PUB pulls rate study report

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board was poised to hear a report on an electric rate study behind closed doors on Monday, but the item was pulled prior to the meeting.

"The report was not complete," board Chairman Al Villarreal told The Brownsville Herald.

Villarreal maintained that it had been proper to place the item for discussion in executive session because about 5 percent of the information it would contain could provide competitors with an edge in attempting to serve large electric customers.

Villarreal said that there are occasions when PUB is in competition with other providers when it submits bids that potential customers with large power demands request.

The study in question only deals with the adequacy of rates that the utility charges to one customer, the City of Brownsville, Villarreal said.

City manager Charlie Cabler said he doesn't know what the study is going to show. "We try to work with PUB in addressing issues in relation to costs and expenses that they charge us and we charge them," Cabler said.