2018-022 Approving a Netogiated Settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering committee and Atmos Energy Corp. Regardint he Company's 2018 Rate Review

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RESOLUTION NO. 2018-022 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE ("ACSC") AND ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION REGARDING THE COMPANY'S 2018 RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILINGS; DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE; ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT; FINDING THE RATES TO BE SET BY THE ATTACHED SETTLEMENT TARIFFS TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST; APPROVING AN ATTACHED EXHIBIT ESTABLISHING A BENCHMARK FOR PENSIONS AND RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS; APPROVING AN ATTACHED EXHIBIT REGARDING AMORTIZATION OF REGULATORY LIABILITY; REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE ACSC'S REASONABLE RATEMAKING EXPENSES; DETERMINING THAT THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND REQUIRING DELIVERY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANY AND THE ACSC'S LEGAL COUNSEL. WHEREAS, the City of Paris, Texas ("City") is a gas utility customer of Atmos Energy Corp., Mid -Tex Division ("Atmos Mid -Tex" or "Company"), and a regulatory authority with an interest in the rates and charges of Atmos Mid -Tex; and WHEREAS, the City is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee ("ACSC"), a coalition of similarly -situated cities served by Atmos Mid -Tex ("ACSC Cities") that have joined together to facilitate the review of, and response to, natural gas issues affecting rates charged in the Atmos Mid -Tex service area; and WHEREAS, ACSC and the Company worked collaboratively to develop a new Rate Review Mechanism ("RRM") tariff that allows for an expedited rate review process by ACSC Cities as a substitute to the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program ("GRIP") process instituted by the Legislature, and that will establish rates for the ACSC Cities based on the system -wide cost of serving the Atmos Mid -Tex Division; and WHEREAS, the RRM tariff was adopted by the City in a rate ordinance earlier this year; and WHEREAS, on about April 1, 2018, Atmos Mid -Tex filed its 2018 RRM rate request with ACSC Cities based on a test year ending December 31, 2017; and WHEREAS, ACSC coordinated its review of the Atmos Mid -Tex 2018 RRM filing through its Executive Committee, assisted by ACSC's attorneys and consultants, to resolve issues identified in the Company's RRM filing; and 1