ITEM 6A
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the DCE Board was called to order by Chair Middleton at 3:02 p.m. at Palm Springs City Hall’s Large Conference Room, at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262.
2. ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken, and it was determined that a quorum was present.
Members Present Member Jurisdiction
Councilmember Lisa Middleton, Chair City of Palm Springs Finance Director Veronica Chavez, Vice Chair City of Palm Desert
3. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS (IF ANY)
DCE Program Manager David Freedman noted there was a slight wording change in Agenda Item 6E and the proposed bad debt policy (No. 23-02).
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
5. BOARD MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Mr. Freedman recognized DCE staff members for their hard work on DCE’s newly designed budget book. He also updated the Board on plans by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments to secure funding for bridges along Indian Canyon Drive, and noted the potential to incorporate solar opportunities that benefit DCE customers into the grant application.
Mr. Freedman noted there would be no Board meeting in July, and Board members pointed out scheduling conflicts with the currently scheduled August 21 meeting.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Prior to the vote, agenda Items 6B and 6E were pulled from the consent calendar.
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – June 27, 2023
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 6A, 6C, 6D, 6F AND 6G:
A. Approve Minutes from the May 12, 2023 Board Meeting
B. This item was pulled from the consent calendar.
C. Adopt DCE Policy No. 23-01 for Net Energy Metering Service, which replaces Policy No. 2021-01 and includes language for the Solar Billing Program for DCE customers with onsite solar and battery storage systems D. Authorize the updating of the signature cards and signatories for DCE investments and banking
E. This item was pulled from the consent calendar.
F. Approve a clarifying amendment to DCE Policy No. 18-10 Financial Reserve Policy
G. Authorize the Executive Director to issue a notice of termination of the amended Renewable Power Purchase Agreement with Deer Creek Solar I THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
At the request of Finance Director Chavez, Mr. Freedman provided additional background on how the data is collected for the Power Source Disclosure Annual Report.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM 6B AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2023-02, APPROVING THE 2022 POWER SOURCE DISCLOSURE (PSD) ANNUAL REPORT AND ASSOCIATED 2022 POWER CONTENT LABELS FOR DESERT SAVER AND CARBON
FREE PRODUCTS, AND ATTEST TO THEIR VERACITY
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
Mr. Freedman noted there was an unnecessary reference in the Policy section on collections, and asked that “in Section C.1” be struck from the policy.
IT WAS MOVED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON AND SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM 6E AND ADOPT DCE POLICY NO. 23-02, THE
RESTATED DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS, COLLECTIONS, AND BAD DEBT POLICY THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – June 27, 2023
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
.
7. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. DCE Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget– Claude Kilgore
Finance Director Claude Kilgore provided the staff report and budget highlights. Member discussion ensued, with Mr. Kilgore answering questions about the reserves and potential for future investment options.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2023-03 APPROVING DESERT COMMUNITY ENERGY’S FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 BUDGET
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
B. Presentation: Historical & Forecasted Energy Prices In a Volatile Market – Jaclyn Harr, The Energy Authority
Jaclyn Harr, Client Services Manager with The Energy Authority, provided an in-depth presentation via Zoom videoconference that included a look at trends and discussion on energy hedging.
It was noted by the Board that future presentations should be included in the agenda packet and include streamlined slides.
This item was an informational item with no action taken
8. INFORMATION
The following items were included in the agenda packet for members’ information :
A) Attendance Record
B) Unaudited Year-to-Year Financial Report as of April 30, 2023 C) Renewable and Mid-Term Reliability 2023 Request for Proposals D) Southern California Edison General Rate Case
E) July 2023 Rate Adjustment Summary
F) DCE’s 2023 Summer Readiness Outreach Strategy
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – June 27, 2023
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The July meeting is being cancelled. The next DCE meeting will be held August 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the Large Conference Room at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Middleton adjourned the meeting at 3:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erica Felci, Chief Operating Officer