Austin Faces Gas Price Increase & Service Demands

Friday, October 13, 1978 special called

A special meeting was convened to discuss a proposed rate increase for natural gas by Southern Union Gas Company.
City leaders advanced an ordinance to revise local natural gas rates, but required the gas company to submit a plan within 60 days detailing how it would improve customer service.
One council member expressed strong personal opposition to any rate hike, noting that swift action on the ordinance was necessary to prevent the gas company from implementing a potential 44% increase.

Full Transcript

:iTY OP AUSTIN. TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Called Council Meeting October 13, 1978 Friday, 4:40 P.M. 124 West 8th Street The Meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan presiding. Roll Call: Present: Mayor McClellan, Mayor Pro Tern Cooke, Councllmembers Mullen, Goodman Absent: Councllmembers Hlmmelblau, Snell, Trevlno Myor McClellan opened the Special Called Meeting scheduled for 4:40 P.M. on Southern Union Gas Company's rate Increase. Motion Councl Imember Mullen moved that the ordinance be amended to add the following: "That Southern Union Gas Company shall file with the City Council within 60 days of passage of Ordinance, a detailed plan of how Southern Union Gas Company will, within a reasonable period of time, show how they will Improve service to Its customers." The motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Cooke, carried by the following vote: flcClellan, Mayor Pro Ten Cooke, Councllmembers Goodman, Mullen Noes : None Absent: Councllmembers Hlnmelblau, Snell, Trevlno Mayor McClellan brought up the following ordinance for Its second reading: AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE RATE SCHEDUUS CONTAINED IN THE ORDER OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS JN GAS UTILITIES D^KET NO, 827 FOR NATURAL GAS SOLD BY COMPANY SOUTHERN UNION SAS COMPANY HITHW THE CITY OF AUSTIN; DECLARING THIS ORDINANCE TO BE A FINAL DETERMINATION OF RATES; REQUIRING ACCEPTANCE OF THE RATES PRESCRIBED HEREIN BY SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. sCITV OP AUSTIN. TEXA. October 13. 1978 - .-» '*. '**- -5> &, \\ The ordinance was read the second time, and Councilmember Mullen moved that the ordinance be passed to Its third reading. The motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Cooke, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor FtcClellan, Mayor ProoTem Cooke, Council members Goodman, Mullen Noes: None Absent: Councilmembers HlmmeTblau, Snell, Trevino The Mayor announced that the ordinance had been passed through Its second reading only. Coundlmember Goodman made a statement regarding his vote that he was voting for the Ordinance only because Coundlmember Hlmnelblau was 1n the hospital. He stated that he was In favor of giving Southern Union Gas Company No Increase, however, If the Ordinance Is not passed by the 16th they wIlThot be able to Implement a 44& Increase. ADJOURNMENT The Countll then adjourned at 5:10 P.M. APPROVED or ATTEST: City Clerk