SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
Daniel Lurie
Mayor
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
1:30 PM
(Approved February 10, 2026)
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 400
Commissioners
Joshua Arce, President
Stephen E. Leveroni, Vice President
Avni Jamdar
Kate H. Stacy
Meghan Thurlow
Dennis J. Herrera
General Manager
Tiffany Lennear
Director of Commission Affairs
SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 8
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Call to Order
Vice President Leveroni called the meeting to order at 1:30 P.M.
2. Roll Call
Present: Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Arce
3. Approval of the Minutes of January 13, 2026
A correction was noted for Agenda Item No. 17 to read: The Commission took no action during Closed Session.
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve the amended Minutes of January 13, 2026:
Ayes: Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Arce
4. General Public Comment
• Francisco Da Costa provided comment relating to climate change and the quality of water.
• Jean Elle provided comment relating to the issue of a broken SFPUC water meter transponder and its financial impact to her expenses.
• Peter Drekmeier, Policy Director for Yosemite Rivers Alliance, provided comment relating to the October 2025 Water Supply Update. • Natalie Shuttleworth provided comment relating to her installation of rooftop solar panels and stated that penalizing people who have installed panels is the wrong thing to do.
5. Report of the General Manager (discussion only)
a) Overview of SFPUC Wholesale Customers, Water Supply Agreement, and the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
Alison Kastama, Principal Administrative Analyst, presented the report.
President Arce arrived at the meeting at 1:43 P.M.
During Commission discussion, Commissioner Stacy asked Tom Smegal, Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) CEO and General Manager, if there was anything he would like to add to the discussion.
Mr. Smegal responded by submitting a document to the Commission and shared information relating to BAWSCA conservation programs.
• Mr. Smegal provided public comment to clarify the discussion relating to Individual Supply Guarantees (ISGs) and stated that BAWSCA is not the SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 8
negotiator but serves as a conduit to the 27-party negotiation. • Francisco Da Costa provided comment by complimenting the presentation with the chronological history pertaining to water (management), urged the Commission to disclose agreements for Sunol, mentioned the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), and commented that it is forgotten how the Act was used by government.
• Peter Drekmeier provided comment relating to the recent amendment to the Water Supply Agreement that includes a reduction to the minimum purchase obligation for customers with limited financial resources. • Dave Warner stated he would like to add to the comment made by Mr. Drekmeier, mentioned the topic was discussed at the last BAWSCA meeting, and stated SFPUC reported the cause of the wholesale increase was due to the decrease in summertime demand and requested the agency complete a financial analysis.
b) Report on Recent San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Activities, Events and Announcements
General Manager Herrera presented a preview of a variety of topics related to demand planning throughout the 2026 calendar year, including its impact to SFPUC operations and to staff who are continually and simultaneously engaged in real-time business analysis for long-term water planning.
• Dave Warner provided comment relating to his letter previously submitted to the Commission regarding the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
6. Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency Report Tom Smegal presented the BAWSCA report.
• Peter Drekmeier complimented BAWSCA and its consultant on its study including the sensitivity analysis, commented on the projected baseline in relation to the water supply guarantee, and urged the Commission to consider the lower numbers when reviewing the sensitivity analysis. • Dave Warner provided comment relating to demand hardening and shared data points from various sources.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approve the novation of Contract No. PRO.0262.B Technical Services – Renewable & Advanced Energy Generation, to transfer the existing contract from Sage Renewable Energy Consulting, Inc., DBA NV5, to NV5 Consultants, Inc. (26-0011) b) Award Contract No. PRO.0318 A-D, As-Needed Wastewater and Stormwater Services, to AECOM-Lotus Joint Venture (JV) ( PRO.0318.A); Brown & Caldwell – Freyer & Laureta JV (PRO.0318.B); Woodard & Curran – SRT JV (Woodard & Curran) (PRO.0318.C); and Kennedy/Jenks – JHCE JV(PRO.0318.D), each in the SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8
amount not-to-exceed $8,000,000 and with a duration of five years. (26-0012) c) Approve Amendments No. 1 to Contract Nos. PRO.0254.A and B, Project Scheduling and Cost Control Staff Augmentation Services, with CM Pros (PRO.0254.A) and with PMA Consultants LLC and Dabri Joint Venture (PRO.0254.B), increasing each contract by $1,500,000, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $9,000,000 per contract, with no change to the contract duration, to continue to provide program/project scheduling, critical path method scheduling, forecasting, change control, cost controls, and cost estimating for currently initiated capital improvement projects in the SFPUC Capital Plan. (Robinson) Item No. 7c was removed from Commission consideration and no Commission action was taken.
d) Award Job Order Contract No. JOC-115, General Engineering (A-License) Construction (Marine Emphasis), San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda Counties, in the amount not-to-exceed $5,000,000, with a guaranteed minimum task order opportunity amount of $50,000, and a duration of two years, to the responsible bidder that submitted the lowest responsive bid, Power Engineering Construction Company, to perform A-licensed general engineering construction work with a marine emphasis on San Francisco Public Utilities Commission systems and operations around the Bay Area. (26-0013)
e) Accept work performed by A. Ruiz Construction Co. & Assoc. Inc., under Contract No. WD-2848, 8-Inch Ductile Iron Water Main Replacement on Gold Mine Drive from Topaz Way to Diamond Heights Boulevard and Various Side Streets; approve Modification No. 6 (Final) decreasing the contract amount by $1,302,996, with no change to the contract duration, for a total contract amount of $6,609,144, and a total contract duration of 608 consecutive calendar days (approximately one year and eight months), to adjust the final contract amount to the value of actual contract quantities completed; and authorize final payment to the contractor. (26-0014) No public comment provided.
On motion to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 7a, 7b, 7d, and 7e:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
REGULAR CALENDAR
8. Public Hearing to consider and possible action to adopt Rules and Regulations Governing Procedures for Submitting Written Objections to Proposed Water and Sewer Fees or Charges. (26-0015)
Laura Busch, Deputy CFO - Business Services, presented Item 8.
No public comment provided.
SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8
On motion to approve Item 8:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
9. Public Hearing to consider adopting schedules of rates of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Power Enterprise for CleanPowerSF power service in San Francisco to be effective March 1, 2026. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that this action is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision on this action. (26-0016) Matthew Freiberg, Rates Manager, presented Item 9.
• Ms. Janine Cotter submitted a document to the Commission, provided comment relating to fixed charges implemented by Pacific Gas & Electric Company, discussed the increased costs of transmission and distribution, and urged the Commission to support cost reduction.
On motion to approve Item 9:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
10. Public Hearing to consider possible action to approve: 1) the proposed “Electric Schedule NBT-CleanPowerSF, Net Billing Tariff” (CleanPowerSF Net Billing Tariff) and 2) a revised “Electric Schedule NEM-CleanPowerSF, Net Energy Metering” (NEM Tariff) both to be effective August 20, 2026. CleanPowerSF Net Billing Tariff may also be referred to as the “Solar Billing Plan” in customer-facing communications. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that this action is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision on this action. (Hale)
Andrew Bevington, CleanPowerSF Customer Solutions Manager, presented Item 10. • Charles Adams, Albion Power Company, Inc., provided comment relating to net billing policies based upon the Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) which is the basis of his presentation stated that the California Supreme Court voted 12 to 0 confirming it is unlawful to neglect accounting for the true value of rooftop solar. • J.P. Rapagnani of Sutro Power provided comment stating that he attended the last Rate Fairness Board meeting to understand the methodology used toward the reduction in rates for his clients that produce solar.
• Janine Cotter of Luminalt Solar provided comment relating to the voters’ approval of CleanPowerSF to have local generation and stated she and her colleagues provide the only local generation of power in San Francisco. • Juliano Lodi of Sutro Power provided comment to offer clarification on the SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8
written comments from the Rate Fairness Board stating, “the current retail net billing methodology has contributed to overbuilding of residential solar.” Mr.
Lodi expressed his concern that the conclusion appears to rely on California-wide system data rather than a study specific to San Francisco. • Maryann Rodriguez provided comment stating that PG&E, other investors and utilities, have effectively disseminated information that influenced the response of the SFPUC.
• Natalie Shuttleworth, homeowner, provided comment relating to her implementation of rooftop solar and stated that the place to generate power is locally.
Item 10 was removed from Commission consideration and no Commission action was taken.
President Arce left the meeting at 4:17 P.M.
11. Approve an increase of 208 calendar days to the duration contingency for Contract No.
HH-1009, San Joaquin Pipeline Valve and Safe Entry Improvements Phase 3 Tesla Surge Tower, with Mountain Cascade Inc., for a revised duration limit of 765 calendar days (approximately two years and one month), with no change to the contract amount, to complete the replacement of a water sampling line. (26-0017) Jimmy Leong, Principal Engineer, presented Item 11.
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve to approve Item 11:
Ayes: Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Arce
12. COMMUNICATIONS (information only)
a. Advance Calendar
b. Contract Advertisement Report
c. Correspondence Log
d. Water Supply Conditions Update
e. Power Quarterly Report on Delegated Authority Contracts Pursuant to Administrative Code Section 21.43
f. Quarterly Report of CAISO charges compared with projections and remaining contract expenditures under Contract No. PRO.0152, Power Scheduling Coordination and Related Support Services, with APX, Inc. [Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 095-23]
g. Quarterly Report (Q4) on Delegated Actions to the GM Pursuant to Commission Resolution 24-0185
h. Green Infrastructure Grant Program Quarterly Report, Q4 2025, Pursuant to Board of Supervisors Ordinance 207-24
SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8
13. Items initiated by Commissioners (discussion only)
No items were initiated by Commissioners.
14. Public Comment on matters to be addressed during Closed Session No public comment provided.
15. Motion on whether to assert the attorney-client privilege regarding the matters listed below:
On motion to assert the attorney-client privilege:
Ayes: Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Arce
The Commission entered Closed Session at 4:22 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION
SFPUC Officials and Staff members present during Closed Session: Stephen Leveroni, Commission Vice President; Commissioner Avni Jamdar; Commissioner Kate Stacy; Dennis Herrera, SFPUC General Manager; Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager-Water; Sheryl Bregman, Utilities General Counsel; Jannie Ram, Executive Assistant; and, Tiffany Lennear, Director of Commission Affairs.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL regarding anticipated litigation (Government Code §54956.9, Administrative Code §67.10(d):
Marlene Acosta v. City and County of San Francisco
Unlitigated Claim File No.: 26-01036
Date Filed: December 2, 2025
Proposed settlement of an unlitigated claim for property damage resulting from a water pipe break with the City to pay claimant Marlene Acosta $70,000, in exchange for a full and final release, subject to final approval by the Board of Supervisors. (26-0018) The Commission exited Closed Session at 4:26 P.M.
16. Announcement following Closed Session
Vice President Leveroni announced that the Commission recommends the Board of Supervisors approve the settlement referenced under Item 15.
17. Motion regarding whether to disclose the discussion during Closed Session pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).
SFPUC January 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8
On motion not to disclose:
Ayes: Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Arce.
18. Adjournment
Vice President Leveroni adjourned the meeting at 4:26 P.M.