5/5/2022
1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
SHARE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
City Council
May 17, 2022
Public Utilities
RiversideCA.gov
2 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
1. Assembly Bill (AB) 1890 was adopted in 1996, and required publicly owned utilities to collect and spend Public Benefits Charge funds for low-income assistance, energy efficiency and conservation programs, renewable energy, and research, development, and demonstration projects.
2. Senate Bill (SB) 756 was adopted in 2021, and expanded the definition of low-income for the purposes of the Energy Savings Assistance Program from 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines to 250%.
1 2
5/5/2022
2 RiversideCA.gov
3 BACKGROUND
1. SHARE program established in 1989
Originally funded from direct customer contributions
2. May 22, 2018: City Council Approved First Enhancement a. Expanded to 200% of the federal poverty level
b. $14 per month electric bill credit (up to $168 per year) c. $2.25 per month water bill cr edit (up to $27 per year) d. Five (5) one-year automatic renewal periods
e. Funding: $2.8 million
i. $2,550,000 – Direct customer assistance
ii. $ 250,000 – County Administration fee
RiversideCA.gov
4 BACKGROUND
3. Aligned with Electric and Water Rate Increases
City Council approved:
a. July 2, 2019 - $14.50 electric, $2.50 water
b. July 21, 2020 - $15.00 electric, $2.75 water
c. March 23, 2021 – emergency/deposit assistance
increased from $150 to $250
d. August 23, 2021 - $15.50 electric, $3.00 water
3 4
5/5/2022
3 RiversideCA.gov
5 DISCUSSION
1. Increase Water Monthly Credit
a. Next water rate increase scheduled for July 1, 2022
b. Increase water monthly credit from $3.00 to $3.25
(up to $39 per year, 7% increase)
2. Increase Electric Monthly Credit
a. Next electric rate increase scheduled for January 1, 2023 b. Increase electric monthly credit from $15.50 to $16.00 (up to $192 per year, 4% increase)
RiversideCA.gov
6 3. Increase Income Eligibility
a. Increase income eligibility from 200% of the
federal poverty level guidelines to 250%.
b. Participation may double from the present
average of 4,000 approved customers
DISCUSSION
5 6
5/5/2022
4 RiversideCA.gov
7 Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Strategic Priority No. 5 - High Performing Government
Goal 5.4 Achieve and maintain financial health by addressing gaps between revenues and expenditures and aligning resources with strategic priorities to yield the greatest impact.
RiversideCA.gov
8 That the City Council:
1.Approve an increase of the Sharing Households Assist Riverside’s Energy Program’s Electric Monthly Credit from $15.50 per month to $16.00 and Water Monthly Credit from $3.00 to $3.25 to align with electric and water rate increases for Fiscal Year 2022/23; and
2.Approve to update the Sharing Households Assist Riverside’s Energy Program guidelines from 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines to 250%.
RECOMMENDATIONS
7 8