Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Special Meeting
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
5:00 pm
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
Milpitas Police Department
1275 N. Milpitas Blvd
Milpitas, CA
Morgan Hill City Hall
17575 Peak Ave.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order:
Chair Walia called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.
Roll Call
Present:
Directors:
Tina Walia (Chair), Saratoga
George Tyson (Vice Chair), Los Altos Hills
Elliot Scozzola, Campbell
Sheila Mohan, Cupertino
Evelyn Chua, Milpitas (participated remotely)
Bryan Mekechuk, Monte Sereno
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Morgan Hill (participated remotely, arrived at 6:10 p.m.) Pat Showalter, Mountain View
Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Alternate Directors:
Maria Ristow, Los Gatos
Absent:
Directors:
Zach Hilton, Gilroy
Sally Meadows, Los Altos
Rob Rennie, Los Gatos
Alternate Directors:
Sergio Lopez, Campbell
Hung Wei, Cupertino
Docusign Envelope ID: F2001905-65D3-4343-832E-FC4BB34C3503
Rebeca Armendariz, Gilroy
Pete Dailey, Los Altos
Lisa Schmidt, Los Altos Hills
Carmen Montano, Milpitas
Burton Craig, Monte Sereno
Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View
Tanya Carothers, Morgan Hill
Chuck Page, Saratoga
Murali Srinivasan, Sunnyvale
Sylvia Arenas, Santa Clara County
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
Regular Calendar
2) Study Session: Exploring Impacts of Policies on Customer Affordability CEO Monica Padilla welcomed the SVCE Board of Directors and members of the public to the study session, with key goals for the session that included participants having a deeper understanding of rates, bills, and cost drivers, what SVCE is doing in relation to affordability, and how others can help.
The following SVCE staff members presented information:
Don Bray, Director of Strategic Development, provided an overview of rates which included a breakdown of residential electricity rates, information on PG&E’s rates, an SVCE arrearage summary, California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program information, and a snapshot of the average monthly electricity and gas bills by socioeconomic vulnerability index (SEVI).
Maren Wenzel, Director of Regulatory, Policy and Planning, reviewed legislative and regulatory policy impacts on rates. Key regulatory and legislative decisions were highlighted, information on wildfire recovery revenue requirements and the Net Billing Tariff was shared, and clean energy targets, an overview of the impacts of transmission and distribution needs, and key drivers were reviewed.
Director of Strategic Development Bray reviewed actions SVCE is taking on affordability which included a CARE/FERA credit offer, SVCE rate programs, and other SVCE programs to help lower customer bills.
Bena Chang, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, reviewed what SVCE Board Members can do to help with affordability. Ideas included directing customers to existing resources and programs, informing customers of SVCE actions, educating customers and community stakeholders and communicating with policymakers.
Board members and staff discussed the content presented. Staff responded to questions from board members that included the following topics:
• Artificial intelligence in modeling,
• The deciding agency of wildfire protection activities, • How residents can sign-up for CARE and FERA programs, • Outreach to eligible CARE/FERA customers,
• Distribution upgrades,
• Addressing electrification of ADUs,
• Arrearages, including summary information and commercial arrearage info, • Application process and criteria for CARE/FERA customers, • The state General Fund,
• Electricity bills and reflecting electric charges,
• Addressing customer assistance in multiple languages, • CARE/FERA discounts,
• SVCE’s rate discount and the need for multi-language videos on how to understand your energy bill, and
Docusign Envelope ID: F2001905-65D3-4343-832E-FC4BB34C3503
• Vehicle to Grid Integration pilot.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
Dr. Patrick Kearns commented on the various communities and cultures that would visit user-friendly and convenient medical clinics that were made available. Dr. Kearns commented a similar population in SVCE’s service territory should be reached regarding affordability options.
James Tuleya, Sunnyvale resident, commented on his involvement in HomeIntel and Home Energy Analytics, which is an energy saving program for PG&E customers that analyzes energy use for “unnecessary waste” and recommends targeted low-cost solutions.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
Adjourn
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
Docusign Envelope ID: F2001905-65D3-4343-832E-FC4BB34C3503