). On July 15, 2013, Atmos filed with the City an application to increase natural gas rates pursuant to the Rate Review Mechanism ("RRM") tariff renewed by the City in June 2013 (Ordinance 1066) as a continuation and refinement of the previous RRM rate review process. This is the first annual RRM filing under the new RRM tariff. The Atmos' July RRM filing sought $22.7 million rate increase. The city worked with ACSC to analyze the schedules and evidence offered by Atmos to support its request to increase rates. The purpose of the Ordinance is to approve rate tariffs ("Attachment A") that reflect the negotiated rate change pursuant to the RRM process and to ratify the recommendation of the ACSC Executive Committee. As a result of the negotiations, ACSC was able to reduce the Company's requested $22.7 million RRM increase to $16.6 million. Approval of the Ordinance will result in the implementation of new rates that increase the company's revenues effective November 2013. The settlement is expected to increase the average residential customer's bill by approximately $0.74 per month. Consultants working on behalf of ACSC cities have investigated the support for the Atmos' requested rate increase. While the evidence does not support the $22.7 million increase requested by Atmos, ACSC consultants agree that Atmos can justify an increase in revenues of some lesser amount. The agreement on $16.6 million is a compromise between the positions of the parties. Honorable Mayor and City Council Page 2 of 2 The alternative to a resolution of the RRM filing would be a GRIP filing by Atmos, based upon the Railroad Commission's decision in the 2012 rate case. A GRIP filing would entitle Atmos to receive more than $28 million in additional revenue. The ACSC Executive Committee recommends that ACSC members take action to approve the ordinance authorizing new rate tariffs. Financial Considerations: None Strategic Link: F1 Adhere to financial management principles and budget Citizen Input/ Board Review: Public hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2013 Legal Review: The law firm Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend serves as ACSC counsel, and as such has prepared the Ordinance. Alternatives: Approve or deny Supporting Documents: Ordinance No. 1076 Staff Recommendation: Approval of Ordinance No. 1076 ORDINANCE NO. 1076 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, APPROVING A NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE AND ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION REGARDING THE COMPANY'S 2013 ANNUAL RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILING IN ALL CITIES EXERCISING ORIGINAL JURISDICTION; DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE; ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AND FINDING THE RATES TO BE SET BY THE ATTACHED TARIFFS TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE; REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE CITIES' REASONABLE RATEMAKING EXPENSES; REPEALING CONFLICTING RESOLUTIONS OR ORDINANCES; DETERMINING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; PROVIDING A MOST FAVORED NATIONS CLAUSE; AND REQUIRING DELIVERY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE COMPANY AND THE STEERING COMMITTEE'S LEGAL COUNSEL. WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas ("City") is a gas utility customer of Atmos Energy Corp., Mid -Tex Division ("Atmos Mid -Tex" or "Company"), and a regulatory authority with an interest in the rates and charges of Atmos Mid -Tex; and WHEREAS, the City is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee ("ACSC"), a coalition of approximately 164 similarly situated cities served by Atmos Mid -Tex that have joined together to facilitate the review of and response to natural gas issues affecting rates charged in the Atmos Mid -Tex service area; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the agreement settling the Company's 2007 Statement of Intent to increase rates, ACSC Cities and the Company worked collaboratively to develop a Rate Review Mechanism ("RRM") tariff that allows for an expedited rate review 4166162.1 1 process controlled in a three-year experiment by ACSC Cities as a substitute to the current Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program ("GRIP") process instituted by the Legislature; and WHEREAS, the City took action in 2008 to approve a Settlement Agreement with Atmos Mid -Tex resolving the Company's 2007 rate case and authorizing the RRM tariff, and WHEREAS, in 2013, ACSC and the Company negotiated a renewal of the RRM tariff process for an additional five years; and WHEREAS, the City passed an ordinance renewing the RRM tariff process for the City for an additional five years; and WHEREAS, the RRM renewal tariff contemplates reimbursement of ACSC Cities' reasonable expenses associated with RRM applications; and WHEREAS, on or about July 15, 2013, the Company filed with the City its first annual RRM filing under the renewed RRM tariff, requesting to increase natural gas base rates by $22.7 million; and WHEREAS, ACSC coordinated its review of Atmos Mid-Tex's RRM filing through its Executive Committee, assisted by ACSC attorneys and consultants, to resolve issues identified by ACSC in the Company's RRM filing; and WHEREAS, the ACSC Executive Committee, as well as ACSC's counsel and consultants, recommend that ACSC Cities approve the attached rate tariffs ("Attachment A" to this Ordinance), which will increase the Company's revenues by $16.6 million; and WHEREAS, the attached tariffs implementing new rates are consistent with the negotiated resolution reached by ACSC Cities and are just, reasonable, and in the public interest; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS: 4166162.1 2 Section 1. That the findings set forth in this Ordinance are hereby in all things approved. Section 2. That the City Council finds the existing rates for natural gas service provided by Atmos Mid -Tex are unreasonable and new tariffs which are attached hereto and incorporated herein as Attachment A, are just and reasonable and are hereby adopted. Section 3. That Atmos Mid -Tex shall reimburse the reasonable ratemaking expenses of the ACSC Cities in processing the Company's RRM application. Section 4. That to the extent any resolution or ordinance previously adopted by the Council is inconsistent with this Ordinance, it is hereby repealed. Section 5. That the meeting at which this Ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. Section 6. That if any one or more sections or clauses of this Ordinance is adjudged to be unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remaining provisions of this Ordinance and the remaining provisions of the Ordinance shall be interpreted as if the offending section or clause never existed. Section 7. That if ACSC determines any rates, revenues, terms and conditions, or benefits resulting from a Final Order or subsequent negotiated settlement approved in any proceeding addressing the issues raised in Atmos' 2013 RRM filing would be more beneficial to the ACSC Cities than the terms of the attached tariffs, then the more favorable rates, revenues, terms and conditions, or benefits shall additionally and automatically accrue to the ACSC Cities, including the City, without the need for City to take any further action. If this automatic adjustment occurs, Atmos Mid -Tex shall promptly thereafter file with the City an amended tariff documenting the adjustment to rates. 4166162.1 3 Section 8. That this Ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage with rates authorized by attached tariffs to be effective for bills rendered on or after November 1, 2013. Section 9. That a copy of this Ordinance shall be sent to Atmos Mid -Tex, care of Chris Felan, Manager of Rates and Regulatory Affairs, at Atmos Energy Corporation, 5420 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1862, Dallas, Texas 75240, and to Geoffrey Gay, General Counsel to ACSC, at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C., P.O. Box 1725, Austin, Texas 78767-1725. PASSED AND APPROVED this day of , 2013. Mayor ATTEST: City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney 4166162.1 4 Attachment A Atmos Mid -Tex Tariffs Effective November 1, 2013 MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: I R —RESIDENTIAL SALES APPLICABLE TO: I DAL AS AND UNINCORPORATED AREALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX AS DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF EFFECTIVE DATE: I Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Application Applicable to Residential Customers for all natural gas provided at one Point of Delivery and measured through one meter. Type of Service Where service of the type desired by Customer is not already available at the Point of Delivery, additional charges and special contract arrangements between Company and Customer may be required prior to service being furnished. Monthly Rate Customer's monthly bill will be calculated by adding the following Customer and Ccf charges to the amounts due under the riders listed below: Charge Amount Customer Charge per Bill $ 17.70 per month Rider CEE Surcharge $ 0.02 per month' Total Customer Charge $ 17.72 per month Commodity Charge — All Ccf $0.05831 per Ccf Gas Cost Recovery: Plus an amount for gas costs and upstream transportation costs calculated in accordance with Part (a) and Part (b), respectively, of Rider GCR. Weather Normalization Adjustment: Plus or Minus an amount for weather normalization calculated in accordance with Rider WNA. Franchise Fee Adjustment: Plus an amount for franchise fees calculated in accordance with Rider FF. Rider FF is only applicable to customers inside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality. Tax Adjustment: Plus an amount for tax calculated in accordance with Rider TAX. Surcharges: Plus an amount for surcharges calculated in accordance with the applicable rider(s). Agreement An Agreement for Gas Service may be required. Notice Service hereunder and the rates for services provided are subject to the orders of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction and to the Company's Tariff for Gas Service. 1 Reference Rider CEE - Conservation And Energy Efficiency as approved in GUD 10170. Surcharge billing effective July 1, 2013. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: C — COMMERCIAL SALES APPLICABLE TO: ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Application Applicable to Commercial Customers for all natural gas provided at one Point of Delivery and measured through one meter and to Industrial Customers with an average annual usage of less than 30,000 Ccf. Type of Service Where service of the type desired by Customer is not already available at the Point of Delivery, additional charges and special contract arrangements between Company and Customer may be required prior to service being furnished. Monthly Rate Customer's monthly bill will be calculated by adding the following Customer and Ccf charges to the amounts due under the riders listed below: Charge Amount Customer Charge per Bill $ 35.75 per month Rider CEE Surcharge $ 0,10 per month' Total Customer Charge $ 35.85 per month Commodity Charge — All Ccf $ 0.06893 per Ccf Gas Cost Recovery: Plus an amount for gas costs and upstream transportation costs calculated in accordance with Part (a) and Part (b), respectively, of Rider GCR. Weather Normalization Adjustment: Plus or Minus an amount for weather normalization calculated in accordance with Rider WNA. Franchise Fee Adjustment: Plus an amount for franchise fees calculated in accordance with Rider FF. Rider FF is only applicable to customers inside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality. Tax Adjustment: Plus an amount for tax calculated in accordance with Rider TAX. Surcharges: Plus an amount for surcharges calculated in accordance with the applicable rider(s). Agreement An Agreement for Gas Service may be required. Notice Service hereunder and the rates for services provided are subject to the orders of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction and to the Company's Tariff for Gas Service. 1 Reference Rider CEE - Conservation And Energy Efficiency as approved in GUD 10170. Surcharge billing effective July 1, 2013. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: I I — INDUSTRIAL SALES APPLICABLE TO: ALL II CUSTOMER AND UNSNCORPORATED AREAS DIVISIONIN THE MID-TEX EXCEPT THE CITY OF EFFECTIVE DATE: I Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Application Applicable to Industrial Customers with a maximum daily usage (MDU) of less than 3,500 MMBtu per day for all natural gas provided at one Point of Delivery and measured through one meter. Service for Industrial Customers with an MDU equal to or greater than 3,500 MMBtu per day will be provided at Company's sole option and will require special contract arrangements between Company and Customer. Type of Service Where service of the type desired by Customer is not already available at the Point of Delivery, additional charges and special contract arrangements between Company and Customer may be required prior to service being furnished. Monthly Rate Customer's monthly bill will be calculated by adding the following Customer and MMBtu charges to the amounts due under the riders listed below: Charge Amount Customer Charge per Meter $ 620.00 per month First 0 MMBtu to 1,500 MMBtu $ 0.2565 per MMBtu Next 3,500 MMBtu $ 0.1879 per MMBtu All MMBtu over 5,000 MMBtu $ 0.0403 per MMBtu Gas Cost Recovery: Plus an amount for gas costs and upstream transportation costs calculated in accordance with Part (a) and Part (b), respectively, of Rider GCR. Franchise Fee Adjustment: Plus an amount for franchise fees calculated in accordance with Rider FF. Rider FF is only applicable to customers inside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality. Tax Adjustment: Plus an amount for tax calculated in accordance with Rider TAX. Surcharges: Plus an amount for surcharges calculated in accordance with the applicable rider(s). Curtailment Overpull Fee Upon notification by Company of an event of curtailment or interruption of Customer's deliveries, Customer will, for each MMBtu delivered in excess of the stated level of curtailment or interruption, pay Company 200% of the midpoint price for the Katy point listed in Plaits Gas Daily published for the applicable Gas Day in the table entitled "Daily Price Survey." Replacement Index In the event the "midpoint" or "common" price for the Katy point listed in Plaits Gas Daily in the table entitled "Daily Price Survey" is no longer published, Company will calculate the applicable imbalance fees utilizing a daily price index recognized as authoritative by the natural gas industry and most closely approximating the applicable index. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: I — INDUSTRIAL SALES ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF APPLICABLE TO: DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Agreement An Agreement for Gas Service may be required. Notice Service hereunder and the rates for services provided are subject to the orders of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction and to the Company's Tariff for Gas Service. Special Conditions In order to receive service under Rate I, Customer must have the type of meter required by Company. Customer must pay Company all costs associated with the acquisition and installation of the meter. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: T — TRANSPORTATION ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF APPLICABLE TO: DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Application Applicable, in the event that Company has entered into a Transportation Agreement, to a customer directly connected to the Atmos Energy Corp., Mid -Tex Division Distribution System (Customer) for the transportation of all natural gas supplied by Customer or Customer's agent at one Point of Delivery for use in Customer's facility. Type of Service Where service of the type desired by Customer is not already available at the Point of Delivery, additional charges and special contract arrangements between Company and Customer may be required prior to service being furnished. Monthly Rate Customer's bill will be calculated by adding the following Customer and MMBtu charges to the amounts and quantities due under the riders listed below: Charge Amount Customer Charge per Meter $ 620.00 per month First 0 MMBtu to 1,500 MMBtu $ 0.2565 per MMBtu Next 3,500 MMBtu $ 0.1879 per MMBtu All MMBtu over 5,000 MMBtu $ 0.0403 per MMBtu Upstream Transportation Cost Recovery: Plus an amount for upstream transportation costs in accordance with Part (b) of Rider GCR. Retention Adjustment: Plus a quantity of gas as calculated in accordance with Rider RA. Franchise Fee Adjustment: Plus an amount for franchise fees calculated in accordance with Rider FF. Rider FF is only applicable to customers inside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality. Tax Adjustment: Plus an amount for tax calculated in accordance with Rider TAX. Surcharges: Plus an amount for surcharges calculated in accordance with the applicable rider(s). Imbalance Fees All fees charged to Customer under this Rate Schedule will be charged based on the quantities determined under the applicable Transportation Agreement and quantities will not be aggregated for any Customer with multiple Transportation Agreements for the purposes of such fees. Monthly Imbalance Fees Customer shall pay Company the greater of (i) $0.10 per MMBtu, or (ii) 150% of the difference per MMBtu between the highest and lowest "midpoint" price for the Katy point listed in Plaits Gas Daily in the table entitled "Daily Price Survey" during such month, for the MMBtu of Customer's monthly Cumulative Imbalance, as defined in the applicable Transportation Agreement, at the end of each month that exceeds 10% of Customer's receipt quantities for the month. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RATE SCHEDULE: T — TRANSPORTATION ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF APPLICABLE TO: DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Curtailment Overpull Fee Upon notification by Company of an event of curtailment or interruption of Customer's deliveries, Customer will, for each MMBtu delivered in excess of the stated level of curtailment or interruption, pay Company 200% of the midpoint price for the Katy point listed in Platts Gas Daily published for the applicable Gas Day in the table entitled "Daily Price Survey." Replacement Index In the event the "midpoint" or "common" price for the Katy point listed in Platts Gas Daily in the table entitled "Daily Price Survey" is no longer published, Company will calculate the applicable imbalance fees utilizing a daily price index recognized as authoritative by the natural gas industry and most closely approximating the applicable index. Agreement A transportation agreement is required. Notice Service hereunder and the rates for services provided are subject to the orders of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction and to the Company's Tariff for Gas Service, Special Conditions In order to receive service under Rate T, customer must have the type of meter required by Company. Customer must pay Company all costs associated with the acquisition and installation of the meter. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RIDER: WNA —WEATHER NORMALIZATION ADJUSTMENT ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF APPLICABLE TO: DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Provisions for Adjustment The Commodity Charge per Ccf (100 cubic feet) for gas service set forth in any Rate Schedules utilized by the cities of the Mid -Tex Division service area for determining normalized winter period revenues shall be adjusted by an amount hereinafter described, which amount is referred to as the "Weather Normalization Adjustment." The Weather Normalization Adjustment shall apply to all temperature sensitive residential and commercial bills based on meters read during the revenue months of November through April. The five regional weather stations are Abilene, Austin, Dallas, Waco, and Wichita Falls. Computation of Weather Normalization Adjustment The Weather Normalization Adjustment Factor shall be computed to the nearest one -hundredth cent per Ccf by the following formula: (HSFi x (NDD-ADD) ) WNAFi = Ri (BLi + (HSFi x ADD) ) Where i = any particular Rate Schedule or billing classification within any such particular Rate Schedule that contains more than one billing classification WNAFi = Weather Normalization Adjustment Factor for the ith rate schedule or classification expressed in cents per Ccf Ri = Commodity Charge rate of temperature sensitive sales for the ith schedule or classification. HSFi = heat sensitive factor for the ith schedule or classification divided by the average bill count in that class NDD = billing cycle normal heating degree days calculated as the simple ten-year average of actual heating degree days. ADD = billing cycle actual heating degree days. Bli = base load sales for the ith schedule or classification divided by the average bill count in that class The Weather Normalization Adjustment for the jth customer in ith rate schedule is computed as: WNA, = WNAFi x q,j Where q,j is the relevant sales quantity for the jth customer in ith rate schedule. MID-TEX DIVISION ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION RIDER: WNA — WEATHER NORMALIZATION ADJUSTMENT ALL CUSTOMERS IN THE MID-TEX DIVISION EXCEPT THE CITY OF APPLICABLE TO: DALLAS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS EFFECTIVE DATE: Bills Rendered on or after 11/01/2013 Base Use/Heat Use Factors Residential Base use Heat use Weather Station Ccf Ccf/HDD Abilene 9.97 0.1318 Austin 11.05 0.1262 Dallas 13.13 0.1832 Waco 9.78 0.1262 Wichita 10.99 0.1297 Falls Weather Normalization Adiustment (WNA) Report Commercial Base use Heat use Ccf Ccf/HDD 96.50 0.5659 189.59 0.7195 171.84 0.8797 117.60 0.5774 107.70 0.5041 On or before June 1 of each year, the company posts on its website at atmosenergy.com/mtx-wna, in Excel format, a Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) Report to show how the company calculated its WNAs factor during the preceding winter season. Additionally, on or before June 1 of each year, the company files one hard copy and a Excel version of the WNA Report with the Railroad Commission of Texas' Gas Services Division, addressed to the Director of that Division.