Community Working Group Meeting 4
1/15/2026, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Attendees:
Working Group Members:
• Tom Evans
• Rose Mayes
• David Hahn
• Tom Donahue
• Matt Barth
Staff:
• Ryan McManus
• Andrew Galvan
• Trisha Hobbs
• Zoe Ridgway
• Fortino Morales
• Gil Hernandez
• David Garcia
• Mayor Particia Lock Dawson
• Nina Smith
• Tracy Sato
• Kelly Murillo
Meeting Minutes:
Overview of meetings 1-3
• Review of staff proposals and funding amounts
Idea discussion of utilization of remaining $14M of PB fund reserve • The first three proposals use $15M, other $14M uses discussed o $5M - Energy Storage rebate
o $5M - Resiliency Centers
o $5M - UOC/EOC resiliency
• $9M proposed for residents impacted by RTRP visibility concerns o Would fund batteries and/or solar installations
• $1M proposed for inverters and other components required to convert customers with solar to provide Daylight Resiliency benefits
o Staff to research the concept of Daylight Resiliency (solar + battery, designed to run critical circuits on solar power from daylight production during outages)
o Solar to run specific circuits
• ~$1M for education, demonstration, displays at each facility designated as a Community/Emergency Centers
• Additional dollars above the proposed $500/kW to increase the battery rebate due to additional public benefits of battery storage installations. o Current proposed battery rebate would cover about 50% of cost to install a typical battery
o Staff to research additional benefits of energy storage to maintain cost- effectiveness of the program
• Additional dollars should be used to expand ESAP
o Utilizing the SCG/RPU vendor, Synergy
o Expressed desire for increased RPU outreach
Other topics of discussion:
PB fund utilization is 70-80% on an ongoing basis.
Fire Threat vs. Fire Severity
• Fire threat maps are low in RPU territory due to risks associated with the electrical infrastructure.
• Maps last completed in 2012 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). o Unknown when the CPUC would update the fire threat maps.
Energy Efficiency Programming
Participation rates:
• Does RPU do market research on participation rates?
o RPU measures clicks, email opens, and other digital metrics Senior Citizen outreach:
• Comments from the members:
o More can be done to conduct outreach to the Senior community o Overcoming stigma is important
o RPU should speak to Riverside County Office on Aging
o Members have many more potential partnership ideas, invited to reach out to members for additional contacts
o RPU should participate in the Fair Housing Conference • RPU conducts events at senior centers and mobile home parks (MHP)
Member question: Does RPU conduct utility inspections for homeowners? Member comments:
• Does/Can RPU give customers ideas for home improvements? • People often do not know what they need or how to ask for it • RPU should reach out to United Way
• RPU should educate 211 operators
Member comment: Regarding outreach literature
• RPU should provide communications at all community centers and facilities such as the Civil Rights Institute.
Member comment: ESAP questions
• What is the capture rate?
• RPU should reach out to Ward leadership and attend Ward meetings RPU comments:
• ESAP is still offered
• Community is canvased every 5 years
Questions/comments from Members on Program administration:
• Contact property managers about program for permission • Go out if there is interest, go door-to-door for outreach efforts RPU comments:
• Contractor goes out, no-cost to the customer
• There is coordination between RPU and the vendor
• RPU can follow up and request statistics from vendor on efforts
Concept idea: University grants to study EE programs
Comments from Members:
• RPU should consider spending $1M-$10M on research opportunities for EE • Potential to increase the current grants from $200k to $3M+ encouraging better grant proposals
• A grant idea would be to study the efficacy of the Tree Shade program and the associated EE savings