Sharyland Files System-Wide Rate Case; Proposes Annual $3 Million Rate Credit for Residential Customers; Highlights Investments to Meet Load Growth and to Modernize and Renovate its System
DALLAS, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharyland Utilities announced today that it has filed a system-wide rate case with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to set its regulated delivery rates for all of its retail service territories. This filing is in compliance with conditions that were set by the PUCT's previous order in Sharyland's 2013 rate case.
As part of this filing, Sharyland is making the following commitments to its customers:
- $3 million per year in rate credits for all residential customers in all Sharyland territories
- A stronger, more reliable transmission and distribution system
- A detailed explanation of the significant capital investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure over past three years to support approximately 15 percent annual load growth in the region and to modernize and renovate the outdated Cap Rock Energy system it acquired in 2010
"When we acquired Cap Rock Energy, we took over a system that was outdated, in poor shape, and undersized for the load it was already serving," said Mark Caskey, President of Sharyland Utilities. "Five years later, our customers are starting to see the benefits of our investments through a more robust and reliable system."
This filing will consolidate Sharyland's two existing tariffs (one for its Stanton, Brady, and Celeste "SBC" service territories and one for its McAllen service territory) into a single unified tariff that will set uniform system-wide rates for all territories.
The filing proposes $3 million per year in rate credits for all residential customers, which will help hold regulated delivery rates essentially flat for Sharyland's residential customers in its SBC service territories, even though significant investments have been made to support the growth and to improve the system.
"Residential customers in our SBC territories are already experiencing high delivery rates from our 2013 rate case, and we do not want to add to that burden. The $3 million in annual rate credits that we are proposing will be borne solely by Sharyland Utilities," said Caskey. "For our McAllen residential customers, these credits should help ease the effect of the rate increases that have to occur in McAllen only as part of the move to system-wide rates."
In the McAllen division, overall delivery rates for an average residential customer will increase approximately $55 a month. For the past 16 years, Sharyland has subsidized rates for its McAllen division customers. For this filing, the regulated delivery rates in McAllen were calculated using system-wide cost-based rates, as required by the 2013 PUCT order. The current rate case will be the first full review of rates in our McAllen service territory in 16 years.
Caskey added, "We remain focused on making infrastructure improvements to provide safe, reliable, and cost effective service to all of our customers and to support the future growth in our service territories. We are also continuously looking at ways to improve our operational performance by implementing new processes and systems and introducing new technologies to enhance the customer service experience."
Sharyland has filed this rate case under PUCT Docket No. 45414. Additional information about this rate case can be found on Sharyland's website at www.sharyland.com/rates.
About Sharyland Utilities
Sharyland Utilities, L.P. is a Texas-based public electric utility that is fully regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. We are committed to providing quality customer service, affordable rates, safe and reliable electric delivery, and increased investment in the electric grid of Texas.
Sharyland Utilities currently serves approximately 54,000 customers in 29 counties throughout Texas.
Sharyland Utilities is privately-owned by Hunter L. Hunt and other members of the family of Ray L. Hunt, and is managed by Hunter L. Hunt.
SOURCE Sharyland Utilities, L.P.
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