MINUTES
Board of Directors of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 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
Clean Power Alliance
Diana Mahmud Board Room
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
Point Mugu 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
City of Claremont
Community Services Department
Conference Room
1616 Monte Vista Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 2:02pm and Gabriela Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director Cheng led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
1 Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Chair Present
2 Alhambra Jeff Maloney Director Present
3 Arcadia Paul Cheng Director Present
4 Beverly Hills Absent
5 Calabasas Ed Albrecht Director Remote
6 Camarillo Susan Santangelo Director Remote
7 Carson Cedric Hicks Director Remote
8 Claremont Corey Calaycay Director Remote
9 Culver City Yasmine-Imani McMorrin Director Present
10 Downey Horacio Ortiz Director Remote
11 Hawaiian Gardens Ramie L. Torres Alternate Remote
12 Hawthorne Absent
13 Hermosa Beach Doug Krauss Alternate Remote
14 La Cañada Flintridge Stephanie Fossan Director Present 15 Los Angeles County Lindsay Horvath Vice Chair Present 16 Lynwood Juan Muñoz-Guevara Director Present
17 Malibu Marianne Riggins Director Remote
18 Manhattan Beach David Lesser Director Remote
19 Monrovia Edward Belden Director Present
20 Moorpark Chris Barrett Director Remote
21 Ojai Michelle Ellison Alternate Remote
22 Oxnard Bert Perello Director Remote
23 Paramount Michelle Muller Alternate Remote
24 Port Hueneme Laura Hernandez Director Present
25 Redondo Beach Brad Waller Director Present
26 Rolling Hills Estates Debby Stegura Director Remote
27 Santa Monica Caroline Torosis Director Present
28 Santa Paula Jenny Crosswhite Director Present
29 Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Director Present
30 Simi Valley Rocky Rhodes Director Present
31 South Pasadena Omari Ferguson Director Present
32 Temple City Ed Chen Director Present
33 Thousand Oaks David Newman Director Present
34 City of Ventura Alex Mangone Director Remote
35 Ventura County Vianey Lopez Vice Chair Present
36 West Hollywood Chelsea Byers Alternate Present
37 Westlake Village Kristopher Galvez Alternate Remote
38 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 May 1, 2025, Board of Directors Meeting
2. Approve and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute the Professional Services Agreement with ICF Consulting, LLC to Provide Technical Services to Support the Community Electric Vehicle Charging Pathway in the Energized Communities Program for a Three-Year Initial Term with Two Optional Successive One Year Terms, with a Total Not-To-Exceed Amount of $1,200,560
3. Approve and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Agreement with Calpine Energy Services Extending the Term to July 31, 2027, with an Option to Extend for an Additional 12-Months until July 31, 2028 Upon Mutual Agreement
4. Appoint Four New Members to the Community Advisory Committee for San Gabriel Valley, Unincorporated Los Angeles County, and the Gateway Cities Regions for the Remainder of the Current Term Ending in April 2026
5. Receive and File CY Q1 Risk Management Team Report
6. Receive and File FY 2024/2025 Q3 Financial Report
7. Receive and File CY Q2 Communications Report
8. Receive and File CY Q2 Member Agency Programs Report
9. Receive and File June 2025 Bill Positions Report
10. Receive and File Monthly Community Advisory Committee Report Motion: Vice Chair Horvath, Los Angeles County
Second: Director Byers, West Hollywood
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by roll call vote
REGULAR AGENDA
11. Adopt Resolution 25-06-084 to Approve New Rates for Phase 1 & 2 Non-Residential Customers, Resolution No. 25-06-085 to Approve New Rates for Phase 3 & 5 Residential Customers, Resolution No. 25-06-086 to Approve New Rates for Phase 4 & 5 Non-Residential Customers, Resolution No. 25-06-087 to Approve New Rates for All Phase 6 Customers, Resolution No. 25-06-088 to Approve New Rates for All Phase 7 Customers, and Resolution No. 25-06-089 to Approve an Amended Peak Management Pricing Tariff
Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, presented the item. The rates implement the FY 2025/26 rate approach adopted by the Board at its May 2025 meeting. New rates extend and amplify the interim rate reduction that was implemented in March 2025. Potential regulatory changes at the end of the year may require an interim rate adjustment in early 2026.
Vice Chair Horvath expressed support for the proposed rates, stating the approach will create stability for CPA’s financial position and earn the trust of customers with reasonable rates. Chair Klein Lopez thanked staff for working on the rate process and stated her satisfaction that CPA is addressing affordability in electricity rates.
Motion: Director Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Director Byers, West Hollywood
Vote: Item 11 was approved by a roll call vote.
12. Approve the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget as Recommended by the Finance Committee
David McNeil, Chief Financial Officer, presented the item. Mr. McNeil discussed energy costs and operating expenses, including increases in staffing, communications, and customer programs. The budgeted increase in net position will bring CPA’s reserves to 50% by June 30, 2026, and that Days Liquidity On Hand (DLOH) will increase to 189 days. There will be a 17% decrease in net electricity revenue due to factors such as lower rates and customer accounts in arrears. CPA’s financial metrics compare favorably with other CCAs and are consistent with its A- credit rating.
Director Newman acknowledged CPA’s strong financial position, which allowed lowering of electricity prices for customers and the resulting 17% drop in revenue.
Staff clarified for Director Belden that lower revenue will be the result of lower rates, not reduced demand, and that the loss of customers due to the January 2025 wildfires did not greatly impact CPA’s load. Director Crosswhite inquired about DLOH, and staff responded that it’s a calculation of cash and available lines of credit related to expenses, and that it informs credit ratings.
Director Lesser asked about budget impacts related to the federal roll back of the Inflation Reduction Act; staff said there is little impact in the short-term, but long-term, natural gas prices may go up because of a decrease in renewables production, and that would increase overall energy market prices. Also, the tax bill moving through the House and Senate may have negative impacts on energy production overall. Director Santangelo, Chair of the Finance Committee, thanked staff for their work on the budget and stated that the committee approved the draft budget unanimously. Vice Chair Horvath expressed appreciation for CPA’s staff retention efforts and the increase in funding for marketing and communications, which will benefit customers.
Motion: Director Hicks, Carson
Second: Director Muñoz-Guevara, Lynwood
Vote: Item 12 was approved by a roll call vote.
COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES
Director Santangelo, Finance Committee, reported that the committee approved Baker Tilly as the auditor for the current year’s budget; the firm has experience with auditing electricity utilities and CCAs.
Director Parkhurst, Energy Committee, reported that the committee reviewed active RFOs.
MANAGEMENT REPORT
Mr. Bardacke discussed the upcoming Board retreat and noted that meeting stipends will be implemented in the new fiscal year. The cities of Cudahy and Fillmore have voted to engage in feasibility studies to join CPA. CPA received a high score in its privacy and IT security audit.
Regarding federal regulations, tax-exempt government debt is intact in the latest round of proposed laws. However, there are CPA battery projects that may be negatively impacted by changes to the Investment Tax Credit. Abrupt removal of tax credits could raise energy prices immediately. Mr. Bardacke described the Foreign Entities of Concern or FEOC policy, which threatens project tax credits.
Staff clarified for the Board that FEOC, if implemented, would impact projects that rely on renewable energy tax credits, and may potentially impact other kinds of energy production.
For renewables, projects could still go forward but they would cost more without tax credits. Director Belden asked about quantifying the increase in costs, and staff responded that each project is unique and cost increases would be difficult to estimate. The bills may still be changed to favor CPA and renewable energy production in general. Lawmakers may also be influenced by the potential loss of jobs across the country.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Director Byers thanked CPA staff for participating in the West Hollywood Pride event to promote community engagement in clean energy programs.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Chair Klein Lopez encouraged Board members to participate in the upcoming Board retreat.
ADJOURN
Chair Klein Lopez adjourned the meeting at 3:17 p.m.