88R23664 BPG-D
By: Button H.R. No. 1134
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Garland Power & Light is celebrating its centennial
in April 2023; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1920s, the City of Garland sought to
power the pump of its newly completed water well; an electric
provider refused to negotiate a reasonable commercial rate, so the
city founded Garland Power & Light; on April 1, 1923, it began
generating electricity with a 117-kilowatt diesel generator,
serving 300 customers; and
WHEREAS, GP&L established its first interconnection with
another utility, the Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, in 1943; in
subsequent decades, the utility built and purchased a number of
plants; it completed two transmission lines to bring wind power
from West Texas in 2014, and it has entered into contracts for
affordable solar power as well; for the past five years, it has
given customers the option of choosing 100 percent renewable power;
and
WHEREAS, In 2018, GP&L completed its portion of the Houston
Import Project, a series of critical bulk power transmission lines
for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid; the utility
supports the state grid by investing in transmission projects
outside of Garland, which not only expand grid capacity, but also
generate revenue for GP&L; and
WHEREAS, Today, GP&L serves more than 73,000 customers; it
ranks as the fourth-largest municipal electric utility in Texas and
43rd in the nation; its local transmission and distribution
electric delivery system has built a reputation for reliability,
with outage frequency and duration well below the national average;
and
WHEREAS, GP&L continues to thrive under local leadership; it
reports to the city council, and a portion of its revenues return to
the city's general fund; the utility's management demonstrates its
commitment to the community through support of the performing arts
and economic development; moreover, it sponsors programs for
residents, among them the Tree Power Free Tree Giveaway and
EnergySaver, which helps customers save money through efficiency
measures; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Garland Power & Light
has provided an essential service to area residents and businesses
while finding additional ways to make the community an even better
place to live; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Garland
Power & Light and extend to all those associated with the utility
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the utility as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.