Title
Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to "City of Round Rock Agreement for Professional Consulting Services related to Expert Witness/Litigation Services for Wholesale Rate Cases with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc."
Body
After years of working closely with all the City’s wholesale customers as our cost and rate needs were updated for our water and wastewater utility, five of the wholesale customers chose to retain outside counsel and file an appeal of their wholesale rates to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). This appeal was filed October 31, 2018. This action kicked off a very lengthy and complex series of legal and information proceedings before the PUCT, the State Office of Administrative Hearings, and their supporting staff and judges. COVID, along with the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri, resulting focus on power grid and change in PUCT commissioners, both further delayed the process.
The five MUDs appealing the City’s rates are
· Paloma Lake MUD No. 1
· Paloma Lake MUD No. 2
· Williamson County MUD No. 10 (TeraVista)
· Williamson County MUD No. 11 (TeraVista)
· Vista Oaks MUD
For the past two rate updates in 2014 and 2017, the City has contracted with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to be our rate consultant in regards to rate analysis and design for the City’s water and wastewater rates established for our retail and wholesale customers. In addition, the City contracted with Raftelis for necessary expert witness/litigation services in regards to the current rate case filed by the five wholesale customers. Raftelis has been providing financial and rate analysis and support throughout the rate case as it relates to the 2017 Wholesale Rate Study. This includes providing rebuttal testimony and participation in hearings, if necessary, as well as provide input to rate case strategy and any additional analysis required for settlement discussion. The initial Expert...
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