(a) The city has three (3) different water supply corporations operating
within its corporate limits.
(b) Pursuant to section 13.042 of the Texas Water Code, the city hereby
elects to have the commission exercise exclusive original jurisdiction
over the utility rates, operations, and services of utilities within
the incorporated limits of the municipality.
(c) The city council shall have the power, subject to the provisions of this chapter
, by ordinance to confer upon any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity operating as a general public service provider the franchise or right to use the public streets, alleys, highways, thoroughfares, easements, or other public property of the city for the purpose of furnishing to the public any general public service or benefit, including, but not limited to, heat, light, power, telephone service, solid waste pickup, solid waste hauling, solid waste recycling, solid waste disposal, and transportation, for compensation or hire, so long as the city has not otherwise voted, as authorized by state law, to vest exclusive original jurisdiction over the utility rates, operation, and services of utilities in any other public utility commission. Any franchise granted may be voided upon the failure of the grantee to exercise the same in compliance with the terms of the franchise.
(Ordinance 2012-03-165 adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 202207-04-243 adopted 7/18/2022)
The governing body of this municipality does hereby elect to
have the public utility commission of the state exercise exclusive
original jurisdiction over electric utility rates, operations, and
services within the existing and future incorporated limits of this
municipality.
(Ordinance 1993-01-0004 adopted 1/11/93)
(a) The governing body of this municipality does hereby elect to exercise
exclusive original jurisdiction over gas utility rates, operations,
and services within the existing and future incorporated limits of
this municipality.
(b) No exclusive franchise or privilege shall ever be granted to a natural
gas operator.
(c) No determinate or fixed term franchise shall ever be granted for
a longer term than 20 years.
(d) All rights held under any such ordinance, shall at all times be subject
to the power of the city council to require the holder thereof to
make any necessary changes in or reasonable extensions of facilities
and service in or to any portion of the city, which in the judgment
of the city council may be necessary and proper (subject to the terms
and conditions of any franchise). The city reserves the right to prevent
the making of unnecessary or unprofitable extensions.
(e) Repairs and corrections: Repairs and corrections of defects in gas
service shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours after notice is
given to the manager or other person locally in charge of the gas
company.
(f) Service connections: Upon the application of any bona fide consumer
in a block where the gas mains are already extended, connections shall
be made within seventy-two (72) hours after application is made to
the office of the gas company. The term "bona fide consumer," as used
in this section, means any person whose house is ready for gas connections
to be made.
(Ordinance 202207-04-243 adopted 7/18/2022)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or other
business entity to violate any provision of this article, and any
person, firm, corporation, or other business entity violating or failing
to comply with any provision hereof shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine not to exceed the sum
not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), and each day that
a violation occurs or continues constitutes a separate offense.
(Ordinance 202207-04-243 adopted 7/18/2022)