MCE Executive Committee Meeting
Monday, July 7, 2025
12:00 p.m.
1125 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
2300 Clayton Road, First Floor Conference Room, Concord, CA, 94520 Public comments may be made in person or remotely via the details below.
Remote Public Meeting Participation
Video Conference: https://t.ly/DnY7U
Phone: Dial (669) 900-9128, Meeting ID: 861 2234 3784, Passcode: 415565 Materials related to this agenda are available for physical inspection at MCE’s office in San Rafael at 1125 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901.
DISABLED ACCOMMODATION: If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation or an alternative format, please contact MCE at (888) 632-3672 or [email protected] at least 72 hours before the meeting start time to ensure arrangements are made.
Agenda Page 1 of 2
1. Roll Call/Quorum
2. Board Announcements (Discussion)
3. Public Open Time (Discussion)
4. Report from Chief Executive Officer (Discussion)
5. Consent Calendar (Discussion/Action)
C. 1. Approval of 5.5.25 Meeting Minutes
C.2. Review Draft 7.17.25 Board Agenda
6. MCE 24x7 Renewable Energy Pilot Proposal (Discussion/Action)
7. Fiscal Year 2024/25 Financial Audit Process (Discussion) Agenda Page 2 of 2
8. Language Accessibility Study Report (Discussion)
9. Committee & Staff Matters (Discussion)
10. Adjourn
The Executive Committee may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on the agenda irrespective of how the items are described.
DRAFT
MCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 5, 2025
12:00 P.M.
Present: Barbara Coler, Town of Fairfax
Cindy Darling, City of Walnut Creek
Maika Llorens Gulati, City of San Rafael
Gabriel Quinto, City of El Cerrito
Devin Murphy, City of Pinole, joined at 10:11pm
Laura Nakamura, City of Concord
Max Perrey, City of Mill Valley, Chair
Pat Ravasio, Alternate, Town of Corte Madera
Mathew Salter, Town of Ross, joined at 12:07pm
Shanelle Scales-Preston, County of Contra Costa, joined at 12:29pm
Absent: Sally Wilkinson, City of Belvedere
Staff
& Others: Jesica Brooks, Lead Board Clerk and Executive Assistant Stephanie Chen, Director of Legislative Affairs
Vicken Kasarjian, Chief Operations Officer
Tanya Lomas, Board Clerk Associate
Catalina Murphy, General Counsel
Ashley Muth, Internal Operations Coordinator
Justine Parmelee, VP of Internal Operations
Mike Rodriguez-Vargas, Internal Operations Assistant
Stephanie Soldavini, Director of Policy
Enyonam Senyo-Mensah, Internal Operations Manager
Dawn Weisz, Chief Executive Officer
1. Roll Call
Chair Perrey called the regular Executive Committee meeting to order at 12:02 a.m. with quorum established by roll call.
2. Board Announcements (Discussion)
There were no comments.
3. Public Open Time (Discussion)
Chair Perrey opened the public comment period and comments were made by member of the public Ken Strong.
DRAFT
4. Report from Chief Executive Officer (Discussion)
CEO, Dawn Weisz, introduced this item and addressed questions from Committee members.
5. Consent Calendar (Discussion/Action)
C.1 Approval of 3.3.25 Meeting Minutes
C.2 Review Draft 5.15.25 Board Agenda
Chair Perrey opened the public comment period and there were no comments.
Action: It was M/S/C (Llorens Gulati/Coler) to approve Consent Calendar C.1 and C.2. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. (Absent: Scales-Preston and Wilkinson).
6. Regional Markets Discussion (Discussion)
Stephanie Chen, Director of Legislative Affairs and Stephanie Soldavini, Director of Policy, presented this item and addressed questions from Committee members.
Chair Perrey opened the public comment period and comments were made by members of the public Ken Strong and Dan Segedin.
Action: No action required.
7. PCIA Overview (Discussion)
Stephanie Chen, Director of Legislative Affairs, presented this item and addressed questions from Committee members.
Chair Perrey opened the public comment period and comments were made by member of the public Dan Segedin.
Action: No action required.
8. Committee & Staff Matters (Discussion)
Director Salter provided comments regarding MCE Board Representation for the Town of Ross.
9. Adjournment
Chair Perrey adjourned the meeting at 1:56 p.m. to the next scheduled Executive Committee Meeting on June 2, 2025.
DRAFT
___________________________________________
Max Perrey, Chair
Attest:
___________________________________________
Dawn Weisz, Secretary
DRAFT
MCE Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, July 17, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Primary Location: 1125 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 Secondary Location: 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 1500, Concord, CA 94520 Public comments may be made in person or remotely via the details below.
Remote Public Meeting Participation
Video Conference: https://zoomto.me/F6Ogt
Phone: Dial (669) 900-9128, Meeting ID: 890 0487 7785, Passcode: 525690 Materials related to this agenda are available for physical inspection at MCE’s offices in San Rafael at 1125 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901 and in Concord at 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 1500, Concord, CA 94920.
DISABLED ACCOMMODATION: If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation or an alternative format, please contact MCE at (888) 632-3674 or [email protected] at least 72 hours before the meeting start time to ensure arrangements are made.
Agenda Page 1 of 2
1. Roll Call/Quorum
2. Board Announcements (Discussion)
3. Public Open Time (Discussion)
4. Report from Chief Executive Officer (Discussion)
5. Consent Calendar (Discussion/Action)
C.1. Approval of 5.15.25 Meeting Minutes
Agenda Page 2 of 2
C.2. Approved Contracts for Energy Update
C.3 Resolution 2025-03 Establishing the Date, Time, and Location of Regular Board Meetings
C.4 Policy 019: Governing Disposition of Surplus Property
6. Customer Operations Update (Discussion)
7. MCE 24x7 Pilot Proposal (Discussion/Action)
8. Board & Staff Matters (Discussion)
9. Adjourn
The Board of Directors may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on the agenda irrespective of how the items are described.
MCE 24/7
Renewable
Energy Pilot
Proposal
July 07, 2025
Agenda
• Background of MCE Service offerings
• Proposed Deep Green premium charge increase
• Proposed 24/7 Renewable energy pilot product
• Next steps
2 Choice is Power
Light Green
Default Service
100%
MCE
Deep Green
RENEWABLE
60%
MCE
Light Green
RENEWABLE
100%
MCE
Local Sol
SOLAR
3 Choice is power
4 100% Renewable,
typically sourced
from CA wind and
solar
Deep Green
• 6.7% of MCE
Customers
• Over 500 GWh in
annual energy
60% renewable
Light Green
• Default program
• Gradually increasing
to 85% renewable
by 2031
• Over 5,000 GWh in
annual energy
100% from local
solar resource
Local Sol
• Limited to 300 Customers
• Closed to new enrollment
• Premium price fixed to a
long-term contract
• 1,500 MWh in annual
energy
MCE’s Clean Energy
100%
fossil-free
95%
greenhouse gas-free
Earlier than state
goals
13years
60%
renewable
compared to 38%
from PG&E
5 Deep Green
Pricing
Understanding
Deep Green Premium • Since 2010 the Deep Green
premium has been set at
¢1/kWh.
• This premium is added to the
Light Green rate and has
remained constant while the
cost of renewables have
increased over time.
• MCE proposes to increase this
premium to approach the
current cost.
7 The Deep Green
premium is
added to the
default Light
Green rate
PCC1 Renewable Energy Pricing
8 $-
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
Jan 2023 May 2023 Sep 2024 June 2025
PCC1 Renewable Energy Prices ($/MWh)
Methodology for calculating Deep Green Premium
9 Deep Green
Premium above
Light Green
Carbon-Free
energy cost
savings
Local
Projects Fund
Adder
Cost of procuring
additional
renewable energy
to go from
60% to 100%
Deep Green Premium Comparison
Added cost of Deep Green Product ¢3.80 ¢0.96
Carbon Free Content Difference price ¢1.40 ¢0.28
Local Projects Fund Adder ¢0.50 ¢0.50
Resource cost premium ¢2.90 ¢1.18
2024 2025
¢1.50
Proposed
10 *The prices are based on ¢/kWh
1. The premium is proposed at ¢1.50/kWh to allow for absorption of price fluctuations.
2. The cost for Deep Green has been higher than the premium in recent years Proposed 24/7
Renewable Pilot
Offering
Regulatory Changes
Power Source Disclosure Program
• Starting 2028, MCE will be required to report all
emissions associated with the previous year’s
generation on an hourly basis: 24hours/day, 7
days/week.
• MCE will adjust emissions reporting metrics to
match regulatory requirements.
12 Proposed 24/7 Renewable Pilot
• Product: 24/7 Renewable Energy
• Initial Premium : ¢5.40/kWh premium (added to Light Green Rate), Can be updated with the budget cycle
• Customers: Capped at 400 Municipal Customers
• Timeline : 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2028 (3 Years)
• Renewable sources: Solar, Wind, Storage and Geothermal* • Reporting Framework: Hourly matching and reporting of load and supply *California Power Source Disclosure rules treat geothermal power as zero emissions, although Geysers does have a de minimis amount of geological CO2 emissions associated with its operations.
13 Proposed 24/7 Renewable Pilot
• If approved, MCE would launch the pilot program on 1/1/2026 • The program would be open to the first 400 municipal customers signing up
• Pilot product will be reported on the Power Content Label (PCL) starting in 2027
14 Proposed 24/7 Program
2000
• Difficult and/or costly to acquire 24/7
carbon-free renewable resources
• Wind and solar projects must be overbuilt
and/or incorporate storage
• Overbuild would be 3 to 5 times the size of
a non variable 24x7 resource to provide the
same level of reliability
• Customer hourly load profiles and demand
must fit within the purchased resources
Annual MWh
expected to be
served
Pilot program will be limited to a
small number of customers.
Considerations:
Number of
customers targeted
400
15 Per
Average Hourly Load vs Supply
16 0
50 100
150
200
250
300
MW
HOUR
24/7 PILOT OUTLOOK WITH MUNI LOAD
Wind A Wind B PV PV+BESS GEOTHERMAL LOAD
Average Hourly Load vs Supply
17 0
50 100
150
200
250
MW
Hour
DEC - 24/7 PILOT OUTLOOK WITH MUNI LOAD
Wind A Wind B PV PV+BESS GEOTHERMAL LOAD
Average Hourly Load vs Supply
18 0
50 100
150
200
250
300
MW
Hour
CONSTRAINED - 24/7 PILOT OUTLOOK WITH MUNI LOAD
Wind A Wind B PV PV+BESS GEOTHERMAL LOAD
Average Hourly Load vs Supply
19 0
50 100
150
200
250
300
MW
Hour
Limited - 24/7 PILOT OUTLOOK WITH MUNI LOAD
Wind A Wind B PV PV+BESS GEOTHERMAL LOAD
Average Hourly Load vs Supply
20 Limited - 24/7 Pilot Outlook Minimum Coverage
Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
70% or less 100 % 150% or more
Methodology for calculating pilot premium
21 24/7 pilot premium
above Light Green
Light Green
cost savings
Cost of procuring
additional firm shaped
renewable energy
The 24/7 pilot premium could be updated annually during MCE budget-setting
¢5.40/kWh
Recommendations
22 1.Recommend Board approval to increase the Deep Green premium from ¢1/kWh to ¢1.50/kWh
2. Recommend Board approval of the 24/7 Renewable Pilot program for up to 400 municipal customers starting on 1/1/2026 for 3 years with an initial premium of ¢5.40/KWh
3. Recommend Board approval of the rate-premium
methodologies above and direct staff to update premiums annually during MCE budget-setting
Thank you!
mceCleanEnergy.org
[email protected]
July 7, 2025
TO: MCE Executive Committee
FROM: Maira Strauss, VP of Finance
Efren Oxlaj, Finance Manager
RE: Fiscal Year 2024/25 Financial Audit Process (Agenda Item #07) Dear Executive Committee Members:
Background:
MCE’s fiscal year runs from April 1st through March 31st. After the fiscal year ends, staff work with a third-party firm to audit the financial statements. Since 2018, Baker Tilly has been conducting MCE’s financial audit in conjunction with staff and MCE’s accounting firm, Maher Accountancy. As part of the audit for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25, staff are providing a general overview of the audit process to explain the role of the auditors, MCE staff, and your Board.
Role of the Auditors
For the past seven years, MCE has engaged Baker Tilly to conduct its financial statement audits.
Baker Tilly currently ranks as the 10th-largest accounting firm in the U.S. and provides a range of services including advisory, tax, and assurance. In California, the firm provides auditing services to entities like Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Clean Power Alliance (CPA). Baker Tilly also works with more than 1,600 utility clients across the nation ranging from wholesale utility authorities and agencies to renewable energy developers. For the audit of FY 2024/25, staff are currently working with Baker Tilly representatives, Aaron Worthman, CPA, Principal, and Ryan Theiler, CPA, Manager. Ryan has supported MCE’s audits since 2018, while Aaron has assumed the role of engagement principal this year, consistent with principal rotation requirements.
Baker Tilly is currently in the process of auditing the results of FY 2024/25 in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS). These standards require the firm to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error or fraud. As part of the audit, Baker Tilly will conduct the following:
• Perform tests of MCE’s compliance with the provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts and agreements
• Obtain an understanding of internal controls
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management
• Evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements, including the disclosures • Conclude, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the MCE’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
Role of MCE
During the annual audit, MCE staff collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure Baker Tilly has full access to all necessary information. This includes preparing and sending confirmation requests to MCE’s banks to verify fiscal year-end account balances and investments.
Documentation supporting year-end estimates are also obtained from external counterparties when necessary. Additionally, staff provide updates on MCE’s opt-out rate, personnel count as of the fiscal year-end, current or newly-adopted policies and any rate increase in that specific fiscal year.
Furthermore, staff provide verbal responses to the auditors on questions around internal controls and fraud risk, which is a component of the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 99 (SAS 99) interviews. The SAS 99 interview is part of the auditor’s responsibility to assess the risk of fraud during a financial audit. It involves interviews with management and members of the Board of Directors to gather insight into potential fraud risks, internal controls, and the organization’s ethical environment. In addition to members of staff and the Board of Directors, the Board Chair participates in the SAS 99 interview and provides their thoughts on fraud risks and controls. The objective is to ensure management maintains a strong internal control framework. No instances of fraud have occurred since MCE’s inception. Finally, staff are responsible for reporting the results of the audit to your Board.
Recommendation: Discussion only.
July 7, 2025
TO: MCE Executive Committee
FROM: Jackie Nuñez, Senior Communications Manager
RE: Language Accessibility Study Report (Agenda Item #08) ATTACHMENT: Enhancing Language Accessibility
Dear Executive Committee Members:
Summary:
As part of an initiative to build trust and enhance language accessibility to non-English speaking customers, MCE conducted a study to understand the best communication channels and approaches for engaging with people who experience language barriers.
Background
In 2023, MCE formed an internal working group among various departments to build on the agency’s existing language accessibility efforts and identify the most effective ways to serve non-English speaking customers. That year, nearly one in three calls to MCE’s service center were received in Spanish. This prompted MCE to better understand community language needs and identify approaches to providing excellent service to this population.
The working group:
• Assessed community language demographics and processes for serving individuals proficient in languages other than English
• Met with other Community Choice Aggregators and public agencies to share best practices • Developed internal guidelines to operationalize language accessibility procedures This initiative revealed that:
• Spanish is the most prevalent language among non-English speakers in MCE’s area, followed by Tagalog and Chinese
• Roughly 8% of households in MCE’s service area are linguistically isolated, meaning members of the family above the age of 14 do not speak English proficiently In response to these findings, MCE hired a local vendor, Soluna Outreach Solutions, to conduct a language study. The study aimed to understand community priorities, identify the best communication channels to reach individuals, and find the most culturally appropriate terminology to engage with communities around clean energy and climate change.
Soluna Outreach Solutions conducted focus groups in Spanish, one in each county across MCE’s service area in partnership with the following local community-based organizations (CBOs). • Latina Center, Contra Costa County
• Multicultural Center of Marin, Marin County
• Puertas Abiertas, Napa County
• First Five, Solano County
The study found:
• There is an opportunity to build trust with the community around electricity service and clean energy, providing clearer and less technical communications in various formats ranging from written communications and video
• People are interested in in-person conversations and learning opportunities about how to lower bills
• Customers prefer email and physical mail for detailed information and text messages for urgent notices
• Working with local partners, including nonprofits and CBOs, is an effective strategy to build trust especially with non-English speaking communities
MCE has used the results of the study to inform its communications, community engagement, and customer service strategies to establish excellence in service to people facing language barriers.
Staff will continue to assess best practices and identify opportunities to work toward an inclusive and equitable approach to serving non-English speaking customers.
Fiscal Impacts: All contractual and staff costs are within the approved fiscal year budget.
Recommendation: Discussion only.
MCE
Language Accessibility
Study Report
Enhancing
Language Access
• 24% of MCE’s inbound calls were
in Spanish in 2024
• More than 8% of households are
linguistically isolated
• Spanish is the most prevalent
language among non-English
speakers in our area, followed by
Tagalog and Chinese
2 Supports those most
impacted by our
changing climate.
Our Efforts
• Assessed demographics and
processes
• Met with other CCAs and public
agencies to share best practices
• Developed language guidelines
• Conducted a language study
• Trained and hired 5 bilingual staff
3 Language Study
• Understand language and
communication channels preferred
by Spanish speakers
• One focus group in each county,
total of 24 participants
• Hosted with local partners to build
trust
• Diverse participants of various ages,
including MCE customers and non-customers
4 “We need more culturally-sensitive outreach that helps people learn about MCE
through trusted community
sources.”
— Community Power
Coalition member
5 Findings
• An opportunity to build trust around electricity
service and clean energy
• Interest in in-person conversations, learning
opportunities
• Customers prefer email and physical mail for
detailed information
• Text message for urgent notices
• Continue collaborations with local partners to
build trust
• Topics of interest
• How to lower bills
• More clarity about billing and rates
• Financial assistance programs
Terminology
exercise
Next Steps • Use findings to inform MCE’s public
engagement and communications
• Discussion with ComPow in July • Continue to refine internal practices to support non-English speakers
• Explore other community
accessibility needs including for
people with disabilities, technology
and other barriers
6 mceCleanEnergy.org
[email protected]
Thank you!