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RiversideCA.gov
REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER RECYCLING PROGRAMCity CouncilMarch 11, 2025Customer Engagement RiversideCA.gov2
RPU’s Public Benefit Customer Charge and Programming is required by State law:1. Assembly Bill (AB) 1890 (Brulte, 1996), requires that utilities establish a non-bypassable, 2.85% usage-based charge fund public benefits programming for demand side management (energy efficiency), renewable energy, low-income assistance, or research, development, and demonstration. 2. SB 1037 (Kehoe, 2005), a comprehensive package that sets ambitious energy conservation policies and goals; requires POU’s to first acquire all available energy efficiency and demand reduction resources that are cost effective, reliable, and feasible, and annually report kilowatt hour (kWh) savings to the California Energy Commission LEGISLATIVE HISTORY1 2 2/27/2025
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BACKGROUND1. In 2000, the Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Program was approved for residential electric customers and managed by Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA)2. In 2023, ARCA went out of business and RPUengaged a local replacement vendor, A&G Electronics Inc., to pick up and recycle working refrigerators3. Since the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year, more than 2,228 refrigerators and freezers have been collected under the program and, to date, have provided 1,531,242 kWh savings.
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BACKGROUND CONT.Total2024-2025 YTD2023-20242022-20232021-2022Fiscal Year 1,531,242348,651521,683343,806317,102kWh Savings 2,228479707487555Units CollectedThe Program provides significant and cost effective ($0.11 per kWh saved)energy savings 3 4 2/27/2025
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DISCUSSION1.RFP 2410 was issued by the City Purchasing Division seeking consultants for the Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program2. Requirements of the Program as issued in the RFP:a. Provide customer support phone numberb. Provide information and instruction for completion of the programc. Provide a mechanism for recording and reporting appointment and equipment information for each unit recycledd. Verify customer eligibilitye. Schedule appointments for pick-up of refrigeration units; remove equipment from customer service address within 10 to 15 days from the date of initial customer contact f. Provide RPU with monthly accounting of units processed RiversideCA.gov6
RFP AND EVALUATION RESULTSNumber of VendorsAction500External Vendors Notified596City of Riverside Vendors Notified15Vendors who downloaded the RFP1Proposals receivedRFP closed on November 12, 2024. As anticipated by staff, there wasonly one responsive and responsible bidder – A&G Electronics Inc.Overall RankPricing RankCommittee’s Avg RankLocationProposerProgram11966.66Riverside, CAA&G Electronics Inc.Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling 5 6
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PROGRAM BENEFITS1. Provides a system load reduction for the utility, contributing to the required energy efficiency savings that RPU commits to annually2. Provides a $100 rebate to customers that recycle and replace a unit with an energy star unit; or $50 rebate to customers that simply recycle an old working unit3. Additional environmental benefits by recycling old units and disposing of them in an environmentally safe manner at a Certified Appliance Recycler Center RiversideCA.gov8
Strategic Priority 4 – Environmental StewardshipGoal 4.6 –Implement the requisite measures to achieve citywide carbon neutrality no later than 2040.Cross – Cutting ThreadsSTRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Community Trust
Equity
Fiscal Responsibility
Innovation
Sustainability & Resiliency
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That the City Council:1. Approve a Professional Consultant Services Agreement from Request for Proposal No. 2410 to administer the Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling program to A&G Electronics Inc., for a three-year term in the amount of $300,000;2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Professional Consultant Services Agreements, including making minor and non-substantive changes to the agreement.RECOMMENDATIONS9