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1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION’S COMMUNITY ENERGY RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE INVESTMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN PREVENTION STRATEGIESRiverside Public UtilitiesCity CouncilAugust 19, 2025 RiversideCA.gov2
1. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)passed by Congress in 20212. The Act includes Section 40101(d) that provides funding to strengthen electric grid reliability and resilience3. Funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)4. California was awarded approximately $170 millionInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) 1 2
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2 RiversideCA.gov3
1. The California Energy Commission (CEC) is responsible for managing the state’s share2. CEC launched the Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment (CERRI) Program to distribute funding to utilities and local agencies CERRI PROGRAM GRANT RiversideCA.gov4
1. RPU prepares an annual Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) to reduce fire risks from its electrical infrastructure in High Fire Threat Districts (HFTDs)2. The CERRI Program provides a grant opportunity to fund system hardening projects aligned with the WMP3. The WMP is approved annually by the Board of Public Utilities and then submitted to the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (WSAB)RPU’s GRANT OPPORTUNITY3 4 8/7/2025
3 RiversideCA.gov5
1. RPU is upgrading infrastructure in High Fire Threat Districts (HFTDs) to reduce wildfire risk and improve system reliability2. Focus areas include:a. Protective Devices – Improve fault response and reduce outage impactsb. Reconductoring– Replace older wires with stronger, more durable conductorsc. Advanced Materials – Add insulation and enhance system resilienceWMP STRATEGY – SYSTEM HARDENING RiversideCA.gov6
That the City Council:1. Authorize the Public Utilities Department to submit a Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment application to the California Energy Commission in an amount up to $5.25 million and grant match funds of $2.0 million for deployment of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan prevention strategies; 2. Upon grant award, authorize the City to receive $5.25 million from the California Energy Commission Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment Grant Program for deployment of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan prevention strategies; 3. With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of grant of award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues and a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $5.25 million, or the actual award amount, in the Electric Fund Federal Operating Grants revenue and CERRI Grant – Wildfire Mitigation Plan Project Grant portion expenditure accounts; and RECOMMENDATIONS5 6 8/7/2025
4 RiversideCA.gov7
4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents and instruments necessary related to the application for grant funding to participate and take all necessary actions required or advisable to implement, administer and carry out the responsibilities under the California Energy Commission Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment Grant Program, including making minor and non-substantive changes and to execute corrections and amendments as necessary.RECOMMENDATIONS (CONTINUED)7