Draft Minutes
Marketing, Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee
Meeting
Monday, July 21, 2025
3:30 pm
In Person:
The Port Workspaces
3rd Floor, Large Conference Room
344 20th St, Oakland, CA 94612
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1. (0:08) Welcome & Roll Call
Present: Directors: Lopez (Albany), Barrientos (Livermore), Nygard (Tracy) and Chair Tregub (Berkeley).
Absent: Director Diallo (Lathrop).
2. (0:23) Public Comment
This item is reserved for persons wishing to address the MRL Subcommittee on any Ava-related matters that are not otherwise on this meeting agenda. Public comments on matters listed on the agenda shall be heard at the time the matter is called. As with all public comment, members of the public who wish to address the Board are customarily limited to three minutes per speaker. The MRL Chair may increase or decrease the time allotted to each speaker.
Ava Community Energy
Board of Directors Page | 2
There were no speakers for public comment.
3. (0:36) Approval of Minutes from May 9, 2025 (Action Item) Director Nygard (Tracy) motioned to approve the minutes. Director Barrientos (Livermore) seconded the motion, which passed 4/0/0/0/1.
Yes: Lopez (Albany), Barrientos (Livermore), Nygard (Tracy) and Chair Tregub (Berkeley).
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Recuse: None.
Not Present: Diallo (Lathrop).
There were no speakers for public comment.
4. (1:07) Legislative Update (Informational Item)
Update on State legislative session.
Sam Sadle presented on California’s legislative cycle, noting key wins for Ava on battery safety, EV charging, and LCFS pricing. While some bills stalled, others on data centers, capacity, and affordability remain active, with major fall decisions on cap-and-trade, climate funding, and Senate leadership ahead.
There were no speakers for public comment.
Selection of topics discussed by subcommittee members:
• Geographic representation for CPUC commissioners for AB 13 • Exploring pathways for local jurisdictions to pursue reach codes despite recent restrictions for AB 130 and SB 131
• How the Ava board can support legislative efforts, particularly around affordability bills
• Concern over CEC oversight of energy efficiency programs • CalCCA advocacy day and opportunities for directors for input
5. (20:00) Understanding the Drivers of PG&E Rate and Cost Growth (Informational Item)
A presentation on the Policy team’s analysis of the drivers of increasing PG&E rates/costs.
Claire Huang and Michael Quiroz analyzed rising electricity bills, noting that while energy use has remained flat, distribution costs have grown sharply, driving rates above inflation. Major contributors include wildfire-related spending on vegetation management and undergrounding, with capital costs for distribution and transmission continuing to rise.
Selection of topics discussed by subcommittee members:
• Undergrounding distribution lines and wildfire risk mitigation • GRC process and limited contesting of utility costs
Ava Community Energy
Board of Directors Page | 3
• Role of Ava/CCAs as information source for legislators • Need for transparency and standardization in rate-setting • Ongoing staff analysis and board engagement opportunities (33:44) Public Comment – Mickey Souza thanked staff and inquired whether undergrounding distribution lines reduces wildfire risk and if AB 13 will increase transparency on vegetation management costs.
6. (58:35) PCIA Primer (Informational Item)
Todd Edmister discussed the PCIA, a non-bypassable per-kWh charge on all customers that recovers stranded costs from high-priced or over-procured utility contracts, which is calculated annually as portfolio costs minus portfolio value using market benchmarks.
Selection of topics discussed by subcommittee members:
• Removal of Diablo Canyon from PCIA and separate ratemaking treatment • Treatment of Gateway, Humboldt, and Helms Pump Storage, including vintage disputes on Helms repowering
• Richard McCann’s analysis of PCIA pay-off and unused buyout framework • Concerns over recent TCCA calculation changes
• Anticipated CPUC rulemaking and potential major PCIA revisions (1:18:15) Public Comment – Mickey Souza expressed concern regarding the inclusion of PG&E’s costs in the PCIA, citing Richard McCann’s view that the charge should already be paid off. She also inquired whether McCann’s analysis is being reviewed, and if declining generation costs or PG&E manipulation are driving higher charges.
7. (1:25:54) Committee Member and Staff Announcements including requests to place items on future Board Agendas
There were no committee member or staff announcements.
8. Adjourned at 5:06pm.
The next Marketing, Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee meeting will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 10am.
Conference Room 5
Ava Community Energy
1999 Harrison Street, Suite 2300
Oakland, CA 94612
Minutes Written by Raïssa Ngoma.