Tyler

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Tyler City Council members plan to ask Oncor Electric Delivery Company to delay planned rate increases until city officials have an opportunity to look more closely at the proposed increase.

City Council members will vote on the resolution asking for a 90-day suspension at their regular meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. today at City Hall, 212 N. Bonner Ave.

Oncor filed an application on June 27 with cities across the state to increase system-wide transmission and distribution rates by $275 million.

The company asked Tyler to approve a 17.6 percent increase in residential rates, a 9.1 percent increase in commercial rates and a 5.8 percent increase in street lighting rates. According to Oncor, annual rates would increase by $60 for an average residential customer.

Gary Landers, Tyler city attorney, said the resolution would require Oncor to delay putting the rate increases into effect — now scheduled for Aug. 8 — until Tyler and other affected cities could more closely review the increase proposal.

“Rather than approve or deny it, we’re just going to ask for a little more time to review it,” Landers said. “Tyler is part of a steering committee of cities that have jurisdiction over Oncor, and they will take a look at the books and figure things out.”

The council also plans to vote on the following items today:

These items are included on the consent agenda and will be considered together in one vote:

City Council members will meet in executive session immediately following the regular meeting. Items to be discussed in executive session are closed to the public and include pending litigation with The Cascades and/or Western Rim Property Services; possible financial or other incentive offers to a business prospect with which the city is conducting economic development negotiations; and the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.