MINUTES
Executive Committee of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2024
1:30 p.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 Office
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
1300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Camarillo City Hall
Office of the Mayor
601 Carmen Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
Hotel Dena
303 Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
Carson City Hall
City Manager’s Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Los Angeles County Hall of Administration
Sybil Brand Conference Room, Room 372
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Ojai City Hall
Conference Room
401 S Ventura St.
Ojai, CA 93023
Beverly Hills City Hall
Council Office, 4th Floor
455 N. Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Alhambra City Hall
Conference Room
111 S. First St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
Hawthorne City Hall
Administrative Office
4455 W. 126th Street
Hawthorne, CA 90250
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and Annie Mendoza, Deputy Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
Roll Call
Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Chair Remote
Alhambra Jeff Maloney Committee Member Remote
Beverly Hills Julian Gold Immediate Past Chair Remote
Camarillo Susan Santangelo Committee Member Remote
Carson Cedric Hicks Committee Member Remote
Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Committee Member Remote
Los Angeles County Rita Kampalath Alternate Remote
Ojai Absent
Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Committee Member Remote
Ventura County Absent
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from October 24, 2024, Executive Committee Meeting Motion: Committee Member Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Committee Member Hicks, Carson
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Oral Update from the CEO on CPA Operations
Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, informed the Committee of upcoming meetings and provided brief details on what to expect on the Finance Committee agenda. Mr. Bardacke reported that the 2025 PCIA or SCE rates have not been disclosed and the CPUC is expected to take action in late December or early January. Furthermore, CCAs in SCE territory have filed an administrative complaint with the CPUC against SCE for changing how they handle unpaid CPA customer charges from inactive accounts. Regarding grants, Mr. Bardacke stated that CPA is set to receive approximately $1 million over three years to assist Los Angeles County with electrification upgrades for low-income residents. Mr.
Bardacke continued to share that CPA’s third bond won a Green Bond of the Year award from Bond Buyer Magazine and that CPA has now completed its fourth bond. Lastly, he reported that about half of CPA’s member agencies are participating in the Energized Communities grants program and thanked Committee Members Monteiro and Hicks for their work. Mr. Bardacke clarified for Committee Member Gold that the savings from prepaid bonds help narrow the gap between Lean/Clean rates and the 100% Green rates.
3. Review Draft Agenda for the December 5, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting Mr. Bardacke reported that the consent agenda includes CPA’s 2025 Legislative and Regulatory Policy Platform, the Peak Management Pricing Tariff program update, and the 2025 meeting schedule. The regular agenda includes two Resource Adequacy (RA) contracts: one involving a natural gas generator and the other for an energy storage unit at a converted oil drilling facility. The agenda also includes a Low-Income Solar & Storage Virtual Power Plant Professional Services Agreement and the election of one Executive Committee member representing Ventura County At-Large.
4. Recommend to the Board of Directors for the Following Fiscal Year 2025/26 Rate Approach for New Communities Joining CPA In October 2025:
(a) Set the New Member Communities’ Rates at the Total Bill Comparison Targets as Specified in Slide 5 of Attachment 1, Which is Designed to Cover the Customers’ Cost of Service and Contribute to CPA’s Financial Goals, (b) Set a Subset Rate for the New Communities that Does Not Exceed the Bill Comparison Levels for Each Subset Rate Schedule as of July 1, 2024 as Specified in Slide 6 Of Attachment 1, Which Is Designed to Cover the Subset Customers’ Cost of Service and Contribute to CPA's Financial Goals, and, (c) Authorize Staff to Update Rates for the New Communities Periodically as Needed When SCE Rates Change, to Maintain These Total Bill Comparison Levels Throughout FY 2025/26.
Karen Schmidt, Senior Director of Rates and Strategy, shared that three new agencies will join CPA in October 2025. The City Councils of La Cañada Flintridge, Lynwood, and Port Hueneme will select their communities’ preferred energy option or default rate, enabling CPA to begin work on energy procurement and community outreach and marketing. Customers in the new communities should be provided with competitive rates that align with targets for existing communities. Staff proposes that the Board adopt bill comparison targets for the new communities that match the FY 2024-2025 levels adopted by the Board in June 2024, including a 1% total bill discount compared to SCE for Lean Power, parity for Clean Power, and a 5% premium for 100% Green Power for residential and small/medium business customers.
Ms. Schmidt stated that the new communities beginning service in October 2025 will be placed on SCE’s 2025 vintage PCIA rate, which may be lower than most CPA customers' 2018 vintage PCIA rate. Staff projects that the new communities will be able to cover their service cost and contribute to CPA’s financial goals if their rates match the FY 24/25 targets adopted by the Board in June 2024. Ms.
Schmidt stated that staff recommends adopting a subset rate approach that does not exceed the bill comparison levels for each subset rate schedule as of July 1, 2024. The Board may adjust the subset rates downward at the regular FY 25/26 rate-setting cycle as needed.
Staff requests that the Executive Committee recommend the presented rate approach for adoption at the December 5 Board meeting, along with a delegation of authority for staff to adjust rates for the new communities as needed to maintain these targets throughout FY 25/26. The next steps would include staff developing scenarios for existing communities' FY 25/26 rate-setting approach after SCE has finalized its first quarter generation, delivery, and PCIA rate changes in the new year. Final rate setting and rate schedule approvals for existing communities will take place at the June 2025 Board meeting, along with the adoption of the FY 25/26 CPA budget.
Committee Member Parkhurst asked about bill comparisons with SCE, and staff responded that SCE’s first quarter rate changes in 2025 will determine the differences. He also asked about large customers in the new communities, to which staff replied that they have been meeting with those entities to discuss their carbon emission reduction targets and renewable energy use goals. In response to Committee Member Gold’s inquiry about Subset Rate customers, staff stated that they tend to opt-out more than residential customers because their electricity costs are high, but some do stay with CPA to meet their in-house sustainability goals. Staff clarified for Committee Member Monteiro that staff wants the flexibility to adjust new member rates to maintain competitive comparisons to SCE rates, especially during the 120-day notice period. Committee Member Hicks requested that staff keep Board members informed about rate changes impacting existing communities.
Motion: Committee Member Gold, Beverly Hills
Second: Committee Member Monteiro, Hawthorne
Vote: The item was approved by a roll call vote
5. Recommend to the Board of Directors the following Staff Recommendations:
(a) Approve the Update to Salary Grades for 2025 to Accommodate Labor Market Changes, Inflation, and Maintain CPA’s Competitiveness as Specified in Slide 6 of Attachment 1.
(b) Approve the Revisions to CPA’s Employee Handbook that Clarify Administrative Procedures and Ensure Compliance with Current and New Laws, and,
(c) Provide Input on Whether to Include Caregiver Leave Benefits to CPA’s Benefits Offerings.
Monique Edwards-Greer, Chief Administrative Officer, presented information about CPA’s ability to retain and recruit high-performing staff in a competitive labor market. Bi-annual salary grades and benefits reviews/updates have been integral to this success, as was the Executive/Management Retention Incentive program. CPA’s compensation was measured against four market sectors: CCAs, general industry, utilities/energy, and large-revenue public sector organizations. Results show CPA’s overall positioning for all positions is generally within the 3rd Quartile. This positioning appears different when the six senior executive positions are examined separately.
CPA staff recommends a 3.5% adjustment to salary grades to stay well-positioned for the next two years to account for current and future inflation. The changes to salary grades have no impact on any employee’s current salary and, therefore, have no fiscal impact in the current budget year. Given the limited nature of the proposed salary grade adjustments, the fiscal effect in future years is likely to be minimal. Staff would also like to add caregiver leave benefits, up to six weeks, for the growing number of employees with ageing parents.
Committee Members Hicks and Gold asked about COLA adjustments, and staff responded that those are made automatically in the annual budget.
Committee Member Maloney encouraged staff to monitor executive salaries to ensure retention. Staff clarified for Committee Member Parkhurst that the salary grade range accommodates employees with varying qualifications.
Regarding the paid caregiver leave proposal, staff further defined the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), explaining that CPA would utilize the disability definition offered by the law. The proposed caregiver leave would allow CPA employees not to apply for state disability benefits unless they needed more than the proposed six weeks. Committee Member Gold requested that the policy include a way to discontinue the benefit if there are negative consequences to CPA operations; legal counsel suggested that formal language be included in the policy should the benefits be rescinded. The final motion included the provision that an employee must be employed for a year to be eligible for caregiver-paid leave.
Motion: Committee Member Santangelo, Camarillo
Second: Committee Member Monteiro, Hawthorne
Vote: The item was approved by a roll call vote
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None
ADJOURN
Chair Klein Lopez adjourned the meeting at 3:21 p.m.