07/23/2024 Resolutions 2024-167 RESOLUTION 2024-167
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2024 NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as
NortrhWestern Energy ("NorthWestern"), filed an Application for Natural Gas Rate Increase
("Application")with the Nebraska Public Service Commission("PSC")seeking to increase natural
gas rates; and
WHEREAS, NorthWestern provided notice of its Application to each Nebraska customer
as a bill insert for the June 2024 billing cycle; and,
WHEREAS, Nebraska Revised Statute §66-13838 authorizes jurisdictional utilities such
as NorthWestern to negotiate directly with affected municipalities impacted by proposed rate
increases provided that municipalities representing more than fifty percent(50%)of the rate payers
within the affected municipalities adopt resolutions evidencing their intent to negotiate with the
jurisdictional utility within 6o days of the rate application; and
WHEREAS, the details of NorthWestern's application are available under Public Service
Commission case NG-122 and generally include a request that rates be increased by 7.44% for
residential customers and 3.66% for commercial accounts; and
WHEREAS, NorthWestern's application indicates an intent to implement interim rate
recovery pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statutes §66-1838(10)(b)after October 1,2024, depending
on the status of direct negotiations with the Cities,
WHEREAS,the impacted municipalities are the City of Grand Island (representing 47.4%
of affected customers), the City of Kearney (representing 26.4% of affected customers), the City
of North Platte (representing 25.5% of affected customers, and the Village of Alda (representing
less than 1% of affected customers); and
WHEREAS, NorthWestern had indicated a desire to negotiate directly with the impacted
municipalities; and
WHEREAS,the Cities of Grand Island,Kearney,and North Platte, and the Village of Alda
also desire to negotiate directly with NorthWestern as permitted by law; and
WHEREAS, municipalities participating in direct negotiations may apply for a loan from
the Nebraska Municipal Rate Negotiations Revolving Loan Fund("Fund")as set forth in Nebraska
Revised Statute §66-1839; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned municipalities desire to work cooperatively with each
other in negotiating with NorthWestern and in making a joint application for a loan from the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND,NEBRASKA, that:
1. That the City of Grand Island demonstrates its desire to negotiate directly with
NorthWestern with respect to the Application as permitted by law.
2. The City Attorney and other City staff are directed to work cooperatively with other
affected municipalities in commencing direct negotiations, so long as at least two of the
three impacted Cities adopt resolutions demonstrating an intent to negotiate directly with
NorthWestern.
3. The City Attorney is directed to pursue an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the other
affected municipalities to permit coordinated direct negotiations, the retention of an
independent consultant, and application to the Fund.
4. A copy of this resolution is to be provided to the PSC and NorthWestern within seven (7)
days after its adoption.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Grand Island,Nebraska, July 23, 2024.
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' . er G. Steele, Mayor
Attest:2Ji Granere, City Clerk