CEO Report Item 11
CEO Report Item 11
TO: Ava Community Energy Board of Directors
FROM: Howard Chang, Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: CEO Report (Informational Item)
DATE: January 15, 2025
________________________________________________________________________ Recommendation
Accept Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report on update items below.
Executive Committee Meeting
An Executive Committee Meeting was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Members received updates about BAAQMD Rule 9-6 and Building Efficiency Accelerator Funding. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 9am.
Marketing Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting A Marketing Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting was held on Friday, December 20, 2024. Members received updates about the Oakland Roots and Soul Agreement and Stockton and Lathrop launch of service. Members also received an overview of recent research initiatives and a preview of upcoming local development marketing campaigns. The next Marketing, Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee meeting will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 12pm.
Note that Sub-committee meeting times may be rescheduled to accommodate availability of new members.
Ava Board Appointments
Over the coming months Ava Community Energy’s board expects to welcome 9 new primary board members (7 new to Ava and 2 were former alternates). Ava staff will hold new board member orientations and schedule 1:1’s with the CEO in Jan-Mar timeframe. We will continue to complete sub-committee assignments as new board members join.
Veloz Board Appointment
Veloz is a unique public-private nonprofit driving toward 100% zero-emission vehicles through strategic communications, unprecedented collaborations and purposeful convening. Its board leadership includes IOUs, Auto OEMs, Charging OEMs, and other key players in the transportation electrification space. Its policy board includes leadership from CPUC, CEC, CAISO, BAAQMD and others. Veloz’ mission and vision originated with a CA focus and is currently broadening its focus beyond CA. In December Howard Chang was appointed to the CEO Report Item 11
Veloz Board of Directors concurrently with Eliot Mainzer, CEO of CAISO being appointed to the Policy Board.
Formal Announcement can be found here: https://www.veloz.org/veloz-appoints-new-board-director-and-public-policy-board-member-2/ Ava Customer Bill Credits
A portion of the fiscal year 2023-2024 surplus budget is being shared back with customers in the form of bill credits as authorized by the board as part of the FY23/24 budget and most recently discussed at the November 2024 board meeting. Bill credits total $22M and will begin to appear on customer bills during the week of January 13. All CARE and FERA customers will receive a bill credit of $100, while other residential customers will receive a credit of $8.82. Non-residential customers will receive $0.0019/kWh for a total of roughly $7M. Most non-residential meters (84%) are receiving a credit under $100 with 44% of all meters receiving an average of $35.
New Employees
Hector Aguiniga – Outreach Coordinator, San Joaquin County Hector joined Ava as an Outreach Coordinator for San Joaquin County, where he is part of the Marketing team. In this role, he partners with community organizations, coordinates Ava’s participation in local events, and interacts directly with residents and businesses to inform them about Ava’s greener energy solutions and lower rates.
Before Ava, Hector worked at San Joaquin Delta College as a Temporary Digital Communication Coordinator, where he managed social media, created engaging content, and developed strategies to enhance outreach and engagement. Prior to that, he worked in Outreach and Engagement at the University of the Pacific's Eberhardt School of Business, where he earned both his B.A. in Marketing and M.S. in Data Analytics.
A Stockton native, Hector is passionate about building meaningful connections within his community. In his free time, he enjoys playing and watching sports, working out at the gym, and exploring his love for cars.