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HomeMy WebLinkAbout123-25 RESOLUTION113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 Resolution: 123-25 File Number: 2025-711 SWEPCO (RATE CASE INTERVENTION): A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A MOTION TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE IN ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PROCEEDING 25-003-U AND OPPOSE THE APPLICATION OF SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS RATES WHEREAS, on March 28, 2025, Southwestern Electric Power Company ("SWEPCO") filed an Application for General Change in Rates and Tariffs with the Arkansas Public Service Commission; and WHEREAS, SWEPCO's proposed rate change would result in an electricity cost increase to the City of Fayetteville government, residents, businesses, and institutions of more than $15,000,000.00; and WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville is not adequately represented by any other party to SWEPCO's rate increase proceeding as it is SWEPCO's largest municipal customer in the State of Arkansas and SWEPCO provides approximately 72% of all electricity consumed in the City. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes the City Attorney to file a motion to intervene on behalf of the City of Fayetteville in Arkansas Public Service Commission proceeding 25-003-U and oppose the application of Southwest Electric Power Company to increase its rates. PASSED and APPROVED on May 20, 2025 Approved: vt -�O� Attest: Molly Rawn, Mayor Kara Paxton, City Clerk Treasurer Page 1 CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEMO FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS 2025-711 MEETING OF MAY 20, 2025 TO: Mayor Rawn and City Council THRU: City Clerk, City Clerk - Approvals Account - General FROM: Peter Nierengarten, Environmental Director SUBJECT: Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) Rate Case Intervention RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends petitioining the Arkansas Public Service Commission to intervene in docket: 25-003-U, in the matter of the application of Southwestern Electric Power Company for approval of a general change in rates and tariffs. BACKGROUND: Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) is one of two utilities providing electricity within the City of Fayetteville. In 2023, SWEPCO provided approximately 767 million kWh of electricity to residents, businesses and other institutions in Fayetteville, accounting for 72% of electricity consumed in the City. On March 28, 2025, SWEPCO submitted a request to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to update its rates and tariffs for electricity supplied within their Arkansas service territory. The company seeks rate recovery of increased capital investment in generation, transmission, and distribution, including: • New wind power generation facilities in Oklahoma and Texas • Environmental compliance upgrades to the Flint Cleek and Welsh Coal Plants • Perky Coal Plant retirement • System improvement plans to increase electrical grid resiliency If approved, a Fayetteville residential customer using 857 kilowatt-hours per month (SWEPCO's average Arkansas residential usage) would see an overall bill increase of $30.46 per month, or about 27%. Commercial and municipal customers would see an 20 - 40% rate increase. SWEPCO's last increase in base rates occurred in 2022 in Docket No. 21-070-U. SWEPCO has also received two Rider Formula Rate Review (FRR) adjustments effective in October 2023 and October 2024. DISCUSSION: The Arkansas Public Service Commission allows any person or entity whose interest may be directly affected by Commission action to intervene as a party to any docket. A petition to intervene shall contain: Mailing address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 • The nature of the petitioner's interest in the proceeding • A demonstration that the petitioner's interests are not adequately represented by any other party • The specific objection to the applicant's proposal • Any other reasonable information Other impacted entities who have submitted petitions to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to intervene in this rate case include the University of Arkansas System, Walmart Inc. and the Sierra Club. The deadline to submit a petition to intervene in this rate case is 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 27th BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT: The proposed SWEPCO rate increase would have a direct budgetary impact of approximately $150,000 per year for City of Fayetteville Government electricity costs and over $15M per year in additional electricity cost for the residents, businesses and other institutions in Fayetteville. ATTACHMENTS: Staff Review Form - SWEPCO Rate Case 2025 (#3), Arkansas Public Service Commission webpage screenshot (#4) Mailing address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 == City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Y 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479)575-8323 - Legislation Text File #: 2025-711 SWEPCO (RATE CASE INTERVENTION): A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A MOTION TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE IN ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PROCEEDING 25-003-U AND OPPOSE THE APPLICATION OF SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS RATES WHEREAS, on March 28, 2025, Southwestern Electric Power Company ("SWEPCO") filed an Application for General Change in Rates and Tariffs with the Arkansas Public Service Commission; and WHEREAS, SWEPCO's proposed rate change would result in an electricity cost increase to the City of Fayetteville government, residents, businesses, and institutions of more than $15,000,000.00; and WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville is not adequately represented by any other party to SWEPCO's rate increase proceeding as it is SWEPCO's largest municipal customer in the State of Arkansas and SWEPCO provides approximately 72% of all electricity consumed in the City. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes the City Attorney to file a motion to intervene on behalf of the City of Fayetteville in Arkansas Public Service Commission proceeding 25-003-U and oppose the application of Southwest Electric Power Company to increase its rates. Page 1 City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form 2025-711 Item ID 5/20/2025 City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only N/A for Non -Agenda Item Peter Nierengarten 5/19/2025 SUSTAINABILITY/RESILIENCE (631) Submitted By Submitted Date Division / Department Action Recommendation: Staff recommends petitioining the Arkansas Public Service Commission to intervene in docket: 25-003-U, in the matter of the application of Southwestern Electric Power Company for approval of a general change in rates and tariffs. Account Number Project Number Budgeted Item? No Does item have a direct cost? No Is a Budget Adjustment attached? No Budget Impact: Total Amended Budget Expenses (Actual+Encum) Available Budget Item Cost Budget Adjustment Remaining Budget Fund Project Title V20221130 Purchase Order Number: Previous Ordinance or Resolution # 226-21 Change Order Number: Approval Date: Original Contract Number: Comments: CP wshEnartl x C akansss public servie Commi • + apps.apa.arkansas.gov/olsv Jdocket sea¢M1 resultsasp as cts d pxyhaa a,d solid.. d City of FayelMilk dLryislauo CvraoreLogln iOpen, Virne... Q voldmpv¢I. nrn... Qvrek P anas commissar, APSC Online Services Elttbonic Filing Wen Online search Hearings Calendar GovenwYs Annual Reports Media Today is Monday, May 19, 2025 Docket 25-003-U - Share Style: IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A GENERAL CHANGE IN RATES AND TARIFFS Electronic True Open: True Service List View Commission Staff: View Document Numbers omitted from the following list of documents are assigned to Affidavits of Non disclosure. Click hereto view this Docket with Affidavits of Non -disclosure included. Company Name Southwestern Electric APSC General Staff Attorney General of At Southwestern Electric Walmart, Inc. Sierra Club University of Arkansas Docket Role Initiating Party Party Party Party Party Pending Party Pending Party 0 x tr fl Cd ® i d All Bmkmahs 10:50:00 AM