UTILITIES LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES: 2026 UPDATE
City of Palo Alto Utilities Department (CPAU) staff will use the below guidelines as well as the City’s guidelines to help determine any advocacy position or action on Utilities- related issues. Formal advocacy, such as submitting written letters or comments and meeting with policymakers and/or staff, requires the approval of the Utilities Director or their designee.
1. Seek to preserve local government flexibility, discretion, accountability, and oversight of matters impacting utility programs, services, activities, and rates.
Oppose action that could hamper or minimize this flexibility or discretion.
2. Where possible, seek funding and program incentives.
3. Advocate for reasonable government action with minimal customer impact that allows for flexibility, and implementation feasibility, and equitable access.
4. Advocate for locally-designed conservation or efficiency programs. Support reasonable State conservation or efficiency requirements that consider local populations, environment, and resources.
5. Inform state and federal policymakers about CPAU’s current programs, services, goals, and reporting requirements.
6. Oppose unnecessary, unreasonable, impractical, or costly rates or mandates.
7. Collaborate with and support the efforts of regional agencies and associations whose goals align with ours.
8. Advocate for fair cost allocation and support the principle of beneficiary pays, while maintaining flexibility to support just and equitable rate designs and policies that advance beneficial electrification and decarbonization in the public interest.
9. Support efforts to maintain or improve the security and reliability of our infrastructure.
10.Support government action that cost effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions in a just and equitable manner..
11.Promote locally-designed residential and commercial electrification programs that support a just and equitable decarbonization transition.
12.Support government action allowing CPAU to maintain customer confidentiality.
13.Support government action to expand the workforce in trades and technical disciplines necessary to support building and vehicle electrification and grid modernization.
Approved as amended by the Utilities Advisory Commission on November 5, 2025 and the Policy and Services Committee on November 19, 2025.
Approved by City Council on_____________ ,2025 2026