Dallas City Council Rejects Atmos' Request for $10.1 Million in Rate Hikes

The acrimonious rate-hike dance between the Dallas City Hall and natural gas provider Atmos Energy is underway again.On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council voted 13-1 to deny Atmos’ recent Mid-Tex Dallas Annual Rate Review (DARR) filing, which requested $10.1 million in rate increases from Dallas customers over the next year.The City Council’s denial merely starts a battle over the rates. Atmos — which has come under increasing scrutiny after a deadly gas explosion exposed issues in the city — ended up supporting the denial absent a negotiated agreement, said Celina Cardenas, a company spokeswoman. And city officials said the company didn’t seem particularly interested in a lower negotiated rate increase.With the denial, Atmos can appeal the city’s decision to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates production and transportation of the state’s oil and natural gas. In the meantime, the requested rate increase will take effect June 1.If the commission nixes or lowers the rate increase, Atmos would give rebates at a later date.  Continue reading...