BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL MOVES TO RAISE GAS, WASTEWATER RATES

  

The cost for City of Brenham gas and wastewater services will soon go up, following action by the Brenham City Council today (Thursday) to increase gas and wastewater rates.

The rate hikes of 14 percent for gas and 4.8 percent for wastewater will go into effect at the start of the city’s new fiscal year on October 1^st for all rate classes.

Director of Municipal Gas and Utility Services Shawn Bolenbarr said the changes come from studies performed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions, which recommended annual or semi-annual rate increases over the next few years.  He said the higher rates are intended to help improve and maintain infrastructure and ensure reliable service to customers.

Speaking specifically on gas rates, Bolenbarr said the loss of revenue from industrial users played a role in the decision to proceed with the new rate schedule.

For gas, Bolenbarr said the 14 percent rate increase for Fiscal Year 2027 is anticipated to be followed by a 13 percent jump in Fiscal Year 2029 and an 8 percent increase in Fiscal Year 2031. 

The first of five scheduled wastewater rate increases was enacted last year, at 13.6 percent.  Bolenbarr said after this 4.8 percent uptick, there are plans for two more increases of 4.8 percent for Fiscal Years 2028 and 2029, then a 2.7 percent increase for Fiscal Year 2030.

Bolenbarr said the proposed rate changes are evaluated each year prior to going before council for consideration, and they can be adjusted based off of factors such as large customers coming in.

Click here to view the breakdown of rate increases for gas rates.

Click here to view the breakdown of rate increases for wastewater rates.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

• Approved a payment of $110,633 to Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to install electrical service for the Brenham Family Park, which is located within Bluebonnet’s service territory.  The city says a temporary electrical service will be extended from the existing infrastructure on the adjacent property to the east until permanent service is extended down South Chappell Hill Street as part of the city’s Small Area Plan mixed-use development.
• Accepted a grant from the State of Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority for the Fiscal Year 2027 Catalytic Convertor Theft Prevention Grant Program.  The grant of $81,666 requires $16,334 in matching funds, which can be paid from the police department’s asset forfeiture funds.  The grant will be utilized for the department’s Drone as a First Responder platform and to deploy fixed automated license plate reader cameras.
• Approved the purchase of material for the lake line intake repair project from Ferguson Waterworks, including 18-inch pipe and tapping sleeves, in the amount of $87,119.  The city says the materials are required for the temporary lake line bypass located at the city’s lake intake.
• Approved a change order and final payment to JTM Construction, LLC for the Fiscal Year 2024 water main and sanitary sewer replacement projects, in the amount of $426,340, using 2024 bond proceeds.
• Held a work session discussion on the results of a street study.
• Held executive session discussion on multiple topics, including consultation with the city attorney regarding Dustyn Banik, Alma Sanchez and Gerran Banik v. City of Brenham, Civil Action No. 4:25-cv-2487, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; legal issues related to a potential agreement with the owner of a current development project; and discussion concerning the appointment, employment, evaluation and duties of the new city manager.  No action was scheduled to be taken.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.