Woodlands Villager - News
TWA wins Entergy rate case hearing
By T.L. HAMILTON
The Woodlands Association recently won a favorable ruling during a hearing regarding a proposed rate increase by energy company Entergy.
The rate change would have increased the association’s street lighting costs by $140,000 in 2009, said Miles McKinney, director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for The Community Associations of The Woodlands.
Along with several other entities, the TWA was included in a non-stipulation agreement with the utility company that went to a rate hearing in August.
Judges decided that the rate increase violates the law, was too high to begin with and is not in the public’s interest.
Not included in the agreement were the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Utilities Commission, which both would like to hold another hearing about whether the utility company should lower its rate even more, based on this recent decision.
McKinney had just received word of the proposed second hearing before the TWA’s board workshop meeting Monday.
In workshops, no motions are made, but the board discusses matters that will be decided at later board meetings.
“We need to get a recommendation on what we should do, stop at this point or keep going,” McKinney said.
Costs for counsel so far have been $40,500, McKinney said.
On Monday, he was unsure how much more representation would be required and at what cost.
Board member Ted Stanley asked that McKinney find out and inform the board later.
In other TWA business:
Pathway considered: Board members also discussed placing an additional pathway on the north side of Branch Crossing Drive near Craftwood Drive in Sterling Ridge.
Residents of the Scribewood subdivision on that side of Branch Crossing Drive have to cross the drive to use the pathway on the south side of the road, only to have to cross the road again at its intersection of Craftwood Drive.
“I’ve ridden my bike across there, and it’s scary even for an adult,” board member Anthony Fasone said.
However, the strip of land on the north side of the drive is thin and would result in either a path right along the backs of residents’ fences or the removal of some vegetation, which board member Lloyd Matthews does not support.
Board member Buck Driggers suggested a thinner pathway, but board member Claude Hunter disagreed.
“Do a full one or don’t do one at all,” he said.
Other board members said a thinner path could cause safety issues for residents who want to ride their bikes.
Joel Deretchin, board president, asked board member Bob Bruce and Chris Nunes, director of Parks and Recreation, to bring their recommendations to the next board meeting.
The rate change would have increased the association’s street lighting costs by $140,000 in 2009, said Miles McKinney, director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for The Community Associations of The Woodlands.
Along with several other entities, the TWA was included in a non-stipulation agreement with the utility company that went to a rate hearing in August.
Judges decided that the rate increase violates the law, was too high to begin with and is not in the public’s interest.
Not included in the agreement were the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Utilities Commission, which both would like to hold another hearing about whether the utility company should lower its rate even more, based on this recent decision.
McKinney had just received word of the proposed second hearing before the TWA’s board workshop meeting Monday.
In workshops, no motions are made, but the board discusses matters that will be decided at later board meetings.
“We need to get a recommendation on what we should do, stop at this point or keep going,” McKinney said.
Costs for counsel so far have been $40,500, McKinney said.
On Monday, he was unsure how much more representation would be required and at what cost.
Board member Ted Stanley asked that McKinney find out and inform the board later.
In other TWA business:
Pathway considered: Board members also discussed placing an additional pathway on the north side of Branch Crossing Drive near Craftwood Drive in Sterling Ridge.
Residents of the Scribewood subdivision on that side of Branch Crossing Drive have to cross the drive to use the pathway on the south side of the road, only to have to cross the road again at its intersection of Craftwood Drive.
“I’ve ridden my bike across there, and it’s scary even for an adult,” board member Anthony Fasone said.
However, the strip of land on the north side of the drive is thin and would result in either a path right along the backs of residents’ fences or the removal of some vegetation, which board member Lloyd Matthews does not support.
Board member Buck Driggers suggested a thinner pathway, but board member Claude Hunter disagreed.
“Do a full one or don’t do one at all,” he said.
Other board members said a thinner path could cause safety issues for residents who want to ride their bikes.
Joel Deretchin, board president, asked board member Bob Bruce and Chris Nunes, director of Parks and Recreation, to bring their recommendations to the next board meeting.
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