MINUTES
Board of Directors of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, April 2, 2026, 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
Closed Session 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
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Conference Room
357 Van Ness Way, Suite 90
Torrance, CA 90501
Ventura County Government Center
CEO Point Mugu Room, Hall of Administration
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
Beverly Hills City Hall
Conference Room 4A
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Whittier City Hall
Admin Conference Room
13230 Penn Street
Whittier, CA 90602
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m. and Director Calaycay led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Gabriela Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
Roll Call
1 Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Chair Present
2 Alhambra Jeff Maloney Director Present
3 Arcadia Paul Cheng Director Remote
4 Beverly Hills Craig Corman Director Remote
5 Calabasas Ed Albrecht Director Remote
6 Camarillo Susan Santangelo Director Remote
7 Carson Cedric Hicks Director Remote
8 Claremont Corey Calaycay Director Present
9 Culver City Yasmine-Imani McMorrin Director Present
10 Downey Mario Trujillo Director Remote
11 Hawaiian Gardens Ramie L. Torres Alternate Remote
12 Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Director Remote
13 Hermosa Beach Doug Krauss Alternate Remote
14 La Cañada Flintridge Stephanie Fossan Director Present 15 Los Angeles County Lindsey Horvath Vice Chair Present 16 Lynwood Juan Muñoz-Guevara Director Present
17 Malibu Absent
18 Manhattan Beach David Lesser Director Remote
19 Monrovia Edward Belden Director Remote
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 Remote
25 Redondo Beach Brad Waller Director Present
26 Rolling Hills Estates Debby Stegura Director Remote
27 Santa Monica Gleam Davis Alternate Present
28 Santa Paula Absent
29 Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Director Present
30 Simi Valley Rocky Rhodes Director Remote
31 South Pasadena Casey Law Alternate Present
32 Temple City Ed Chen Director Present
33 Thousand Oaks David Newman Director Remote
34 City of Ventura Ryyn Schumacher Director Remote
35 Ventura County Vianey Lopez Vice Chair Remote
36 West Hollywood Chelsea Byers Alternate Remote
37 Westlake Village Kristopher Galvez Alternate Remote
38 Whittier Yahaera Oropeza Alternate Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from March 5, 2026, Board of Directors Meeting
2. Approve CPA’s Portion of the CalCCA Special Assessment for SCE’s 2024, 2025, and 2026 Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) Review and 2027 and 2028 ERRA Forecast Applications for a Total Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Amount of $574,860, which includes a NTE Amount of $330,000 for Keyes & Fox, and a NTE Amount of $244,860 for NewGen Strategies, LLC for Services Performed from April 3, 2026 to December 31, 2027
3. Receive and File Monthly Bill Positions Report
4. Receive and File Monthly Community Advisory Committee Report Motion: Director Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Director Davis, Santa Monica
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
5. Elect a Board Chair to Serve a Term from July 2026 to June 2028 Chair Klein Lopez introduced the item, stating that Director Robert Parkhurst from Sierra Madre was the only candidate nominated for the Board Chair position.
Director Parkhurst thanked his colleagues for their confidence in him, expressing his desire to follow the example of previous CPA Board Chairs.
Director Parkhurst was voted in unanimously as Chair for a two-year term running July 2026 through June 2028.
6. Direct Staff to (A) Proceed with Activities Necessary to Operationalize CPA’s Ownership of Assets and Delivery Approach for Power Ready Round 2 and (B) Return to the Board for Approval of the Potential Sites, the Proposed Budget, and Other Actions Necessary to Effectuate the Launch of the Procurement of Services Matt Langer, Chief Operating Officer, provided background on the Power Ready program and an update on Round 1 portfolio progress. Interest from the Board in transmission ownership and challenges with the implementation of the current PPA model led staff to develop an ownership model focusing on Round 2. CPA has screened 132-member agency and community sites, out of which 24 agency sites have been assessed for technical feasibility. CPA is working with member agencies to finalize site designs and confirm interest in moving forward.
Mr. Langer described the challenges in the current PPA model and the opportunities available through system ownership. Staff identified a Design-Build process utilizing a Build-Transfer Agreement (BTA). Design-Build is a project delivery method that utilizes one Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor to provide both the engineering (design) and construction (build) functions supported by an Owner's Representative to provide project development and oversight. CPA will use a best-value approach for selection, including experience, safety, and quality. Other CCAs are already utilizing a similar project delivery method to develop their projects. Staff consulted with industry experts and technical consultants to better understand potential risks and believes that the risks are manageable for CPA given the planned mitigations and the scale of the program. Mr. Langer outlined each party’s role in the process and noted that estimated costs are $13,200,000 for a hypothetical portfolio of project, which would be updated after project selection. CPA would not utilize debt financing, and a new CPA project manager position is already included in this year’s staffing budget. Mr.
Langer concluded with an overview of next steps and a timeline.
In response to Chair Klein Lopez’s question, staff explained that after 20 years, the asset may be decommissioned or, if still viable, sold to the Site Host after appraisal.
Director Law asked if staff has considered options in the event an EPC or O&M contractor lacks experience with long-term maintenance; staff noted that they may consider combining solicitations to secure a contractor capable of both the EPC and O&M services, or an O&M provider prior to construction completion. Staff also clarified for Director Newman that the EPC contractor owns the asset during construction and after completion, CPA would own the solar panels, batteries, equipment and other operational components, but not the building nor the land.
Director Lesser asked about equipment failure before the 20-year term expiration, and Mr. Langer noted that staff plans to select suppliers with long operating histories to ensure equipment warranties are honored. Otherwise, CPA may need to assume the risk of equipment failure.
Director Albrecht asked about preferred sites in Southern California and the feasibility of purchasing real estate. Mr. Langer explained that in Round 2, sites from non-profit locations and buildings owned by special districts were included.
The goal was to boost resiliency by utilizing structures that already serve a community purpose. However, land ownership may be a consideration in Round 3 or beyond.
Motion: Vice Chair Horvath, Los Angeles County
Second: Director Waller, Redondo Beach
Vote: Item 6 was approved by a roll call vote.
7. Direct Staff to Prepare and Present to the Board for Approval: (A) Annual Budgets for Both Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28; and, (B) A Budget Policy that includes Controls for Transfers and Reporting as Described in the Item Jennifer Stevenson, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, explained that CPA's business has matured with increasingly predictable multi-year expense planning and staff is recommending the annual budget structure change to a budget cycle where two consecutive fiscal year budgets are approved. The new structure would improve operational flexibility as projects are increasingly spanning multiple fiscal years, and business decisions can be constrained by line-item allocations. If a two fiscal year budget cycle is adopted, the Board would be able to approve two consecutive fiscal year budgets simultaneously, and in the second year of the budget cycle, the Board would review a budget amendment to update revenue, cost of energy, and contribution to the net position. Ms. Stevenson explained control and reporting mechanisms.
Director Santangelo, Finance Committee Chair, reported that the committee discussed the proposed budget structure, focusing on controls and accountability, and unanimously supported the proposal. Director Muñoz-Guevara expressed support for the new process and asked about Board reporting in the short-term.
Ms. Stevenson stated that the Finance Committee would receive a year-end report and the Board would receive a presentation after the first year’s books were closed to allow for review of spending. Chair Klein Lopez remarked that her city uses a two-year budget cycle and the system works well as it allows for adjustments related to unpredictable circumstances.
Motion: Director Calaycay, Claremont
Second: Director Muñoz-Guevara, Lynwood
Vote: Item 7 was approved by a roll call vote.
8. Receive Presentation on FY 2026-27 Rates Outlook
Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, stated that rate options for the new fiscal year will reflect the impacts of a cost environment that may widen the price spreads between CPA’s energy products. Reserves may end up ahead of budget and in exceedance of the Board’s 50% maximum reserve target, affording CPA the ability to incur a loss in FY 2026-2027 if needed to reduce rates while still maintaining reserves at or above the maximum target. Losses would be offset by a transfer from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund (FSF). As for competitiveness with SCE, current total bill comparisons are near historic norms, but falling renewable energy and RA prices may continue to drive PCIA rates up and SCE generation rates down, which may lead to higher customer bills and a worsening of CPA’s competitive position in the beginning of 2027, similar to January 2026.
Mr. Bardacke discussed Board direction from the 2025 Board Retreat regarding product content strategy, including keeping Lean Power the least cost option for customers and providing staff flexibility to choose best annual mix of renewable and carbon-free (CF) energy in the Clean Power product, with the continual goal to exceed SCE’s base product on environmental performance with lower greenhouse gas emissions. CPA’s product content targets for 2026-2027 are similar to 2025. Mr. Bardacke reviewed product price differentials among each of CPA’s rate products, based on cost-of-service calculations and highly dependent on renewable energy and brown power prices. Staff is still evaluating the new fiscal year’s product differentials and will reflect them in the proposed rate options.
In response to Director Monteiro’s suggestion that CPA could provide a one-time credit on customers’ electricity bills due to PCIA volatility, Mr. Bardacke responded that a one-time credit may make sense if reserves hit 60% and CPA has excess funds. Staff may present a ‘do-nothing’ option if the PCIA worst-case scenario does not materialize. Director Parkhurst inquired about the recent rate adjustments, and Mr. Bardacke stated that two interim rate adjustments addressed increases in the PCIA and decreases in SCE rates, whereas a third instance was during the gas price shock of late 2022. Staff is running different forecasts and scenarios for PCIA changes; currently there are indications it may increase or decrease by two cents, both of which would be significant, with the actual figure known by the end of December. Mr. Bardacke referenced an open CPUC proceeding that may favor CPA customers and mentioned legislation by CalCCA that will make available underlying data used by SCE to calculate the PCIA.
Chair Klein Lopez asked when the PCIA will no longer influence CPA electricity rates and Mr. Bardacke stated the timeframe is the late 2030s. Director Lesser asked about speeding up that timeframe, and staff noted that the CPUC will conduct a comprehensive review the PCIA in the next three years, potentially providing an opportunity for CCAs to buy-out old expensive energy contracts that the IOUs are committed to. Issuing bonds may be a way to raise funds for such a purchase, which would come with risks.
COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES
Director Hicks, Legislative & Regulatory Committee Chair, provided a report on Lobby Day. Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin has taken over as author of AB 2396, which would authorize CCAs to develop, finance, and operate eligible transmission projects. Mr.
Bardacke added that such projects would help CPA lower costs for all ratepayers through public financing; he and David McNeil, Chief Financial Officer, will be expert witnesses at an upcoming hearing of the Assembly’s Utilities and Energy Committee. Director Hicks encouraged other directors to participate in future Lobby Day events and thanked those who participated this year.
MANAGEMENT REPORT
Mr. Bardacke discussed an upcoming ribbon-cutting event in Carson celebrating completion of a Power Share project; reviewed important dates for the Board and reported that $50 million from the Rebuilding Incentives for Sustainable Electric Homes program will be available to CPA customers. He thanked Vice Chair Horvath and her colleague, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and their staffs, for helping release the funds that support wildfire survivors in rebuilding all-electric homes.
Director Waller suggested that participation reporting include reference to the last 6 or 12 months of participation rates for comparison and identifying trends. Director Perello thanked CPA staff for unlocking the RISE money and making it available to people rebuilding their homes after wildfires.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
None.
ADJOURN
Chair Klein Lopez adjourned the meeting at 3:41 p.m.