MINUTES
Executive Committee of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
April 16, 2026
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:
Beverly Hills City Hall
Council Office, 4th Floor
455 N. Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, 90210
Clean Power Alliance
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Agoura Hills City Hall
Planning Conference Room
30001 Ladyface Court
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Camarillo City Hall
Council Office
601 Carmen Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
Hawthorne City Hall
Administrative Office
4455 W. 126th Street
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Santa Paula City Hall
Councilmember Office
970 E. Ventura Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Los Angeles County Hall of Administration
Sybil Brand Conference Room, Room 372
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Alhambra City Hall
Conference Room
111 S. First St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. and Gabriela Monzon, 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 Reata Kulcsar
Alternate Committee
Member Remote
Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Committee Member Remote
Los Angeles County Aaron Ordower Alternate Remote
Santa Paula Jenny Crosswhite Committee Member Remote
Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Committee Member Present
Ventura County Absent
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the March 19, 2026, Executive Committee Meeting Motion: Committee Member Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Committee Member Ordower, Los Angeles County
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, reported that a transmission bill CPA is supporting has advanced out of the Assembly’s Utilities and Energy Committee with majority support. Bill amendments limit CPA’s involvement to projects in the State’s Transmission Accelerator program, which includes projects that can receive tax credits and are connected with the state’s infrastructure bank. He thanked Vice Chair Horvath and Director Ordower for their assistance in gaining key legislative support. Mr. Bardacke also commented on wildfire liability, noting that the California Wildfire Fund report referenced potential reforms to the State’s methodology for assessing liability in the case of disaster. Finally, he reported that SunZia has increased its production of wind energy for test purposes. On a related note, California’s grid recently broke a record for most wind energy on the system, recording 7,200 MWs.
3. Review Draft Agenda for the May 14, 2026, Board of Directors Meeting Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, discussed the consent agenda, including CAC reappointments and proposed amendments to CPA’s investment policy. On the regular agenda, staff will present a rate outlook and budget priorities, and the Board Chair will also open the nomination period for at-large positions on the Executive Committee.
4. Receive Presentation on FY 2026-2027 Rates and Recommend a Rate Setting Approach to the Board of Directors for Consideration at its May 14, 2026, Meeting
Karen Schmidt, Senior Director, Rates and Strategy, presented three rate approach options: the Clean-up, Historical Bill Comparisons, and Lower Reserve Buffer. These options were developed to maintain varying levels of projected reserve buffer to address potential bill and competitiveness impacts of the likely 2027 PCIA and SCE generation rate changes. Ms. Schmidt also referenced the projected contributions of the options to CPA’s Net Position and Reserve percentage. The selected rate-setting approach will apply to total bill comparison levels for residential and small/medium business rates, as well as subset rates based on projected Cost of Service. Customers would see a range between very little change to a reduction of up to $4 per month across the various options.
Customers on the 100% Green rate who began service in October would see an increase between $2-5 per month across the various options as their guaranteed FY2025-2026 5% premium ends. Lean and Clean customers would see either no change or a small decrease under Options 2 and 3.
Current market prices for brown power, Resource Adequacy and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) remain significantly lower than previous years. If this low pricing persists throughout 2026, it will put upward pressure on the 2027 PCIA rate calculation and downward pressure on SCE generation rates. Ms. Schmidt reminded the Committee that the FY 2026-2027 rates will not apply to the cities of Cudahy and Fillmore, which begin CPA service in October 2027. Staff will present rate-setting options for these cities in December 2026, ahead of their default energy selection in early 2027.
Committee Member Gold suggested that if reserves exceed the 50% target, CPA could allocate funding for community programs. Staff noted that reserves cannot exceed a maximum of 60%; this target can support adjustments in response to market volatility or be directed to customer programs. Committee Member Gold stated support for Option 1. Mr. Bardacke noted that both Options 1 and 2 would result in staying above the 50% reserve target, even with an interim rate adjustment. Committee Member Crosswhite and Parkhurst expressed support for Option 2 as it results in healthy reserves and slightly lower rates. Committee Member Ordower asked about PCIA volatility under Option 2; staff responded that it provides a wide range of reserve contribution to address rate adjustments.
Committee Members Santangelo, Maloney, and Kulcsar also expressed support for Option 2 as it takes into account various factors such as the PCIA, SCE rates, affordability and market volatility. Staff clarified for Committee Member Monteiro that the proposed rates in the options are based on Cost of Service and making adjustments may result in one rate subsidizing another; he stated support for Option 2. In response to Committee Member Kulcsar, Mr. Bardacke confirmed that if reserve targets are exceeded, staff would need to discuss with the Board options for excess reserves. Chair Klein Lopez expressed support for rates that are at par or less than SCE’s rates and noted support for Option 2.
Motion: Committee Member Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Committee Member Monteiro, Hawthorne
Vote: The Committee unanimously approved Option 2 by a roll call vote.
5. Receive Presentation on FYs 2026-27 and 2027-28 Budget Priorities Mr. Bardacke, noted that this year’s budget preparation included consideration of a two-year budget cycle, which would allow more discussion about organizational planning and spending. CPA manages about $1 billion of annual energy costs representing 92% of total costs. While energy prices are falling, competitiveness pressures are ever-present, requiring CPA to be nimble, innovative, and well-staffed. CPA can help mitigate rising electricity bills by delivering customer programs that save customers money and reduce peak load, continuing to manage risk, engaging customers, and implementing innovative business and policy measures.
Mr. Bardacke provided an overview of operating expenses, which represent 8% of CPA’s total costs for the next two fiscal years. Operating expense adjustments have limited impact on customer rates in the short term, though the proposed budget supports work that helps keep rates competitive and stable over time.
Some line items are projected to have flat or minimal increases, including Technical Services, Other Services, Billing Services, and General & Administrative. Legal and SCE Service Fees are budgeted to decrease. Customer Programs will increase in year two, Communications and Marketing in year one, and Software in years one and two. Staff predicts potential staffing growth over the next two fiscal years, but slightly lower than last year’s 16%. Mr. Bardacke covered technology investments, customer programs, specifically expanding existing programs, and communications. Staff is proposing investment in public relations but requested feedback on marketing priorities. With regard to staffing, 53% of the FY 2026-27 increase is due to the full-year impact of the current year’s new hires, next year’s COLA, and other retention efforts. New positions address growth in communications and marketing, energy contracting, customer and community support, and cybersecurity. Mr. Bardacke noted the continued deceleration in the staffing budget growth rates.
In response to Committee Member Parkhurst’s question about AI in operations, Mr. Bardacke explained that CPA is piloting use-cases with different platforms; CPA is using AI tools internally to enhance efficiency, but not to make organizational decisions. Regarding Customer Programs, Committee Member Ordower expressed gratitude for the expansion of customer programs, some of which complement LA County initiatives. Chair Klein Lopez expressed support for increased media outreach and highlighting CPA’s success in its upcoming anniversary; noted that it is important to consider if the Mobile Education Unit (MEU) is reaching the right audience. Committee Member Crosswhite agreed with the Chair on communications priorities and suggested the MEU could eventually participate in school educational programs. Committee Member Ordower relayed Vice Chair Horvath’s support for investment in earned media as more awareness of CCAs is needed; noted that the MEU may not provide as much return as other marketing efforts. Committee Member Maloney expressed support for direct mail because of its effectiveness and agreed that the MEU is not as effective as other marketing priorities. Committee Member Santangelo agreed with previous comments to prioritize public and media relations and CPA’s 10th Anniversary while putting the MEU on hold. Committee Member Monteiro suggested CPA explore existing educational programs that could share in the cost of the Mobile Education Unit. Committee Member Gold asked that when the MEU comes back for consideration, staff could break down costs such as vehicle maintenance, insurance, and depreciation. Regarding staffing, Committee Member Gold commended staff on turnover reduction; suggested that staff include information about cost offsets when switching from a consultant to an in-house employee.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
ADJOURN
Chair Klein Lopez adjourned the meeting at 3:12 p.m.