Entry No. 1
PIONEER COMMUNITY ENERGY
GOVERNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
September 18, 2025
MINUTES
Heard General Administrative Functions - Part I
Call to Order
Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board met in open session at 3:00 PM on September 18, 2025. The Members convened in person and the meeting was accessible to the public at Pioneer Community Energy, 2510 Warren Drive, Suite B, Rocklin, California 95677; and, the meeting was accessible for viewer participation on the Zoom platform at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/i/89020017279; and, was live streamed for viewing on the Pioneer website:
https: //pioneercommu nityenerqy.org/about-us/meeti ngs-and-agendas/.
Director Jones arrived immediately preceding the Regular Meeting.
Roll Call
Present: City of Auburn (Dowd in Calvillo), City of Colfax (Lomen), County of El Dorado (Parlin), City of Grass Valley (Ivy), City of Lincoln (Pearl), Town of Loomis (Ring), Nevada City (Petersen), County of Placer (Jones), City of Placerville (Carter), City of Rocklin (Bass).
Absent: County of Placer (DeMattei).
Director Parlin acknowledged that she was participating remotely for "Just Cause" due to traveling on official business for her public agency, County of El Dorado; that no persons age 18 or older were in the room with her and that she would declare if anyone does enter the room during this meeting.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo presided over the meeting.
Public Report of Closed Session
1) Conference with Labor Negotiators (GC §54957.6)
Agency Negotiators: Don Eckert, Chief Executive Officer; Brad Koehn, Director of Finance & Administration.
Unrepresented Employee: All Employees
2) Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (GC §54956.9{d)(1)) The Governing Board finds, based on advice from legal counsel, that discussion in open session will prejudice the position of the local agency in the litigation.
Name of Case: Kolpitcke v. Pioneer Community Energy.
Names of Parties: Plaintiff Kirstin Kolpitcke; Defendant Pioneer Community Energy.
Case No. S-CV-0054062 (Placer County Superior Court).
No reportable action was taken in the matters of (1) Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code §54957.6); or, (2) Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(1)).
Agenda Review
Reviewed and made no revision to the meeting agenda for September 18, 2025 .
September 18, 2025 - page 2
Entry No. 2
Acted on the Consent Agenda as follows:
Approved the minutes of the July 10, 2025 special meeting.
Adopted Resolution 2025-31 approving an attestation regarding the veracity of information reflected in Pioneer Community Energy's 2024 Power Source Disclosure Report for Pioneer Standard ("Base Service") and for Pioneer Green 100.
Adopted Resolution 2025-32 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to extend access to Cost-Neutral Programs to new Member Agencies prior to October 2027 Service Expansion.
Adopted Resolution 2025-33 approving and authorizing the Pioneer Community Energy Revised Load Management Standards Compliance Plan and Submission to the California Energy Commission.
Adopted Resolution 2025-34 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute an amendment to the agreement with Braun Blaising & Wynne, P.C. to amend hourly rates.
MOTION: Pearl/Jones. Vote: 10:0:1
ROLL CALL: Bass, Carter, Dowdin Calvillo, Ivy, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: DeMattei.
Entry No. 3
Review of the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment
Received an overview of the current state of the PCIA, or Power Charge Indifference Adjustment, including an overview of its purpose and calculation, anticipated changes to PCIA rates in 2026, and Pioneer advocacy efforts.
Chief Executive Officer Eckert introduced guest presenter, Brian Dickman of NewGen Strategies & Solutions; and, informed staff that this presentation had been prepared to better understand the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment ("PCIA") and how the PCIA will be a factor for consideration in setting rates for 2026 while we strive to have a continued discount to PG&E.
Board Chair Dowdin Calvillo expressed appreciation to the presenters; acknowledged that this is difficult to understand, explain to our customers, and that the PCIA does not just go away; proceeded to comment that rates are projected to increase significantly in 2026 due to conditions in the market, and to consider what that will mean for Pioneer; and, for the Board to be aware and consider this moving forward so we are not caught off guard when considering rates
Directors continued discussion regarding Pioneer's ability to maintain a minimum three-percent discount for 2026; confirmed it is too soon to know what PG&E's rates will be; the benefit of battery storage brings value but not lower rates; and, the historical cost to value compared to today's cost.
Entry No. 4
Adopt Resolution to Allow for the Chief Executive Officer to Initiate the Expansion Process to Allow for the Addition of Unincorporated Madera County and the Cities of Colusa, Madera, and Chowchilla
Directors discussed the importance of getting ahead of future expansion efforts with organizational resources, market conditions, governance, and continued diluted vote for current members.
September 18, 2025 - page 3
Board Chair Dowdin Calvillo moved to proceed with the Impact Assessment Studies for these four jurisdictions with the understanding that it is one member/one vote.
Adopted Resolution 2025-35 allowing for the Chief Executive Officer to initiate the expansion process to allow for the addition of Unincorporated Madera County and the Cities of Colusa, Madera, and Chowchilla as MOTION: Dowdin Calvillo/Lomen. Vote: 9:1 :1
ROLL CALL: Carter, Dowdin Calvillo, Ivy, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
No/Abstain: Bass.
Absent: DeMattei.
Entry No. 5
Due to time constraints, Item 6, Adopt Resolution Approving the Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy, was pulled from the agenda by Board consensus, for presentation and consideration at the October 16, 2025 meeting.
Entry No. 6
Adopt Resolution Approving an Update to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Service Policy Adopted Resolution 2025-36 approving an update to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Service Policy.
MOTION: Petersen/Ring. Vote: 10: O: 1
ROLL CALL: Bass, Carter, Dowdin Calvillo, Ivy, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: DeMattei.
Director Jones excused herself following the vote for this item.
Entry No. 7
Adopt Resolution to Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute an Agreement with PaulosAnalysis to Provide an Online Incentive Finder Tool for Customers, for an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000 for a One-Year Term with the Option of Two One-Year Extensions Adopted Resolution 2025-37 as amended to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute an Agreement with PaulosAnalysis to provide an on line Incentive Finder Tool for customers, for an amount not to exceed $75,000 for a one-year term with the option of two one-year extensions.
MOTION: Pearl/Lomen. Vote: 9:0:2
ROLL CALL: Bass, Carter, Dowdin Calvillo, Ivy, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: DeMattei, Jones.
Entry No. 8
Heard General Administrative Function - Part II
Board Member Communications
Committee Chair Ring reported that as the Audit & Finance Committee Chair, he met with the independent Auditor on September 9, 2025, regarding the audit kick-off. Due to the nature of the conversation, the meeting remained private without staff or the public in attendance. A meeting of the Audit & Finance Committee will be scheduled to discuss the Financial Audit.
Committee Chair Dowdin Calvillo reported that the Governance Committee met on September 11, 2025, adjourned to Closed Session regarding labor negotiations, then reconvened open session, provided the September 18, 2025 - page 4
public report of the Closed Session, and approved the meeting minutes of the April 15, 2025 Committee meeting.
Chief Executive Officer Communications
CEO Eckert informed the Board that Pioneer is hosting a tour of the Calpine Geysers on Friday, November 7, from 10:00 - 3:00. Located north of San Francisco in the Mayacamas Mountains, the Geysers are the nation's largest renewable geothermal power producer. This will be a fascinating tour and a very informative day, as we will have a chance to see how a geothermal power plant operates. Please RSVP to Gina or Teresa if you would like to attend or want additional information .
CEO Eckert also provided an update on the Microgrid Incentive Program . On July 25, Pioneer issued a Request for Proposal to interested engineering firms for services related to completing the Pacific Gas & Electric technical applications under the Microgrid Incentive Program for four potential microgrid projects sites; two located in Grass Valley, another in Foresthill and the fourth located in Georgetown. Several interested firms reached out to Pioneer and ultimately three submitted RFP proposals-Wisewood & PAE, Arup, and Mavericks Renewables. After consideration, Pioneer staff awarded the RFP to Arup for both Grass Valley sites and Wisewood & PAE for the Foresthill and Georgetown sites.
Items for Information
Received the Glossary of Terms.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM.
ATTEST:
Minutes approved as presented by a majority vote
of the Governin@ Board on October 16, 2025.
Teresa Willock, Board Secretary