New chair, vice chair appointed to New Braunfels Utilities Rate Advisory Committee

The New Braunfels Utilities board of trustees appointed Justin Meadows as the new NBU Rate Advisory Committee chair on Sept. 27. Former Chair Les Shephard stepped down from the leadership position due to scheduling conflicts but will continue to serve as a member of the committee, according to NBU.

Meadows will lead the ongoing efforts of the committee to help determine the total costs of providing service to NBU customers and recommend a plan that will equitably allocate those costs to each customer class, NBU said.

The committee also named Kate Gideon as the new vice chair, filling the seat of Justin Meadows.

"New Braunfels Utilities and the community can be proud of the leadership Justin Meadows brings to the Rate Advisory Committee," NBU Trustee and Vice President Wayne Peters said. "Justin has served the community for six years as an elected City Council member and mayor pro tem. On behalf of NBU, we are confident that he and Kate Gideon will provide effective leadership as the committee seeks to bring a final rate plan recommendation to the full Board and NBU Leadership."

Peters continued, “we are thankful for Dr. Shephard’s leadership over the past months and his support for the formation of the Rate Advisory Committee, and we are grateful for his continued service to the committee.”

The Rate Advisory Committee is working with NBU and its consultants to finalize the cost-of-service study and recommend a new rate design structure to the NBU board in March. NBU leadership will present their final recommendations to the City Council in April.

"We could not be more pleased that Justin Meadows and Kate Gideon will serve as chair and vice chair of the NBU Rate Advisory Committee," NBU board Trustee and President Judith Hoffmann said. "Their heart for serving their community has been demonstrated through their work in public service. Together, they bring the experience and perspective necessary to lead the efforts of the Rate Advisory Committee.”

To learn more about NBU's Rate Advisory Committee, visit nbutexas.com/rate-advisory-committee.