Stephenville residents will not see higher electric bills—at least not yet— after the city council voted Tuesday, July 1, to suspend a proposed rate increase from Oncor Electric Delivery Company. The utility had filed for an approximately 13% system-wide rate hike, including a 12.3% increase for residential customers and a 51% spike in street lighting rates.
If approved, the hike would have raised the average residential customer’s bill by about $7.90 per month, starting July 31. However, the city’s resolution pauses that timeline for up to 90 days, allowing local officials and the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor to review the filing for legal compliance and consider negotiation or settlement strategies.
In other actions, the council tabled a decision on whether to grant an ambulance permit to Concord EMS, which is seeking to operate a non-emergency transfer service within city limits. Councilmember Maddie Smith, who motioned to delay the vote, said more information is needed “I think there are more questions out there that need to be asked, and we can get those figured out at a later date,” Smith said.
Councilmember David Baskett abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest.
The council also approved the acceptance of two completed infrastructure projects. The 536 Wellfield – Well Sites Project was accepted as complete, with a final cost of $1.275 million. The Eastside Sewer Phase 1 Project was also accepted, completed at a cost of $22 million.
Moving forward, the council approved a professional services agreement with BGE, Inc. for the Eastside Sewer Interceptor Phase III project. Although Phase 3 is being pursued before Phase 2, councilmember Alan Nix explained that Phase II extends toward the airport, an area that has not developed as expected.
The agreement with BGE includes preliminary and final design, alignment studies, survey and geotechnical services, environmental assessment, utility coordination and construction-phase support. The engineering process is expected to take approximately 400 days.
Additionally, the council approved a professional services agreement with Biggs and Mathews Environmental, Inc. for the design and installation of a gas monitoring probe network at the Stephenville Landfill.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a Limited Scope Major Amendment to the city’s landfill permit on April 17, 2025, allowing the city to reclaim about 1 million cubic yards of air space. As part of the permit requirements, the city must install and maintain the monitoring system within 180 days of the amendment approval.