MINUTES
Board of Directors of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, September 7, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Board members participated from the following locations:
Calabasas City Hall
Council Conference Room
100 Civic Center Way
Calabasas, CA 91301
CPA Office
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Whittier City Hall
Admin Conference Room
13230 Penn Street
Whittier, CA 90602
Ventura County Government Center
Channel Islands Conference Room, 4th Floor
Hall of Administration
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Conference Room
2355 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 125
Torrance, CA 90501
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Julian Gold called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and Gabriela Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director Primuth led the pledge of allegiance.
Roll Call
1 Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Director Remote
2 Alhambra Absent
3 Arcadia Michael Cao Director Present
4 Beverly Hills Julian Gold Chair Present
5 Calabasas Ed Albrecht Alternate Remote
6 Camarillo Absent
7 Carson Cedric L. Hicks, Sr. Director Present
8 Claremont Corey Calaycay Director Present
9 Culver City Joe Susca Alternate Remote
10 Downey Absent
11 Hawaiian Gardens Absent
12 Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Director Present
13 Hermosa Beach Doug Krauss Director Remote
14 Los Angeles County Lindsey Horvath Vice Chair Present 15 Malibu Marianne Riggins Director Remote
16 Manhattan Beach Amy Howorth Director Remote
17 Moorpark Renee Delgado Director Remote
18 Ojai Michelle Ellison Alternate Remote
19 Oxnard Bert Perello Director Remote
20 Paramount Absent
21 Redondo Beach Absent
22 Rolling Hills Estates Debby Stegura Director Remote
23 Santa Monica Gleam Davis Director Present
24 Santa Paula Jenny Crosswhite Director Present
25 Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Director Present
26 Simi Valley Rocky Rhodes Director Present
27 South Pasadena Jon Primuth Director Present
28 Temple City Absent
29 Thousand Oaks David Newman Director Remote
30 City of Ventura Liz Campos Director Remote
31 Ventura County Vianey Lopez Vice Chair Remote
32 West Hollywood John Erickson Director Present
33 Westlake Village Absent
34 Whittier Leon Vasquez Alternate Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the July 6, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting
2. Adopt Resolution 2023-09-055 to Adopt Wireless Technology Rates for Fiscal Year 2023/2024
3. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute Task Order No. 1 with Viridis Consulting for Customer Programs Support Services for a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $175,780 for Term Ending on March 15, 2024
4. Receive and File CY Q2 Communications Report
5. Receive and File CY Q2 Risk Management Team Report
6. Receive and File Annual Electricity Usage by Jurisdiction
7. Receive and File Monthly Bill Positions Report
8. Receive and File Monthly Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Report Motion: Director Erickson, West Hollywood
Second: Director Hicks, Carson
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote with abstentions from Directors Parkhurst and Primuth on Item 1.
REGULAR AGENDA
9. Approve Six (6) Renewable Power Purchase Agreements with Prologis for Local Solar Resources to Serve the Power Share Program and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute the Agreements
Lindsay Saxby, Vice President, Power Supply, provided a presentation on six Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the Power Share program. The PPAs involve rooftop solar projects designated to serve either the Disadvantaged Community Green Tariff Program (DAC-GT) or the Community Solar Green Tariff Program (CSGT), both offered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and constituting CPA's Power Share Program. Prologis is the developer for the six projects, which are expected to become operational by 2025 with a 20- year delivery term. Upon Board approval of these PPAs, CPA will fulfill its total allocation for the DAC-GT and CSGT programs. Ms. Saxby reviewed the scores of the six projects against CPA's scoring criteria and metrics.
Director Parkhurst asked questions about the DAC-GT and CSGT programs, including how the six projects compared to previously contracted projects. Staff noted that the programs are available to all Load Serving Entities (LSEs) statewide, but CPA is among the few that will soon fulfill their total capacity for both programs.
In the region, SCE also received a program allocation and has completed one project. Regarding project comparisons, staff actively seek out projects that achieve high ratings in all categories, though it is unusual to have six projects with such high scores across the board. Project location is one area where projects can sometimes score low or medium since they are outside CPA's service territory or outside of California, particularly wind and geothermal projects. Vice Chair Horvath asked about customer outreach, best practices and lessons learned, and program growth, considering CPA will reach total capacity. Ted Bardacke, CEO, explained that marketing tools vary depending on the target audience; language-specific media and targeted prepaid mail-in cards have proven effective. Following the first round of marketing, staff improved the customer sign-up process, which increased enrollment. Additionally, collaborating with large entities with land and buildings in CPA's service territory can be another way to scale the program more effectively in the future. Concerning the programs’ future growth, staff are collaborating with the California Infrastructure Bank and Los Angeles County to submit applications under the federal government’s “Solar for All” solicitation to expand the DAC-GT and CSGT programs, creating more opportunities for similar projects. Vice Chair Horvath expressed gratitude to CPA staff for their dedicated efforts. Director Crosswhite asked if there's a risk that the CPUC can change the program; Mr.
Langer noted that it's not likely, and for example, if the CPUC were to remove cost recovery for existing customers, CPA can absorb costs and continue to honor project commitments. Director Rhodes asked about customer enrollment numbers and participation in rooftop programs outside the DAC-GT and CSGT. Mr.
Bardacke specified that CPA has approximately 6,300 customers signed up, but the total program allocation is for 7,600 customers. Builders and property owners can respond to CPA's other clean energy Requests for Offers (RFOs), but a solar developer's expertise in solicitations and developments is often beneficial. In response to Director Perello's question about tracking the number of customers benefiting from the programs, Mr. Bardacke indicated that the average household size is about 3.5 people per CPA customer. Chair Gold recognized staff's work on the projects and congratulated the team.
Motion: Vice Chair Horvath, Los Angeles County
Second: Director Erickson, West Hollywood
Vote: Item 9 was approved by a roll call vote.
10. Retention Incentive Program (a) Adopt Employee Retention Incentive Program (Policy) (b) Approve and Authorize the Board Chair to Execute the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer to Include the Retention Incentive as a Benefit (c) Approve and Authorize the Board Chair to Execute the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with the General Counsel to Include the Retention Incentive as a Benefit Mr. Bardacke provided a brief oral report on the item. Chair Gold indicated that the Board previously budgeted the costs for the program, and there would not be a fiscal impact. The Executive Committee extensively discussed the program, deliberated on the distinctions between an incentive program and a retention program, and firmly believes that CPA staff’s unique abilities must be retained in the face of a competitive field. Chair Gold added that the individual contracts of Mr.
Bardacke and Nancy Whang, General Counsel, would be amended to reflect their eligibility for this program. Directors Parkhurst and Perello expressed their support for the Retention Incentive Program, recognizing their integral role in the organization’s success.
Motion: Director Howorth, Manhattan Beach
Second: Director Hicks, Carson
Vote: Item 10 was approved by a roll call vote.
Dr, Monique Edwards-Greer, Chief Administrative Officer, thanked the Board of Directors for their continued support.
MANAGEMENT REPORT
Mr. Bardacke provided an oral report. CPA will send communication to all customers highlighting the joint rate comparison with Southern California Edison (SCE) and presenting the Power Content Label that reflects all energy sources. In October, Alhambra, Paramount, and non-residential customers in Unincorporated Los Angeles County will transition to the 100% Green default energy option. CPA’s website now features an interactive community map that showcases the environmental and program benefits of each respective city. Staff expects Assembly Bill 1373, which authorizes the Department of Water Resources to act as a central buyer for certain electricity resources, to pass. Mr. Bardacke thanked Board members and staff for their involvement in amending the bill; CPA has adopted a neutral position on AB 1373.
In response to Board member questions, Mr. Bardacke indicated that the Department of Water Resources could function both as a resource to assist with hard to develop projects and as a competitor in the buying market. Mr. Bardacke said that CPA is on track to contribute approximately $80-81 million to the net position in FY 2022/23. Director Ellison congratulated the cities transitioning to the 100% Green energy default option and encouraged others to take advantage of the favorable rates and do the same. In response to Director Perello’s question about recent storms, Mr. Langer indicated that staff has not been notified of performance inability due to storm damage.
COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES
Director Deborah Klein Lopez, Chair, Legislative & Regulatory Committee, indicated that CPA has taken positions on several legislative bills, which will be reported next month.
Director Parkhurst, Energy Planning & Resources Committee, reported that a recently completed RFO has received a record number of bids with a good distribution of projects; thanked the Energy Committee for their willingness to participate in several upcoming RFO review teams.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Chair Gold welcomed Director Primuth to the Board. Chair Gold announced that a panel discussion with SCE’s senior leadership would take place to explore solutions to grid infrastructure problems and invited interested Board members to participate. Chair Gold referenced the formation of a taskforce dedicated to discussing and educating customers on electrical resilience and conservation.
ADJOURN
Chair Gold adjourned the meeting at 3:07 p.m.