MINUTES
Legislative & Regulatory Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Committee Members participated in this meeting from the following locations:
Agoura Hills City Hall
Planning Conference Room
30001 Ladyface Court
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Clean Power Alliance
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Manhattan Beach City Hall
City Manager Conference Room
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Los Angeles County
Hall of Administration
Sybil Brand Conference Room, Room 372
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
City of West Hollywood
3rd Floor City Manager’s Conference Room
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Acting Chair Cedric Hicks called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. and the Clerk of the Board conducted roll call.
Roll Call
Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Committee Chair Absent Carson Cedric Hicks Committee Member Remote
Los Angeles
County Lindsey Horvath Committee Member Remote
Manhattan Beach Amy Howorth Committee Member Absent
West Hollywood Chelsea Byers
Alternate Committee
Member Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the November 29, 2023, Legislative & Regulatory Committee Meeting
Motion: Committee Member Byers, West Hollywood
Second: Chair Hicks, Carson
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Oral Update from CPA Staff
Gina Goodhill, Sr. Director, Government Affairs reported on CPA’s Lobby Day held on February 21 and thanked Chair Hicks and Directors Klein Lopez, and Erickson for attending. CCAs were involved in 57 meetings and interacted with 25 legislators and staff. CPA held meetings with assembly members, senators, and senior staff in attendance. Ms. Goodhill noted that CPA staff spent less time explaining what a CCA is, and more time discussing policy issues, including how CPA can contribute to moving policies forward. Ms. Goodhill shared some takeaways from the meetings, noting that there is more interest in understanding hydrogen technology and its role in the future as well as a possibility that the state may not pursue the Climate Bond. Many legislators expressed interest in working together to achieve the state’s ambitious climate goals while ensuring reliability and affordability.
Mr. Bardacke discussed climate bonds, concluding that there is a possibility that the current climate bond may be associated with affordability and can therefore be prioritized by legislators. Chair Hicks complemented Lobby Day and stated that a common concern with hydrogen is determining how it will be governed and expressed interest in ensuring CPA is involved in the development of such a policy.
In response to Committee Member Horvath’s question on legislators involved in the Climate Bond efforts, Mr. Bardacke explained that although the bill was sponsored by Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, bonds are ultimately discussed with the governor, and legislators Maguire and Rivas would lead the efforts on the Senate and Assembly side respectively, with the Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee Isaac Bryan also playing a role. Ms. Goodhill added that Assemblymember Zbur is interested in finding out how to incorporate more energy initiatives into the bond. Committee Member Horvath also emphasized getting clarity on how CPA wants to manage hydrogen as legislation is developed at the state level.
3. Receive Update on Proposed Income-Graduated Fixed Charges and Related Legislative Proposals and Provide Direction to Staff
Gina Goodhill, Sr. Director, Government Affairs presented on the Income-Graduated Fixed Charges and AB 1999, which would repeal the fixed charge provisions under AB 205 and replace it with a $5 fixed charge for CARE customers and a $10 fixed charge for all other residential customers.
Chair Hicks expressed concern that those in higher income brackets may be adversely affected by the legislation; if CPA does not take a formal position, it can suggest generalized support for the bill’s concept of limiting fixed charges.
Committee Member Horvath added that any proposal would require income verification, which is challenging, and access to income information also remains unclear. Committee Member Horvath also noted that the proposal can cause division at the Board level; monitoring the proposal is most appropriate at this time given the lack of information. Mr. Bardacke informed the Committee that the CPUC plans to release a proposed decision on the issue before the end of the legislative session, which can add more clarity and could prompt CPA to take a position. The Committee recommended monitoring the bill’s progress prior to taking a position.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Upon request from the Committee, Mr. Bardacke provided an update on the onboarding of the three new cities, La Canada-Flintridge, Lynwood, and Port Hueneme; the CPUC responded with requests for additional information, which CPA provided, and the CPUC will respond by the end of March.
ADJOURN
Chair Hicks adjourned the meeting at 10:55am.