Entry No. 1
PIONEER COMMUNITY ENERGY
GOVERNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
July 23, 2026
MINUTES
Heard General Administrative Functions - Part I
Call to Order
Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board met in open session at 3:01 PM on July 23, 2026. 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; remote location at 45590 South Caspar Drive, Mendocino, California 95460; the meeting was accessible for viewer participation on the Zoom platform at the following link: https: //us06web.zoom.us/j/89020017279 ; and, was live streamed for viewing on the Pioneer website:
https://pioneercommunityenergy.orq/about-us/meetinqs-and-agendas/.
Roll Call
Present: City of Auburn (Dowdin Calvillo), City of Colfax (Lomen), County of El Dorado (Parlin), Town of Loomis (Ring), Nevada City (Petersen), County of Placer (DeMattei), County of Placer (Jones), City of Placerville (Carter), City of Rocklin (Janda).
Absent: City of Grass Valley (Ivy), City of Lincoln (Pearl).
Chair Dowdin Calvillo presided over the meeting .
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public on items not listed on this agenda.
Agenda Review
Reviewed and revised the meeting agenda for July 23, 2026, with no objection, to move Item 3, Pioneer's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, ahead of Item 2, Implementation of an Economic Development Rate.
Entry No. 2
Prior to consideration of the Consent Agena, Chair Dowdin Calvillo read aloud the following statement regarding Consent Agenda Item le, Approving a 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment and Salary Schedule Adjustment:
Government Code 54953(d)(3) requires an oral summary of the recommended salary and benefits for Pioneer executives before the Board votes on those salaries and benefits. This resolution would result in the following changes to executive employee salaries and benefits:
Effective July 27, 2026, the 3% upward COLA to employee salaries would increase the Chief Executive Officer's salary to $395,701; the Chief Operating Officer's salary to $362,907; the Director of Finance and Administration's salary to $276,349; and, the Director of Communications' salary to $236,650.
The resolution would also institute a corresponding 3% salary range increase to the salary schedule, including the CEO, COO, Director of Finance, and Director of Communications salary ranges, effective July 27th, 2026, to reflect the Cost-of-Living adjustment.
July 23, 2026 - page 2
Acted on the Consent Agenda as follows:
Approved the minutes of the June 18, 2026 special and regular meetings as presented.
Received Fiscal Year 2025-26 Draft Monthly Financial Reports through May 2026.
Adopted Resolution 2026-21 approving a 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment and Salary Schedule Adjustment.
Approved the Consent Agenda less item ld, Adopt Resolution approving the job description and salary range for the Chief People Officer, which was pulled for separate consideration.
MOTION: DeMattei /Carter.Vote: 9:0:0:2
AYES: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Petersen, Ring.
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Ivy, Pearl.
Entry No. 3
Adopted Resolution 2026-22 approving the job description and salary range for the Chief People Officer as amended, renaming the position title to Chief Human Resources Officer.
MOTION: Parlin/ Jones. Vote: 9:0:0:2
AYES: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Petersen, Ring.
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Ivy, Pearl.
Director Pearl joined the meeting following the Consent Agenda (3: 10 PM).
Entry No. 3
Adopt Resolution Approving Pioneer's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan Chief Operating Officer Kang introduced Devin Reaves, Power Resources Manager, who presented Pioneer's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.
Staff confirmed that there are no hydro resources in the future portfolio due to no large hydro projects being planned or built; that lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries are labeled specifically due to how the California Public Utilities Commission lists battery storage; that fusion or geothermal-enhanced resources may be future possibilities but are not currently listed; and, that nuclear resources are not listed as they are allocated but not procured by Pioneer.
The Board of Directors adopted Resolution 2026-23 approving the Pioneer Community Energy 2025 Integrated Resource Plan in substantive form and authorizing submission of the IRP to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) pursuant to the requirements of CPUC Rulemaking 25-06-019, under Senate Bill 350.
MOTION: Lomen/ DeMattei. Vote: 10:0:0:1
AYES: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Ivy.
July 23, 2026 - page 3
Entry No. 4
Consider the Implementation of an Economic Development Rate Chief Executive Officer Eckert informed the Board that this would be a policy discussion to which he requested direction from the Board; and introduced Andrew Keys, Assistant City Manager at City of Rocklin.
Chief Executive Officer Eckert presented an opportunity to incentivize a medium-sized commercial customer into Pioneer's territory as an energy partner to our Members; and, confirmed that Pioneer already competes for customers within PG&E territory but this would be the first time Pioneer would be competing for a customer outside of PG&E territory. Consideration of an Economic Development Rate is the best approach for subsidization to be competitive to Roseville Electric.
Principles for consideration included, (1) Protection of Existing Ratepayers in that action should not impact current ratepayers; (2) Limit Participation by setting parameters such as Rate Class, New Customer Only, identifying the minimum and maximum electric load, and the number of customers allowed to participate; (3) Sunset the Rate to end within three to five years including a ramp down each year until the customer is at full cost of service; and, (4) Fairness by comparing Electric Tariff v. Special Contract.
Balancing risk and reward included options for a Full Subsidy of Energy and Demand, a Partial Subsidy of only Energy, or to take no action.
Chief Executive Officer Eckert requested direction on this opportunity as to what option to take; for staff bring back an electric tariff in September; to consider funding through the Programs budget to mitigate any impact to the general fund and rates; and regarding time-sensitive communication with the company.
Rocklin Assistant City Manager Keys confirmed that a building lease would be signed in September 2026 and the anticipated occupancy date would be in June 2027 following completed tenant improvements; and that no other incentives have been offered to the company.
Staff confirmed the company has committed and looking to secure a ten-year lease with $3 Million in tenant improvements. Concerns were raised regarding risk management and possibility for a partnership with the City, bringing shared risk.
Staff confirmed the proposed business would not be manufacturing a product, only testing projects in approximately 7,000 square-foot laboratory with high energy usage; and, the primary benefit to the City would be jobs, sales tax from new workforce and commuters, and Return On Investment.
Discussion regarding if the Partial Subsidy is enough to move the company, then a reduced electricity rate is better than doing nothing.
Discussion regarding Pioneer being rate-centric, for rates to be fair and discounted, which is different than other CCAs; significant risk with little reward, better to focus on rates.
Further discussion regarding Pioneer joining the Greater Sacramento Economic Council to explore economic development opportunities; but, still needs to establish guardrails first; to explore tariffs; to make this process competitive, fair, equitable, and available for all of Pioneer's member agencies; and, to consider Pioneer's position in relation to the expansion communities coming on board in 2027.
Board Members voiced not being comfortable to act now. Pioneer needs to have a program in place, to focus on rates and expansion, to bring an incentive program in the future, reduce risk, and take more time to establish an Economic Development rate or tariff.
July 23, 2026 - page 4
The Board of Directors provided direction to staff on consideration of an Economic Development Rate to incentivize commercial and industrial customer location in Pioneer Community Energy service territory.
A motion was made by Director Janda for staff to return with a structured product, including guardrails, in preparation for future opportunities, not specific to this opportunity. The motion failed without a second.
A substitute motion was made by Chair Dowdin Calvillo to not approve an economic development rate for Company A as proposed by staff today.
MOTION: Dowd in Calvillo/ Parlin. Vote: 9:0: 1: 1
ROLL CALL: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Petersen, Ring.
NOES: None.
Abstain: Janda.
Absent: Ivy.
Provided further direction for staff to leave the door open to explore the concept of an Economic Development Rate as a Program for a future date.
Director Petersen dismissed himself from meeting at the close of this item.
Entry No. 5
Adopt Resolutions Approving and Authorizing a Battery Optimization Software Agreement with Ascend Analytics, LLC and Amendment No. 2 to Energy Services Agreement for Battery Optimization Software with ZGlobal, Inc.
Nick Yurashku, Quantitative Analysis & Modeling Manager, presented benefits of an integrated portfolio optimization framework as Pioneer operates in an increasingly complex energy market shaped by regulatory compliance requirements, hourly resource adequacy obligations, evolving customer load patterns, and growing exposure to Day-Ahead and Real-Time market volatility. In addition, the CPUC has issued several decisions intended to improve grid reliability and prevent rolling blackouts, including mid-term reliability procurement requirements and the implementation of the 24-hour Slice-of-Day resource adequacy framework.
Staff confirmed that Pioneer does not own the batteries but does own the energy stored in the batteries and decides when the battery charges and when it discharges, which optimizes revenue.
With a single vote, the Board adopted Resolutions Approving and Authorizing a Battery Optimization Software Agreement with Ascend Analytics, LLC and Amendment No. 2 to Energy Services Agreement for Battery Optimization Software with ZGlobal, Inc.
Adopted Resolution 2026-24 approving and authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute a service agreement with Ascend Analytics, LLC, for SmartBidder Battery Optimization software and managed Optimization Services with a total amount not to exceed $157,300.
Adopted Resolution 2026-25 approving and authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Energy Services Agreement with ZGlobal, Inc., authorizing an additional $94,858.34 with a total amount not to exceed $271,611.29 for Battery Optimization Software and Energy Services.
July 23, 2026 - page 5
MOTION: DeMattei /Ring.Vote: 9:0:0:2
AYES: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Ring.
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Ivy, Petersen.
Entry No. 6
Approval to Develop and Issue a Request for Proposals for the Strategic Energy Management Pilot Program
Elliott Sherman, Programs Manager, presented an overview of implementing Strategic Energy Management to identify energy-saving opportunities, develop action plans, provide technical support and incentivize implementation of operational improvements that reduce energy costs and improve facility performance for Pioneer's large commercial and industrial customers.
Staff confirmed that all IOUs including PG&E currently offer this program as does Marin Clean Energy (CCA) .
Pioneer would like to implement the program to stay competitive by providing this currently offered program to our customers. In addition, while Pioneer will be incentivizing customers to save energy, Pioneer will become a trusted energy partner and also reduce its procurement costs by purchasing less power.
The Board authorized development of a two-year Strategic Energy Management Pilot Program and authorized the Chief Executive Officer or designee to issue a Request for Proposals, negotiate and execute agreement(s) with a qualified third-party implementer within the approved budget, and begin program delivery.
MOTION: DeMattei /Parlin.Vote: 9:0:0:2
AYES: Carter, DeMattei, Dowdin Calvillo, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Parlin, Pearl, Ring.
No: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Ivy, Petersen.
Entry No. 7
Heard General Administrative Function - Part II
No communications were received from Members of the Board or Chief Executive Officer.
Items for Information
Received the Glossary of Terms.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:06 PM.
ATTEST:
Minutes approved as presented by a majority vote
of~;;;;;;;;r 17, 2026
Teresa Willock, Board Secretary