Households in Denton, Texas, are facing another utility cost bump: starting Oct. 1, the typical home gas bill is expected to be about $13 higher each month.
Here's what to know
The Denton City Council voted 6-0 to accept a rate settlement with Atmos Energy.
Typical commercial gas bills in Denton are projected to rise by $44.82 a month, or 9.9%, while the average residential bill will increase by $13.37, a 14.15% jump, KERA News reported.
Atmos first sought a $291 million increase in its 2025 cost-of-service study, and the agreement that followed covers the utility's system as a whole through the Atmos Cities Steering Committee, a 181-member coalition of cities representing more than 1 million customers.
According to Matt Hamilton, the city's chief financial officer, the negotiated amount was $260.5 million, trimming about $30.6 million from the original request for member cities.
Council members voiced frustration with the size of the change. Council member George Ferrie described it as "incredibly high for gas," and Mayor Chris Watts told staff, "That's a large increase."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
For Denton residents, the higher gas charge may land alongside possible increases in electric and water bills, putting more strain on household budgets.
These charges work differently from electricity plans that Texans can sometimes shop for: once a city council approves a settlement, most households cannot avoid the gas delivery increase except by using less gas.
What's being done?
Officials said agreeing to the settlement was the least expensive practical choice. Hamilton told the council that turning it down could expose Denton to legal costs and send the case to the Texas Railroad Commission, where the city would be unlikely to prevail.
Watts warned that leaving the settlement could end up putting residents in a worse spot.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
