MINUTES
Board of Directors of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 5, 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
Venture, CA 93009
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Conference Room
2355 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 125
Torrance, CA 90501
CALL TO ORDER
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 Crosswhite 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 Susan Santangelo Director Remote
7 Carson Reata Kulcsar Alternate Remote
8 Claremont Corey Calaycay Director Present
9 Culver City Joe Susca Alternate Remote
10 Downey Absent
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11 Hawaiian Gardens Absent
12 Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Director Present
13 Hermosa Beach Doug Krauss Alternate Remote
14 Los Angeles County Rita Kampalath Alternate Present
15 Malibu Marianne Riggins Director Remote
16 Manhattan Beach Absent
17 Moorpark Renee Delgado Director Remote
18 Ojai Michelle Ellison Alternate Remote
19 Oxnard Bert Perello Director Remote
20 Paramount Vilma Cuellar Stallings Director Remote
21 Redondo Beach Paige Kaluderovic Director Remote
22 Rolling Hills Estates Steve Zuckerman Alternate Remote 23 Santa Monica Caroline Torosis Alternate 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 Chelsea L. Byers Alternate 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 September 7, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting
2. Approve and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute a One-Year Professional Services Agreement with Bloom Ads Global Media Group for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $250,000 Clean Power Alliance of Southern California Page 3 of 5 October 5, 2023
3. Ratify Two Special Assessments for General Rate Case (GRC) and Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) Proceeding Management Services from the California Community Choice Association for Contracts with (a) MRW & Associates with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $24,300, (b) NewGen Strategies & Solutions with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $94,200, and (c) Keyes & Fox LLP with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $118,440
4. Approve and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute the Professional Legal Services Agreement between CPA and (a) Keyes & Fox LLP with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $380,000 per contract year and (b) Clean Energy Counsel, LLP with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $570,000 Per Contract Year
5. Receive and File Monthly Bill Positions Report
6. Receive and File Monthly Community Advisory Committee Report Motion: Director Calaycay, Claremont
Second: Director Monteiro, Hawthorne
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
7. A) Adopt Resolution 23-10-056 Authorizing the Offer of Membership to the Cities of La Cañada-Flintridge, Lynwood, and Port Hueneme to Join CPA with Service to Customers to Begin in 2025 or the Year Specified by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in its Approval of CPA’s Addendum to its Implementation Plan, if later than 2025; and, B) Direct Staff to Prepare an Implementation Plan Addendum and Any Related Documents as Required by the CPUC and for Consideration by the Board at a Public Hearing at the December 7, 2023 Meeting Karen Schmidt, Director, Rates and Strategy, provided a presentation on the proposed expansion authorization. Ms. Schmidt reviewed the Board’s expansion priorities, feasibility studies, benefits and projected first-year financial impacts of expansion, regulatory uncertainty, and the timeline. The Executive Committee supports the proposed expansion invitations.
Director Rhodes asked about the impact of a new city’s default rate on CPA’s Resource Adequacy compliance. Ted Bardacke, CEO, explained that RA would not be affected by energy level changes. Director Parkhurst asked if other Community Choice Aggregations (CCAs) also struggle with RA compliance. Matt Langer, Chief Operating Officer, indicated that non-compliance is not uncommon at this point in the year; low RA supply and high demand suggest that other CCAs are still working to meet year-ahead compliance as well. In response to Director Perello’s question about new commercial customers, Mr. Bardacke noted there is one in Port Hueneme and one in La Cañada-Flintridge but customer privacy limits detailed discussions.
Responding to Director Susca’s question about the new cities’ default energy rate option, Ms. Schmidt stated that the cities have not yet discussed that; cities may discuss default energy rate options when they consider joining the Joint Powers Authority but are not obligated to do so. Director Crosswhite asked about CPA’s expansion costs based on the cities’ default energy rate option. Ms. Schmidt explained that the cost to CPA would vary by city and depend on the energy rate option and customer composition. CPA would incur a slight cost increase if Lynwood chose the 100% Green option due to its significant low-income population, but the increase would remain minimal.
A written public comment was received for this item.
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Motion: Director Calaycay, Claremont
Second: Director Torosis, Santa Monica
Vote: Item 7 was approved by a roll call vote.
8. Receive Update on Long-Term Power Contracting
Mr. Langer provided an update on long-term power contracting. The 2023 Clean Energy and Reliability Request for Offers (RFO) aims to enhance CPA’s portfolio with renewable energy and RA through long-term contracts, reducing reliance on unstable short-term markets. CPA broadened its procurement options to attract more RFO offers, including RA-only offers, tolls for RA with natural gas, and fast track offers.
CPA received 128 conforming bids, the highest in any previous long-term RFO, and 21 offers from 16 local projects. The Review Team shortlisted 2.5 times the targeted renewable energy and a minimum of 3 times the targeted RA. Mr. Langer reviewed the details of the shortlisted and waitlisted projects and thanked the Power Supply Team for their work.
Director Parkhurst remarked on the Energy Committee’s contributions to grid reliability and battery installations that prevented blackouts in the fall of 2022. Director Calaycay applauded the fact that some of the shortlisted projects are in the state, creating green job opportunities in California. In response to Director Zuckerman’s question about past project delays, Mr. Langer indicated that previously amended projects are on track, and routine project delays have normalized. Director Perello asked about CPA’s ability to increase hydro power generation and highlighted that out-of-state projects also have local benefits of reducing climate change. Mr. Langer noted that CPA primarily purchases available hydroelectric power, as larger hydroelectric projects are typically owned by other IOUs or municipal providers.
MANAGEMENT REPORT
Mr. Bardacke noted that CPA secured an investment grade credit rating, leading to benefits such as improved credit terms and enhanced liquidity. Monthly financial reports indicated net revenue falling below budget due to recent cooler temperatures. The CPUC is examining interconnection issues in critical facilities and new buildings. Board members may direct such community issues to Gina Goodhill, Senior Director, Government Affairs.
In response to Director Perello’s question about the reasons behind these interconnection issues, Mr. Bardacke suggested they can result from delayed infrastructure upgrades, inadequate planning, or staff shortages.
COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES
Director Susan Santangelo, Chair, Finance Committee, reported on customer payment behavior and CPA’s bad debt reserve.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Director Monteiro commented on SCE’s infrastructure issues in Hawthorne, where SCE reports that it needs to replace 42% of electricity poles and transformers.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Chair Gold extended an invitation to all city council members to discuss matters of local importance, including SCE infrastructure concerns or clean energy matters, at a convening for local elected officials he and Irvine Mayor Farrah Kahn are hosting on October 14th in the City of Long Beach.
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ADJOURN
Chair Gold adjourned the meeting at 3:32 p.m.