Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
7:00 pm
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
Administrative Conference Room, Gilroy City Hall
7351 Rosanna St.
Gilroy, CA 95020
Morgan Hill City Hall
17575 Peak Ave.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order:
Chair Tyson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present:
George Tyson (Chair), Los Altos Hills
Tina Walia (Vice Chair), Saratoga
Elliot Scozzola, Campbell
Sheila Mohan, Cupertino
Zachary Hilton, Gilroy (Participated via teleconference) Sally Meadows, Los Altos
Rob Rennie, Los Gatos
Bryan Mekechuk, Monte Sereno
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Morgan Hill (Arrived at 7:01 p.m. and participated via teleconference) Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View (Arrived at 7:19 p.m.) Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
Absent:
Evelyn Chua, Milpitas
Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
Colin Corbett, SVCE customer, shared his experience installing an electric water heater and applying for a rebate from SVCE.
A presentation was submitted to the Board of Directors and projected during Mr. Corbett’s public comment, which is attached to the Meeting Minutes as Attachment A.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 015C2139-A9A8-4DED-9A6E-090CEA69151B SILICON VALLEY \3/ CLEAN ENERGY
Director Mekechuk inquired if Mr. Corbett had applied for a certification rebate on the testing side; Mr.
Corbett responded that he was unaware of such rebate. Director Mekechuk noted he would follow up with Mr. Corbett.
Chair Tyson thanked Mr. Corbett for his comment; CEO Balachandran provided brief comments and noted staff has offered to meet with Mr. Corbett to discuss his experience and to help fine-tune the heat pump water heater rebate program.
Justin Zagunis, Director of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, addressed the Board of Directors and Mr. Corbett. Director of Decarbonization Programs and Policy Zagunis noted feedback on programs is appreciated and staff would continue to think about how to improve the process and customer experience.
Bruce Karney addressed Mr. Corbett’s situation and commented he’s been told it is not anticipated that someone would have a permit before a water heater has been replaced because they are almost always emergency replacements. Mr. Karney encouraged the board and staff to develop a policy giving three months from the time of the installation of the heat pump water heater until the rebate paperwork is filed, and shared he hopes the board will work with staff to create a policy that can be applied retroactively in Mr. Corbett’s case and other similar 2023 cases.
Consent Calendar
There were no questions or comments from the Board; there were no requests from the public to speak on any matter on the Consent Calendar.
1a) Approve Minutes of the April 12, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting 1b) Receive March 2023 Treasurer Report
1c) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Approve the Agreement with Strategic Energy Innovations to Host Three Climate Corps Fellows for the 2023-2024 Fellowship Cycle 1d) Adopt Resolution Approving Amendment to Operating Rules and Regulations to Expand Executive Committee Membership to Up to Six Members
1e) Authorize Request for Extension to Comply with Load Management Standards 1f) Receive SVCE Rate Schedules Effective May 1, 2023
1g) Adopt Resolution Moving Reinstatement of SVCE’s Delinquent Payment Policy to May 2023 1h) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Enervee Corporation to Extend the Term of the Agreement for 15.5 Months and Increase Compensation by $175,500
1i) Executive Committee Report
1j) California Community Power Report
1k) Additional Committee Reports
MOTION: Vice Chair Walia moved and Director Meadows seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar, Items 1a through 1k.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Directors Abe-Koga, Chua, and Lee absent.
Regular Calendar
2) CEO Report (Discussion)
CEO Girish Balachandran’s report included the following:
1) Introduction of two new SVCE employees:
Jesse Park, Power Data Analyst, and
Eric Scheier, Senior Power Analyst
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Both provided brief welcome comments.
2) An update on the anticipated timeline for SVCE’s FY24 budget, FY24 Strategic Focus Areas, and CEO evaluation;
3) Information from Zoe Elizabeth, Deputy Director of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, who shared a slide regarding the Ninth Circuit’s decision on the Berkeley gas ban and responded to board member questions;
4) Information from Bena Chang, Senior Government Affairs Manager, who shared a slide and key provisions regarding the Governor’s Budget Trailer Bill proposal and AB 1373; and 5) Invitations to the following upcoming events:
CalCCA’s Annual Conference, May 17-19th in San Diego, CA, and The Caso Diablo IV project ribbon cutting event June 9th in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Chair Tyson opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Tyson closed Public Comment.
3) Appoint Sixth Member to SVCE’s 2023 Executive Committee (Action) Andrea Pizano, Board Clerk and Executive Assistant, introduced the item.
Chair Tyson opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Tyson closed Public Comment.
Director Klein expressed interest in joining the 2023 Executive Committee.
MOTION: Director Mekechuk moved and Director Martinez Beltran seconded the motion to appoint Director Larry Klein as the sixth member of the 2023 Executive Committee to hold office until the term ends in 2024.
Director Klein shared his appreciation for the motion and provided brief comments on his interest in participating in the Executive Committee.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Director Chua and Lee absent. 4) Update on FY 2022-2023 Digital Engagement Initiatives (Information) Pamela Leonard, Senior Manager of Communications, and Leslie Madarang, Marketing Specialist, presented an update on digital engagement and customer awareness. Presentation highlights included key digital engagement goals and metrics, and new features on the award winning eHub.
Staff responded to questions from board members regarding future plans for digital engagement and growth for the GridShift program, differentiation between unique users and returning users, customers using eHub to purchase directly versus rebate participation, and a suggestion to use referral codes for purchases to track where sales may be coming from.
Chair Tyson opened Public Comment.
Bruce Karney commented on a TED Talk by Steve Schmidt, Los Altos resident and former SVCE Alternate Director, on reducing his carbon footprint from 39 tons to 1 ton. Mr. Karney suggested eHub include a carbon calculator to allow visitors to identify what their carbon footprint is and how it compares to the average American or Northern Californian. Karney noted a simple calculator on eHub would do a good job at helping people understand if they are in the top 10% of polluters or top 10% of climate champions.
Chair Tyson closed Public Comment.
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Board Member Announcements and Future Agenda Items
Director Abe-Koga announced the Santa Clara County Cities Association will be hosting an annual dinner on June 15, 2023, with a sustainability theme, at 6pm at the Los Altos Community Center.
Public Comment on Closed Session
No speakers.
The Board of Directors convened to Closed Session at 8:00 p.m.
Closed Session
Public Employee Performance Evaluation
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Conference with Labor Negotiators
Agency Representatives: George Tyson, Chair, Board of Directors, Tina Walia, Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Unrepresented Employee: Chief Executive Officer
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (one potential case) The Board of Directors reconvened from Closed Session at 8:57 p.m.
Report from Closed Session
Chair Tyson announced there was nothing to report from Closed Session.
Adjourn
Chair Tyson adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m.
ATTACHMENT A
Public Comment from Colin Corbett
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
DocuSign Envelope ID: 015C2139-A9A8-4DED-9A6E-090CEA69151B x DocuSigned by:
K 8BC3564ACEA848D...
Dear SVCE members of the board.
I come to you as someone who has tried to actually get a rebate from SVCE and thought I would give you the perspective of someone in the trenches. 1 Electric water heater install
A Customer experience
Colin Corbett
Reservation # HB-0210
I recently closed on a house and took posession of it on 3/1.
We had home inspections, but they missed that the existing water heater, was 30 years old.
It wasn’t in great shape, had leaks, corrosion, no drainpan, and other issues.
We decided to replace it, and we had a new water heater installed by the end of the month.
Now, I will admit, that I was not fully aware of SVCE and their rebate programs.
My first priority was to get a critical issue at my house fixed fast, while also taking advantage of going green.
When I did submit the paperwork, my reimbursement was denied, as I had not followed the SVCE process.
2 Background
• Recently closed on a house.
• Realized 100 Gal water heater was 30
years old (1993)
• Decided to replace with 80 Gal Electric
• New water heater was installed by
3/29.
• Reimbursement was denied, because I
didn’t file paperwork first.
Now,
Here is the exact timeline.
I signed the permit on 3/15…. After I had received 2 quotes.
The permit was pulled and the work was done.
I then received the SVCE paperwork.
And submitted it a couple days later.
The rebate application was approved.
On the same day, the permit was closed,
The invoice was paid, and the rebate paperwork was submitted.
On 4/13 the rebate was denied, as I had done this incorrectly, in the wrong set of steps.
3 Timeline
• 3/2 – water heater realized as 30 years old
• 3/14 – first quote received
• 3/14 – second quote received
• 3/15 – contract signed.
• 3/23 – permit pulled
• 3/29 – work done
• 3/30 – SVCE information sent to me by plumber
• 4/1 – rebate application submitted.
• 4/3 – rebate application approved
• 4/3 – permit closed.
• 4/3 – invoice paid
• 4/3 – rebate paperwork submitted
• 4/13 – rebate DENIED – Incorrect set of steps followed 100350407
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3380 4500
R134A
2300
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RESIDENTIAL HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER
FOR INDOOR USE ONLY
4500 I 3380
208-240 | 60 723 60|2S.80F
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So, this leads me to a couple of questions
Is the intention to provide rebates to customers who go green, or is the intention to throw up complicated roadblocks and not actually issue rebates? What if the water heater had failed? By requiring SVCE to be the first call before any work is done, would imply that you expect people to go without water, or other critical utilities, until SVCE deigns to approve their work.
I understand the intent of not having someone file paperwork for an upgrade that happened months or years apart, but as you can clearly see, there is very little time difference here, and replacing the water heater was a critical item.
Now, I honestly do not expect you to change your policies, or to give me my rebate, even if it is probably the right thing to do.
But, I do want you to understand, that I believe it is disingenuous to offer rebates, if you have a set of draconian policies and arcane steps that you expect someone to 4 Questions
• Is the intention to provide rebates to customers who go green, or is the intention to throw up complicated roadblocks and not actually issue rebates?
• What if the water heater had failed? By requiring SVCE to be the first call before any work is done, would imply that you expect people to go without water, or other critical utilities, until SVCE deigns to approve their work? I understand the intent of not having someone file paperwork for an upgrade that happened months or years apart, but as you can clearly see, there is very little time difference here, and replacing the water heater was a critical item.
follow to get a rebate, especially when they may be in crisis solving mode. 4 I believe my time is up,
And thank you for letting me speak.
5 Thank You