October 14, 2008

Mr. Mark G. Mann

Assistant City Attorney

City of Garland

P.O. Box 469002

Garland, Texas 75046-9002

OR2008-14049

Dear Mr. Mann:

You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"), chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 324864.

The City of Garland (the "city") received a request for information regarding Garland Power and Light's industrial customers who receive rates lower than residential customers. You claim the submitted information is excepted from disclosure under section 552.133 of the Government Code. We have considered the exception you claim and reviewed the information you have submitted.

Initially, you state that the request includes questions. The Act does not require a governmental body to answer general questions, perform legal research, or create new information in response to a request for information. See Open Records Decision Nos. 563 at 8 (1990), 555 at 1-2 (1990). However, the Act does require the governmental body to make a good faith effort to relate a request to information that the governmental body holds or to which it has access. See Open Records Decision Nos. 563 at 8 (1990), 561 at 8-9 (1990), 555 at 1-2 (1990), 534 at 2-3 (1989). In this instance, we find that although the request is phrased as questions, it is sufficiently specific to enable the city to identify any responsive information that is within its possession or control. See Open Records Decision No. 483 at 2 (1987) (stating that the Act requires no particular request form or "magic words"). As you have provided our office with responsive information, we will address your claimed exception.

Section 552.133 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure a public power utility's information related to a competitive matter. Section 552.133 (b) provides:

Information or records are excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if the information or records are reasonably related to a competitive matter, as defined in this section. Excepted information or records include the text of any resolution of the public power utility governing body determining which issues, activities, or matters constitute competitive matters. Information or records of a municipally owned utility that are reasonably related to a competitive matter are not subject to disclosure under this chapter, whether or not, under the Utilities Code, the municipally owned utility has adopted customer choice or serves in a multiply certificated service area. This section does not limit the right of a public power utility governing body to withhold from disclosure information deemed to be within the scope of any other exception provided for in this chapter, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

Gov't Code § 552.133(b). Section 552.133(a)(3) defines a "competitive matter" as a matter the public power utility governing body in good faith determines by vote to be related to the public power utility's competitive activity, and the release of which would give an advantage to competitors or prospective competitors. See id. § 552.133(a)(3). However, section 552.133(a)(3) also provides thirteen categories of information that may not be deemed competitive matters. The attorney general may conclude that section 552.133 is inapplicable to the requested information only if, based on the information provided, the attorney general determines the public power utility governing body has not acted in good faith in determining that the issue, matter, or activity is a competitive matter or that the information requested is not reasonably related to a competitive matter. Id. § 552.133(c).

Garland Power and Light is a public power utility for purposes of section 552.133. You inform us, and provide documentation showing, the Garland City Council (the "council"), as governing body of the public power utility, passed resolution number 9160 pursuant to section 552.133 in which the council defined the information considered to be within the scope of the term "competitive matter." You have provided our office a copy of the resolution. You assert the submitted information comes within the scope of specified provisions within the resolution. The submitted information is not among the thirteen categories of information that section 552.133(a)(3) expressly excludes from the definition of competitive matter. Furthermore, we have no evidence the council failed to act in good faith. See id. § 552.133(c). Upon review, we determine the submitted information relates to a competitive matter in accordance with the submitted resolution. Therefore, the city must withhold the submitted information pursuant to section 552.133 of the Government Code.

This letter ruling is limited to the particular records at issue in this request and limited to the facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous determination regarding any other records or any other circumstances.

This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For example, governmental bodies are prohibited from asking the attorney general to reconsider this ruling. Gov't Code § 552.301(f). If the governmental body wants to challenge this ruling, the governmental body must file suit in Travis County within 30 calendar days. Id. § 552.324(b). In order to get the full benefit of such a challenge, the governmental body must file suit within 10 calendar days. Id. § 552.353(b)(3). If the governmental body does not file suit over this ruling and the governmental body does not comply with it, then both the requestor and the attorney general have the right to file suit against the governmental body to enforce this ruling. Id. § 552.321(a).

If this ruling requires the governmental body to release all or part of the requested information, the governmental body is responsible for taking the next step. Based on the statute, the attorney general expects that, upon receiving this ruling, the governmental body will either release the public records promptly pursuant to section 552.221(a) of the Government Code or file a lawsuit challenging this ruling pursuant to section 552.324 of the Government Code. If the governmental body fails to do one of these things, then the requestor should report that failure to the attorney general's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at (877) 673-6839. The requestor may also file a complaint with the district or county attorney. Id. § 552.3215(e).

If this ruling requires or permits the governmental body to withhold all or some of the requested information, the requestor can challenge that decision by suing the governmental body. Id. § 552.321(a); Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gilbreath, 842 S.W.2d 408, 411 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ).

Please remember that under the Act the release of information triggers certain procedures for costs and charges to the requestor. If records are released in compliance with this ruling, be sure that all charges for the information are at or below the legal amounts. Questions or complaints about over-charging must be directed to Hadassah Schloss at the Office of the Attorney General at (512) 475-2497.

If the governmental body, the requestor, or any other person has questions or comments about this ruling, they may contact our office. Although there is no statutory deadline for contacting us, the attorney general prefers to receive any comments within 10 calendar days of the date of this ruling.

Sincerely,

Melanie J. Villars

Assistant Attorney General

Open Records Division

MJV/jh

Ref: ID# 324864

Enc. Submitted documents

c: Mr. Dionicio Quintilla, Jr.

1214 Trinidad Lane

Garland, Texas 75040

(w/o enclosures)

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