Garland Power and Light News Release:

Garland City Council Approves TMPA Settlement Agreement

At a special session, the Garland City Council unanimously approved a global compromise settlement agreement with the Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) and member cities that will ensure steady electric rates for Garland Power & Light customers until 2018.
 
This settlement agreement resolves at least 12 years and 20 pieces of litigation involving the Texas Municipal Power Agency and its member cities which include the cities of Garland, Bryan, Denton and Greenville. With the Garland Council’s approval, the agreement has been approved by all member cities and the TMPA Board and is in effect until September 1, 2018.
 
"This is a great day for Garland," said Electric Utility Director Ray Schwertner. "We will avoid projected rate increases and have stable rates for our customers for many years to come."
 
This was accomplished by restructuring the debt to extend it to fit with the projected life cycle of TMPA’s Gibbon’s Creek coal power plant, which provides power to the member cities. The agreement also provides for a bundled contract in which the cost of delivering electricity is included in the price of the energy charged to the member cities until 2018.
 
Another result of the agreement will be cleaner air. A scrubber, a device designed to control emissions, will be refurbished and put back into service at the Gibbons Creek plant. "In a good faith effort to stay ahead of any regulations and to help protect the environment, the cities have agreed to fund the scrubber upgrade," said Schwertner.
 
Recognition to the TMPA Board and the member cities for their efforts in arriving at this landmark agreement was extended at the Council meeting. Former Garland Mayor James Ratliff and former Garland Council Member Tom Jefferies, who represent the City of the Garland on the Board, were cited for their perseverance in working with fellow board members to end the litigation and come to this agreement. The Garland City Council and staff were also praised for their diligent efforts, with special recognition for Mayor Pro Tem Laura Perkins Cox, City Attorney Brad Neighbor, Senior Assistant City Attorney Mike Betz, and Electric Utility Director Ray Schwertner.
 
"I congratulate everyone involved with this accomplishment, and I know we all look forward to working together in a new spirit of harmony," said Schwertner.