[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6518858,"mediaKeyId","5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07","parentId",5385564,"title","Votes at a glance: July 14, 2025 Denton Public Utility Board","audioSeconds",38,"startMs",13000,"endMs",51000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07&start=13&end=51","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07/thumbnail_13000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518858/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-July-14-2025-Denton-Public-Utility-Board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518858-4158f5c2ec291a007c4ea7eb312045c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429649&Signature=iYRljAd2LOwmNXMi0gQd1r1YZCaXfhhHmBUkBP3~r6AaGeDiTEDLBF0RFrvfOZmQTIoyh4ttIA7D~FcPeRP5q2IlbQ60dM4rMOifzB2c~cTTmkSKdF5NA3F8aSC~5ajgUcnpRlTtVcOTiFnGauo-REOEbxPEHAZ7xlx2HUHzGT3DellyiTqaZI1bD3NJS5lh1QnnfKLerveWoMaHZpW-6yZo1-pjSv8dqDka8LgySnmyOOTSzTWr2n6qmrATgez6F8tPngYnIy2IgKtkl1v-uag3CsG4R9en4yibrtK8bUHXNJyXfPkd~KpVK-QuSzU6hJhNCmgDKGQe~uVzey3E4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Denton","date","2025-07-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Public Utility Board took several routine procedural votes during the July 14 meeting. Key outcomes recorded in the transcript:

- Consent items b, c and d: Approved. Motion to approve moved by Mr. Nukas and seconded by Miss Parker; transcript records the vote as passing unanimously.

- Consent item a (pulled early in the meeting for discussion): After discussion the board moved to approve item a; motion and second recorded and the motion passed unanimously.

- Approval of minutes for June: Motion made and seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

No ordinance votes (rates or fees) were adopted at the meeting; staff will return to the board on July 28 with the full budgets and proposed rate ordinances, and any convenience-fee proposal would require further board and council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Denton - Public Utilities Board on 2025-07-14 9:00 AM - Jul 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Routine consent and minutes approvals passed unanimously; no rate ordinances or acquisition actions were adopted at the meeting.","taxTitle","Denton City, Denton County, Texas","taxId",2787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518863,"DME presents options to add dispatchable generation; council asked staff to explore 300–600 MW acquisitions or development",2754,4828000,7582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07&start=4828&end=7582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07/thumbnail_4828000.jpg","/articles/6518863/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/DME-presents-options-to-add-dispatchable-generation-council-asked-staff-to-explore-300600-MW-acquisitions-or-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518863-a706bc83e010fc65379347705a6c17cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429649&Signature=U6DbsqOsRrbSzoHsfrrO5Ys1fDo48kvHaq-x2LRHoaWIEDghvE8UA06xVdzZg0Ivexkyg6ty8mt5idNztcQoZ6lDZYs81ogaoBBFYzTH23XojwS~pO94Se-5I1UpibGBRRuBXka6E8YOp76AIBvYL6l0jD68uk4U-f3CFIQq9iehj68hkBy1SjZ2kBT0MVdhg9dB6sNUdo089reeYwilbYM8Iywt5fPO3obDPyHdR95UZ2KuXiih1Y-eCrlukEtN0aDPWoVMYxFOcCuCx0p1cKQPvksFADjulytCsmn-Efuz0R3TwJVCkfs49HE3JfoHVSq52Qt8IGzh7sQDCHeRsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denton Municipal Electric (DME) managers told the Public Utility Board on Monday they will begin exploring options for adding dispatchable generation to reduce exposure to high wholesale energy prices and to strengthen local reliability.

Tony Pointer, DME general manager, said the city faces a growing gap between dispatchable generation and peak load and that council direction received in mid-June was to \"explore options for 300 to 600 megawatts of dispatchable generation.\" Pointer said the council asked staff to look for acquisition or development opportunities and to consider public‑private partnerships if appropriate.

Pointer framed the discussion around market changes since summer 2023 and around winter storm exposure. He noted the utility incurred large purchase-power costs in recent years: \"In August of '23, you know, certainly, we incurred $31,000,000 worth of debt,\" he said, and reminded the board that winter-storm borrowing from 2021/earlier remains on the books and affects long-term debt service.

Staff described three paths: 1) pursue acquisition or development of roughly 300 MW of quick-start, dispatchable generation; 2) pursue a larger 600 MW build coupled with battery storage; or 3) do nothing now and wait 18–24 months for an integrated resource plan (IRP) process to conclude and then decide on a greenfield facility if needed. Pointer said acquisition of an existing facility could shorten lead time compared with new construction but would likely carry a premium.

DME staff reviewed technology and market tradeoffs. Pointer and staff noted most battery projects in ERCOT today are one-to-two hour duration installations and that four- to six-hour battery economics remain marginal; he said many planned batteries and solar projects are private investments that change market dynamics. \"The battery storage that you're seeing out there, in ERCOT today, is you're talking about 1 hour duration battery, 1 and a half hour duration battery, 2 hour duration battery,\" Pointer said. Staff also explained that dispatchable generation is considered more valuable in scarcity hours because it can be started quickly and capture higher prices during short market spikes.

The board and several members pressed staff about alternatives, lead times and environmental or permitting constraints. Pointer cautioned that engines, turbines or other quick-start units can have long delivery lead times if ordered new — \"you're talking 2030, 2031 before you get delivery of those\" if placed today — which is one reason staff is examining existing facilities and various partnership structures.

Pointer said potential acquisition targets should generally be within ERCOT's northern load zone to limit transmission exposure and that facilities inside the Denton nonattainment area could face permit constraints on run hours. He said staff will pursue options and return with recommendations and that any proposed purchase or long-term contract would require board and council approval.

On June 17 the city council gave staff direction to explore 300–600 MW of dispatchable generation and to consider public engagement; DME staff said they plan to pursue that work in parallel with the IRP, which staff estimated would take 18–24 months to complete.","Denton Municipal Electric managers reviewed system generation needs, winter/summer market risks and the economics of quick-start units, and reported council direction to explore acquiring or building 300–600 megawatts of dispatchable generation alongside battery options and an 18–24 month integrated resource plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518867,"Denton PUB reviews FY2026 preliminary utility budgets; water, wastewater rate increases proposed and staff weighs a convenience fee for card payments",186,259000,445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07&start=259&end=445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385564-ebd75723fcb89100c5379a9f5a7eea07/thumbnail_259000.jpg","/articles/6518867/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Denton-PUB-reviews-FY2026-preliminary-utility-budgets-water-wastewater-rate-increases-proposed-and-staff-weighs-a-convenience-fee-for-card-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518867-6da035a2d9b209e1dc6f099392bc3c49/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429649&Signature=GcX~LmrIxYAycd8Oeag3j2fHe2z50bV7ayynTLs-R~rplg5bpUItz-smIyGaUYeaCenklNiVS5em4buFhSGaB5b5a9m8JsnAV6gqqECMppG~hEbmI~2geFUOlJk-85yqVBv8ShOBDuofHtxEUKbVxBue6rVIGiswErrVqi9XlkGkM3QPi7THihIw7c6gu1g7tjR2z9Gc5ThjbqvWRfwajoZVQ6f0jnSo0O2NwQsDREi5NkHMEqoweUx2RUuawwGWcqvsgICoFkheGXaLKR5c9r0Nonioudr6klzUwUChE6OGq7fv0HvOZ0Vj~yXGnbckgEK7A8T-psvMDGWgeUaMag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denton City staff on Monday presented preliminary fiscal-year 2026 utility budgets to the Public Utility Board, proposing modest base-rate increases for water and wastewater while recommending a new flat convenience fee for some electronic payments to recover credit-card processing costs.

The proposal would raise residential and commercial water base rates by 3% and residential and commercial wastewater base rates by 11% for FY2026, officials said. At the same meeting staff also presented a draft convenience-fee option for online and kiosk payments: a $2.90 flat charge would recover about $1.3 million of the city's annual card- and e-check-processing expense; a $1 fee would recover about $460,000, per staff figures.

The budget review matters because proposed rate adjustments and fee decisions will affect household bills and the utilities' ability to fund planned capital projects and debt service. Staff said the water and wastewater increases are driven primarily by capital improvement program (CIP) spending and rising debt service for major infrastructure projects.

Matt Hamilton, identified in the meeting as finance staff, described this year's budgeting approach as a shift to zero-based budgeting. \"This year, we decided to make a change, and move towards something called 0 based budgeting. And 0 based budget in is a technique in which the budgets start from 0,\" Hamilton said, explaining staff rebuilt departmental budgets from the ground up rather than roll forward prior-year amounts.

Staff gave fund and project highlights: the solid-waste fund is balanced for FY2026 with revenue and expense both projected at about $45.3 million and no base rate increase proposed; the fund plans to use reserves to revenue-fund vehicle replacements again and reduce future debt issuance. Water staff proposed $59.1 million in revenue and $62.7 million in expense for FY2026, including the 3% base-rate increase and temporary use of reserves; the water five-year CIP totals roughly $94.9 million, with about 55.6% expected to be debt-funded. Wastewater staff projected revenue of $44.5 million and expense of $44.1 million for FY2026 and recommended an 11% rate increase to pay for large treatment and system projects; the wastewater five-year CIP is about $242 million, with substantial WIFIA and other debt funding planned.

DME (the municipal electric utility) staff said they are not recommending a base-rate change for FY2026, but that the energy-cost adjustment (ECA) and TCRF rules will continue to move as conditions require. Tony Pointer, DME general manager, noted large one-time costs earlier this decade remain on the utility's books and affect fund targets: \"In August of '23, you know, certainly, we incurred $31,000,000 worth of debt,\" he said, referring to high purchase-power expense from summer 2023 market conditions.

On customer service, staff told the board the city paid roughly $1.3 million in card- and e-check processing fees in FY2024 and does not currently recover those costs from customers. Staff presented two fee scenarios and asked the board whether to direct staff to research implementation steps and bring back an ordinance: a $1 flat convenience fee would recover less than half the cost; a $2.90 flat fee would recover nearly all of it. Staff noted recurring transactions (autopay) and point-of-sale payments would be excluded from the convenience fee under current card-processing rules.

Board members raised fairness and affordability concerns during discussion. Several members urged staff to explore ways to encourage lower-cost payment methods (for example, e-checks or recurring payments) and to consider whether commercial accounts should bear more of the fee burden than residential customers. Staff said if the board asks for a convenience-fee option, the proposal would come back to the board and then to city council for formal action.

Staff outlined next steps: staff will return to the board on July 28 with full budgets and proposed rate ordinances, then present to council at a citywide budget workshop in August and seek final budget adoption in September. The board offered feedback but did not adopt rate ordinances at Monday's meeting.","City staff presented FY2026 preliminary utility budgets and projects a 3% residential water rate increase and an 11% wastewater increase while proposing a $2.90 flat convenience fee to recover card-processing costs; DME proposes no base-rate change but ECA/TCRF adjustments will continue.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: July 14, 2025 Denton Public Utility Board

DME presents options to add dispatchable generation; council asked staff to explore 300–600 MW acquisitions or development

Denton PUB reviews FY2026 preliminary utility budgets; water, wastewater rate increases proposed and staff weighs a convenience fee for card payments