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Initial Meeting of Interested Cities

On February 16, 1996, over one hundred representatives of cities from the service areas of virtually every investor owned electric, gas, and telephone utility met in Austin to determine the following:

Whether there exists a need and sufficient interest for cities to form a statewide coalition on utility matters?

What should be the scope of its functions?

What kind of organizational structure should be established?

Will the organization hire the resources it needs and how will it fund the effort?

The representatives were cautioned that the meeting was for the sole benefit of cities, and it was presumed that all representatives were attending in that capacity, and not for purposes of gathering intelligence for those serving other and potentially adverse interests. It was also emphasized that the purpose was not to be lobbied by would-be consultants (none were invited to the meeting).

Jay Doegey of Arlington briefed the representatives concerning recent meetings of members of various steering committees of utility service area cities (e.g., TUEC, TNP, Entergy, CPL, EPE, WTU cities). As a result, a notice had been sent to every TML city calling this meeting to determine interest in forming a statewide group of cities to address matters of statewide or national concern relating to utilities. Changes in state and federal laws presented five challenges for cities:

1. maintaining control of land use decisions;
2. maintaining control of city property;
3. maintaining local rate regulatory authority;
4. preserving city revenue streams; and
5. preserving a meaningful role for cities as a process participant.

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