MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022
8:45 A.M.
___________________________________________________________ ****AB 361****
**RE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19**
CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF AB 361 WHICH SUSPENDED CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS OF THE BROWN ACT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PARTICIPATED IN THE APRIL 7, 2022, MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE.
CALL TO ORDER
(8:48 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:03:01)
Chair King called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Chair King, Vice Chair Fudge, and Directors Bagby, Landman, Peters, Elward, Rogers, Slayter, Felder, Gjerde, and Hopkins Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations; Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs; Rebecca Simonson, Director of Programs; Erica Torgerson, Director of Customer Service; Chad Asay, Director of the Advanced Energy Center; Ryan Tracey, Director of Planning and Analytics; Carolyn Glanton, Program Manager; and Joshua Nelson, Special Counsel
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(8:50 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:24)
1. Approve March 3, 2022, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Authorize Extension of SCP Resolution 2021-05 Permitting Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Board of Directors and Community Advisory Committee Pursuant to AB 361
3. Approve and Delegate Authority to the CEO to Execute Second Amendment to Contract with Frontier Energy Inc for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $204,970 through June 30, 2022, for the Administration of the On Bill Loan Program
4. Approve a Five (5) Year Extension of SCPA’s Contract with Calpine Energy Solutions, LLC for Data Management, Billing, and Contact Center Services
5. Ratify Generation Rates Effective April 1, 2022, Consistent with Prior Board Direction
6. Receive GeoZone Update
Director Landman requested that the next GeoZone update be brought as a Regular Calendar item.
Director Felder requested that the March 3, 2022, draft minutes reflect that he was in attendance.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Approve the April 7, 2022, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Rodgers
Second: Director Landman
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Bagby, Landman, Peters, King, Adams, Rogers, Slayter, Felder, Fudge, Gjerde, Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
7. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(8:53 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:08:30)
Rebecca Simonson, Director of Programs, introduced Eric Scheier, a U.S.
Department of Energy Fellow placed with SCP and working with the Programs Department, and Erica Torgerson, Director of Customer Service, introduced Leif Christiansen, SCP’s new Commercial Accounts Manager.
Chad Asay, Director of the Advanced Energy Center, provided updates regarding the Center, including upcoming events. Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations, gave an update on SCP enrollment numbers and discussed Energy Education in Schools.
Director Hopkins inquired about outreach with trade organizations.
Chair King asked if drop-in visits were permitted at the Advanced Energy Center. Chad Asay, Director of the Advanced Energy Center, confirmed that the Energy Center is open to the public and back to normal business hours.
Chair King requested a monthly email to the Board with information about upcoming Energy Center events.
Public Comment: None
8. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates and Approve Positions on SB 884 (McGuire) and Others Bills as Appropriate
(9:07 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:21:55)
Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, discussed wildfire mitigation plans, resource adequacy, effective implementation, and funding for implementation of wildfire mitigation plans. He also discussed Provider of Last Resort and gave an update on PG&E’s undergrounding of power lines.
Geof Syphers, CEO, gave an update on AB 1814 (Grayson). CEO Syphers also discussed concerns with SB 1158 (Becker) which would require reporting greenhouse gas emissions on a 24-hour basis, but also includes language that could remove some of SCP’s ability to select which resources to buy. He recommended the Board support SB 884 (McGuire) which would require improved planning for undergrounding, a deferral of profits, and expedite permitting.
Director Slayter asked if the CPUC exercises authority over undergrounding plans and Director Reardon replied that they do have to approve the plans.
Director Bagby requested SB 1173 (McGuire) be placed on the monitor list.
Director Gjerde inquired if SCP could help rural residents understand their property rights regarding PG&E’s use of their land and CEO Syphers said that SCP would reach out to Mendocino County officials already working on this and learn what we can on the issue. Chair King requested that this information be brought back to the Board in May.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates and Approve Positions on SB 884 (McGuire) and Others Bills as Appropriate by Director Landman Second: Director Elward
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Bagby, Landman, Peters, King, Adams, Rogers, Slayter, Felder, Fudge, Gjerde, Hopkins
9. Approve the Proposed Budget Adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget
(9:37 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:52:31)
Mike Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer, noted that the requested adjustments to the budget are based on the new rates just ratified in item 5. These adjustments are primarily to address cost of energy and revenues.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Approve the Proposed Budget Adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 Budget by Director Rogers
Second: Director Bagby
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Bagby, Landman, Peters, King, Adams, Rogers, Slayter, Felder, Fudge, Gjerde, Hopkins
10. Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Reintroduction and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:41 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:55:54)
CEO Syphers explained that part of SCP’s mission is to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This requires the need to adapt as things change regarding climate change.
Ryan Tracey, Director of Planning and Analytics, reintroduced the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and explained IRPs are conducted on a biannual basis with the next IRP Compliance Filing due to the CPUC on November 1, 2022.
He explained that SCP performs an internal IRP which sets strategy and internal objectives, aims to make California energy affordable, and makes it possible to be responsive to market conditions.
Director Tracey discussed new items in the IRP including the Ascend PowerSimm platform, the CPUC’s Preferred System Plan Decision, the CPUC’s Mid-term Reliability Procurement Orders, current trends of the energy market and improved cross-agency planning.
Director Tracey discussed SCP’s accomplishments including its Renewable Portfolio Standard. He described SCP’s planning framework as having intertwined relationships between meeting SCP’s climate and energy cost goals. He added that SCP’s program strategies are focusing more on equity and community needs this year. Ryan Tracey explained that the Community Advisory Committee’s feedback included an appetite for rapid construction of renewable sources, and the Committee endorsed a holistic strategy.
Director Rogers encouraged SCP to work with the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and investigate funding climate strategies.
Director Hopkins expressed that reliability should be a key component of the IRP.
Director Landman inquired about serving all SCP customers with some version of EverGreen. CEO Syphers explained that emissions would only be lowered slightly, and SCP’s focus should be on electric cars and other ways to more affordably and more rapidly cut emissions.
Director Elward inquired as to how soon we can implement new strategies and CEO Syphers expressed that staff shares her urgency and reiterated that SCP would do anything it can.
Director Bagby stated that if SCP has any issues with implementation, staff should bring them to the Board.
Public Comment: None
11. Review Programs Strategic Action Plan and Provide Direction as Appropriate (10:29 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:44:17)
Carolyn Glanton, Program Manager, stated that the first iteration of the Strategic Action Plan was in 2018. She continued that the current Plan shows SCP’s over-arching strategies, metrics for tracking, incorporates the Programs Equity Framework, and near and long-term actions.
10:33 a.m. Director Peters exited the meeting.
Director Hopkins requested a focus on the agriculture sector be included.
Public Comment:
Ken Wells discussed issues with the supply chain and thanked staff for the update.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(10:47 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:01:46)
None
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(10:47 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:01:55)
Public Comment: None
ADJOURN
(10:47 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:02:26)
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, J.D., Clerk of the Board