The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) plays a crucial role in overseeing the safety and operations of gas utilities across the state. For stakeholders interested in the regulatory landscape surrounding gas services, particularly Texas Gas Service, understanding the RRC’s docket system is essential. This article provides an overview of Oversight & Safety Dockets within the RRC’s Case Administration Service Electronic System (RRC CASES), with a specific focus on dockets related to Texas Gas Service. These dockets offer valuable insights into the regulatory scrutiny and proceedings that Texas Gas Service and other gas providers undergo to ensure safe and reliable service for Texans.
Understanding RRC Oversight and Safety Dockets
The RRC CASES system is a public platform where all documents related to regulatory cases are stored and accessible. Oversight & Safety Dockets within this system pertain to matters concerning the operational safety, rate adjustments, and regulatory compliance of gas utilities. These dockets are critical for transparency and public awareness, allowing stakeholders to monitor the interactions between regulatory bodies and gas service providers like Texas Gas Service.
Docket types are broadly categorized, including both Hearings Division Dockets and Oversight & Safety Division Cases. Hearings Division Dockets often involve more formal proceedings, such as rate case hearings or considerations of proposed orders. Oversight & Safety Division Cases can cover a wider range of issues, from applications for rate adjustments to reviews of transportation rate reasonableness and enforcement actions.
For customers and industry observers, these dockets provide a window into the regulatory processes that shape gas service in Texas. They highlight the RRC’s role in ensuring fair rates and adherence to safety standards by companies like Texas Gas Service.
Key Texas Gas Service Dockets
Delving into the dockets reveals a recurring theme: rate adjustments for Texas Gas Service across various service areas. Several dockets explicitly mention “Texas Gas Service Company, a division of ONE Gas, Inc.,” indicating ongoing regulatory attention to their rate structures and service provisions.
Rate Case Dockets: A significant number of dockets relate to Statements of Intent by Texas Gas Service to change gas utility rates. Examples include:
- OS-22-00009896 & OS-22-00010583: These dockets concern rate changes within the unincorporated areas of West Texas, North Texas, and Borger Skellytown service areas. The latter docket specifically addresses rate case expenses, a common element in utility rate adjustments.
- OS-23-00014399: This docket focuses on rate changes within the Rio Grande Valley service area.
- OS-24-00017471: This addresses rate adjustments in the Central-Gulf service area.
- OS-24-00018879 & OS-24-00019196: While these dockets are for Atmos Energy Corp., they highlight the broader context of rate changes being reviewed across different gas service providers in Texas.
- 00006939, 00006940, 00007053, 00007778, 00008748, 00008972, 00009998, 00010195, 00014397, 00016546: These Case Nos. are Applications of Texas Gas Service for annual interim rate adjustments across various service areas and test years, demonstrating a consistent process of rate review.
Municipal Rate Review: Docket OS-23-00014883 and Case No. 00010195 & 00014397 are particularly interesting as they involve Petitions for Review of Municipal Actions related to Texas Gas Service rate adjustments in cities like El Paso and Anthony. This indicates instances where municipal decisions on rates are being reviewed at the state level by the RRC, showcasing a layered regulatory oversight.
Other Docket Types: While rate cases dominate, the list also includes dockets related to:
- NGPA Section 311 Rate Reviews: Several cases (e.g., 00005675, 00008188, 00010150, 00013058, 00014719, 00015056, 00016812) involve applications pursuant to the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) Section 311 for review of transportation rates. These are relevant to understanding the broader gas transportation infrastructure and its economics in Texas.
- Enforcement Actions: Docket OS-25-00008216 is an Enforcement Action against Mustang Island Gathering, LLC, demonstrating the RRC’s role in enforcing pipeline safety regulations. While not directly about Texas Gas Service, it underscores the RRC’s broader safety oversight function.
- Winter Storm Impact: Docket OS-21-00007061 concerning the February 2021 Winter Storm highlights the regulatory response to significant events impacting gas services, potentially relevant to how utilities like Texas Gas Service are regulated in the context of extreme weather.
Implications for Texas Gas Service Customers
For customers of Texas Gas Service, these dockets are relevant for several reasons:
- Rate Transparency: The dockets provide transparency into the process of how gas rates are set and reviewed. Customers can see when and why Texas Gas Service is seeking rate adjustments.
- Understanding Rate Changes: By following these dockets, customers can gain insight into the factors influencing their gas bills, such as infrastructure investments, operational costs, and regulatory decisions.
- Public Participation: In some cases, dockets may offer opportunities for public comment or intervention, allowing customers to voice their perspectives on proposed rate changes or other matters.
- Service Oversight: While many dockets focus on rates, the broader category of Oversight & Safety Dockets indicates the RRC’s role in ensuring safe and reliable gas service, which is of paramount importance to customers.
Conclusion
The RRC CASES Oversight & Safety Dockets are a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the regulatory environment of gas services in Texas. For those specifically interested in Texas Gas Service, these dockets offer detailed information on rate cases, municipal rate reviews, and the broader regulatory oversight they are subject to. By accessing and monitoring these dockets, stakeholders can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of gas utility regulation and the ongoing efforts to balance fair rates with safe and reliable service. This transparency is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring accountability within the Texas gas service industry.
