RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
PUBLIC BENEFITS &
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP
Meeting #2 – October 7, 2025
RiversideCA.gov
2 Welcome & Introductions
1. Recap of Meeting #1
•Themes discussed
•Questions/comments arising from Meeting #1
2. Themes for today
•Low-income programs
•Demonstration project proposal
•Survey
RiversideCA.gov
3 OBJECTIVE OF THE GROUP
Summer-Fall 2025
Working Group
Establishing
overall program
goals
Providing input
to help guide
detail analysis
and future
program
development
Fall 2025-Summer 2026
Consulting
Services
Detail program
analysis
Community
Survey
Summer 2026
A Way Forward
Conclude the
Analysis
Community &
Stakeholder
Meetings
Final Plan &
Strategy
Answer the question of what programs and activities do the community recommend we do with Public Benefit Funds and how RPU should spend down the accumulated $34 million in Public Benefit Funds RiversideCA.gov
4 The Community Working Group is intended to provide
ideas, comments, express questions, and provide
community frameworks around how RPU’s Public
Benefits Funds should be spent.
Final decisions on the expenditures, programs,
structures, and budgets will be established by the RPU
Board and City Council.
COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP = ADVISORY
RiversideCA.gov
5 Goals
1. Provide cost-beneficial energy
efficiency services to customers
2. Offer customers meaningful
information on the costs and benefits
of energy efficiency measures
3. Reduce market barriers to investments
in energy efficient products and
services
4. Create a sustainable and competitive
energy efficiency services market
PUBLIC BENEFIT FUND SOURCE OF AUTHORITY
Public Benefits funds were established in 1996 by Assembly Bill 1890 (AB 1890) Created a Non-bypassable Customer
Charge to provide for customer programs
1. Minimum charge of 2.85%
2. Residential and commercial customers
3. Average residential customer pays ~
$3.00 per month
4. Average commercial customer pays ~
$10.00 per month
5. RPU collects approximately $10 million
annually
RiversideCA.gov
6 Limited Use of the Funding
1. Cost effective demand side management to promote
energy efficiency and energy conservation
2. New investment in renewable energy resources and
technologies
3. Research, development, and demonstration programs
for the public interest to advance science or technology which is not adequately provided by competitive and
regulated markets
4. Services provided for low-income electricity customers, including, but not limited to, energy efficiency services, education, weatherization, and rate discounts
PUBLIC BENEFIT FUND ALLOWED SPENDING CATEGORIES
RiversideCA.gov
7 Questions and responses, topics raised during the first meeting by the Working Group members
MAIN THEMES FROM FIRST MEETING OF WG
Non-Energy
Impacts (NEIs)
Benefits of
Energy
Efficiency in
comfort and
safety
How do customers
use electricity
Largest energy
usage and
behavioral
changes
RiversideCA.gov
8 Theme of comfort, balancing bill impact, how to lower barriers for audience for these improvements
Affording comfort and improving health for the public
NON-ENERGY IMPACTS (NEIs)
Standard valuation
methods often don’t
“pencil” out
Cost/benefit ratios or Return on
Investment is often not favorable
for supporting the measure
Leaves a gap in “true”
value of the upgrade
RiversideCA.gov
9 FUND EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM TYPE (LAST 10 YEARS)
Demand-Side
Management,
Energy Efficiency &
Conservation Programs
$34,599,677
61%
Low-Income Assistance
Programs (SHARE, ESAP,
Reliability Refund, COVID)
$16,801,975
30%
New Renewable Energy (Solar)
$3,802,885
7%
Research, Demonstration and
Development
$1,200,889
2%
RiversideCA.gov
10 NEIs - MOTIVATIONS
Broad term for a wide
range of costs and
benefits that are not
clearly associated
with energy
generation,
transmission, and
distribution
Impacts not easily
quantified as cost or
energy savings
RiversideCA.gov
11 FACTORS
People want
appliances that
are:
Safe
Cost effective
Durable, low cost,
low maintenance
Do a good job
RiversideCA.gov
12 Water
Heating
57%
Dryer
2%
Pools, Spas, Misc
5%
Cooking
5%
Space
Heating
31%
2019 Gas UECs*
360 Therms per Household
ENERGY USE BY APPLIANCE TYPE
Note: SCE/SoCalGas Climate Zone 10 Space Conditioning, other amounts SCE data, annual amounts
Lighting
(estimate)
19%
Refrigerators
and Freezers
23%
TV, PC, and
Office Equipment
8%
Air
Conditioning
25%Dishwasher and
Cooking
5%
Pools and Spas
5%
Laundry
3%
Space Heating
1%
Electric
Vehicles
1%
Water
Heating
1% Miscellaneous
9%
2019 Electric UECs*
7,177 kWh per Household
*UEC = Unit Energy Consumption
RiversideCA.gov
13 RPU PEAK DEMAND & TEMPERATURE TRENDS
275 272 254 290 320
505
588 607 658
551
265 268
79 76 75
88 94
100 101 105
111
102
79 83
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
100
110
120
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Temp (°F)
MW
Monthly Peak Load Monthly Peak Temp
A/C Load
RiversideCA.gov
14 1. How do we lower barriers for the audience for these improvements?
• Can we include NEIs as ROI calculation to improve cost-benefit ratios?
• Can we provide additional incentives using NEIs?
2. Customer survey(s) can provide insight of NEI value to our community
• Customer feedback on what they need to be comfortable for program formulation and education
ADDING AND AFFORDING NEIs
RiversideCA.gov
15 LOW-INCOME PROGRAM LEGISLATION
AB 1890 (1996)
• Established Public Benefits Charge and Program Requirements • Low Income Assistance one of four allowable uses
SB 2 (2001)
• Needs Assessment if the utility had not already implemented low-income assistance • Consider increased assistance to reflect customer need • Streamline enrollment in low-income assistance programs • Establish participation goals
SBx 2-2 (2001)
• Streamline by collaborating and aligning eligibility levels with other electric and gas providers in the same service territory
• Streamline enrollment by collaborating with existing providers of the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
RiversideCA.gov
16 Of the 31,710 households that could potentially qualify for RPU’s SHARE program, on average, only 5,900 per year are in receipt of the assistance, or 16% of potentially qualified customers.
* Data taken from RPU IRP 2023/US Census Bureau Data 2021
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD DATA / RIVERSIDE
Riverside Data Total Number Below
250% FPL
Percentage
Below 250% FPL
Population for which poverty is determined 299,549 118,001 39% Households 91,110 31,710 35%
Family Households 66,568 22,036 33%
Non-Family Households 24,542 9,674 39%
RiversideCA.gov
17 What is Low-Income Assistance?
• Bill payment assistance
• No cost energy efficiency upgrades
• RPU has established low-income threshold at 250% or
below federal poverty guidelines
What does RPU offer?
• Sharing Households Assists Riverside’s Energy – SHARE • Energy Savings Assistance Program – ESAP
• Mobile Home/Multi-Family program (not income but
residence-type based)
RPU’S LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS
RiversideCA.gov
18 Other assistance programs RPU customers could qualify for:
1. Utilicare – adjusted rates for customers reliant on essential medical devices
2. Utility User Tax (UUT) – refund for low-income (gross household income for tax year 2024 increased to $23,475 for 55+ or disabled customers)
3. Reliability Charge Waiver – linked to UUT, customers receiving UUT also qualify for the RCW
4. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)Managed via CAP/Riverside County
5. Payment arrangements:
• SB998 Water Shut-off Protection Act
• Alternative payment plans available - flexible and individualized according to circumstances
ALTERNATIVE ASSISTANCE/REPAYMENT PROGRAMS
RiversideCA.gov
19 1. Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs – such as Southern California Edison & SoCal Gas) offer two primary assistance programs
• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): 250%+ FPL: 32.5% discount on monthly electric bill (20% gas bill)
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) 200%-250% FPL offering 18% discount on monthly bill
2. Other assistance IOU customers (and some for *RPU) could qualify for? • Arrearage Management Plan – debt forgiveness payment option ($500+) • Energy Savings Assistance* – EE upgrades, appliances (includes renters) • Medical Baseline Allowance* – medical equipment help
• Energy Assistance Fund* – bill assistance (unexpected hardship) • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)*
• Budget Billing Plan – levelized bill across 11 months • Percent of Income Payment Plan
IOU LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS
RiversideCA.gov
20 250% Federal
Poverty Guidelines
Income thresholds by
number of household
members
For each additional person add:
- Total annual Income: $13,750
- Total monthly Income: $1,145
LOW-INCOME THRESHOLD
Number in
Household
Total Annual
Income Does Not
Exceed
Total Monthly
Income Does Not
Exceed
1 $39,125 $3,260
2 $52,875 $4,406
3 $66,625 $5,552
4 $80,375 $6,697
5 $94,125 $7,843
6 $107,875 $8,989
7 $121,625 $10,135
8 $135,375 $11,281
RiversideCA.gov
21 1. Established in 1989 to provide emergency assistance to customers at risk of a shutoff with funding supported by customer contributions and donations • 1999, Expanded to utilize Public Benefits funds to assist more customers, allowed any qualified low- income customer to apply for support
2. May 22, 2018, Changes to the SHARE program in alignment with rate plan • Increased income qualifications from 150% to 200% federal poverty guidelines • Modified assistance to provide a monthly assistance ($10) and a one time per year emergency or deposit assistance ($150)
SHARE PROGRAM
3. March 23, 2021, Increased
emergency/deposit credit from
$150 to $250
4. May 17, 2022, Expanded eligibility to
250% federal poverty guidelines
City Council
Approval Date
Monthly Electric
Credit
Monthly Water
Credit
July 2, 2019 $14.50 $2.50
July 21, 2020 $15.00 $2.75
August 3, 2021 $15.50 $3.00
May 17, 2022 $16.00 $3.25
RiversideCA.gov
22 September 19, 2023, the City Council, as part of utility rate plan discussions, approved the increase to the monthly SHARE electric and water credits, with 4-year additional increases in alignment with electric rate changes through 2028.
SHARE PROGRAM
Year Monthly Water
Credit
July 1, 2022 $3.25
October 1, 2023 $4.25
July 1, 2024 $4.75
July 1, 2025 $5.25
July 1, 2026 $5.75
July 1, 2027 $6.25
Year Monthly Electric
Credit
As of January 1, 2023 $16
January 1, 2024 $20
January 1, 2025 $24
January 1, 2026 $28
January 1, 2027 $29
January 1, 2028 $30
RiversideCA.gov
23 Monthly assistance program participant amount October 2024 – September 2025
SHARE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
5,516 5,433 5,527
6,621 6,426 6,334 6,287 6,297 6,312
5,246 5,250 5,172
0 1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
Oct-24 Nov Dec Jan-25 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept
Number of Customers
RiversideCA.gov
24 SHARE Program Participation – Electric Monthly Bill Credits And Deposits/Urgent Assistance
SHARE PROGRAM
Fiscal Year $150/$250* Monthly
Amount
Total - Monthly
& Deposits
FY20/21 $488,350* $465,389 $953,739
FY 21/22 $616,750 $530,000 $1,144,750
FY 22/23 $1,349,250 $877,405 $2,226,655
FY 23/24 $1,168,000 $1,169,384 $2,337,384
FY 24/25 $1,134,500 $1,420,656 $2,555,156
*March 23, 2021, CC approved increasing emergency/deposit credit from $150 to $250.
RiversideCA.gov
25 Is there more that RPU can do?
1. Increase awareness
2. Decrease stigma
3. Increase funding – beyond $250 for
deposits/urgent assistance
• Average arrears for customers facing disconnection
is $297.98
4. Increase monthly assistance or change it
to a percent of bill
SHARE PROGRAM
RiversideCA.gov
26 1. Low-income, direct installation program that offers a range of efficiency upgrades
• No cost to the customer
• Began in 2013 – Partnership with Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) to take a comprehensive utility approach to upgrades within qualified customers’ homes
2. Since 2015, served 3,884 low-income customers
• The income qualification at 250% or below FPL
3. Program paused during COVID pandemic – May 2020 until February 2022 along with all installation programs
ENERGY SAVINGS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - ESAP
RiversideCA.gov
27 ENERGY SAVINGS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – ESAP
• Whole house fan 2500 CFM (cubic feet) / 3300 CFM
• Refrigerators (and refrigerator recycling)
• LED lighting (including floodlamps, porch lights, etc.) • Duct sealing and testing
• ECM motors
• Ceiling insulation
• Occupancy sensors
• Smart thermostats
• Computer smart power strips
• Nightlights
• Lifecycle refrigerant management (for Gas Furnace &
Heat Pumps)
• Smart fan control switch (for Gas Furnace & Heat Pumps)
RiversideCA.gov
28 • Participation numbers have been lowering since 2023/24, and this reflects the more complex measures that are now included this program, which take longer to install
• Average spend per customer is approximately $1,299 (not including partial year 2021/22)
ESAP PROGRAM PARTICIPATION – 2021-2025
Program Details FY 21/22* FY 22/23 FY 23/24 FY 24/25
Homes Served 456 709 398 385
kWh Saved 642,570 884,862 437,972 317,172
Program Cost
(RPU) $313,941.52 $443,591.48 $455,740.57 $648,598.21
*FY 21/22 program was only available for 4 months due to COVID-19 restrictions and contract expiration.
RiversideCA.gov
29 MOBILE HOME / MULTI-FAMILY ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1. MHMF mirrors the ESAP direct install
program
• Program is managed in partnership with SoCal
Gas, agreement needs to renew in 2025
• No income qualification, criteria is property-type
2. Addresses market 'gap' providing specialist
measures particular to housing-type not
addressed by ESAP program
3. Additional funds were approved early 2025
• Program budget increased from $500,000 to
$1,000,000/year
RiversideCA.gov
30 MOBILE HOME / MULTI-FAMILY ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1. Approximately 2,040 mobile homes in RPU service territory
2. To date, program has served 233 mobile homes and 1,039 multi-family residences
• Saving over 947,000 kWh enough to power approximately 132 single family homes for a year
3. Measures include:
• LED lighting (including floodlamps, porch lights)
• Nightlights
• Refrigerators
• Lifecycle refrigerant management
• Duct sealing and testing
• Occupancy sensors
• Smart thermostats
• Computer smart power strips
• Return duct retrofit (manufactured homes only)
• Crossover duct replacement (manufactured homes only)
RiversideCA.gov
31 • RPU offers a broad education program
• Tap into 30-years of teaching success
and create a tailored education/demo
center with teaching and ‘hands-on’
space
• Incorporate/Partner for Workforce Dev.
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PROPOSAL
RiversideCA.gov
32 Los Angeles Clean Incubator - LACI
• Founded as an economic development initiative by the
City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water & Power (LADWP) in 2011
• Multiple funding sources – not just public benefits
• LADWP: La Kretz Innovation Campus
– Blend of science, entrepreneurship, environmentalism, and policymaking merge to advance the development of a sustainable future that includes clean and abundant water supplies, a commitment to 100% renewable energy, and an inclusive green economy
– Showcases for labs, working exhibits, and educational opportunities for customers, students, and visitors alike, offering ways to save money, conserve water and electricity, and learn valuable information on rebates available to all LADWP customers DEMONSTRATION PROJECT EXAMPLES: LADWP
RiversideCA.gov
33 Sustainability Education Center opens Fall 2025
• Sustainability Education Center (SEC) is
envisioned to be Anaheim Public Utilities’
educational demonstration center that
incorporates technology, sustainability, and
workforce development programs
• APU has an active role in supporting student
engagement efforts, including mentoring,
internships, and career symposiums.
• The SEC is envisioned to take another step to
support our community by providing pathways
for even more students to learn about
sustainable utility careers
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT EXAMPLES: ANAHEIM
RiversideCA.gov
34 City of Roseville
Utility Exploration Center
The Utility Exploration Center is a
one-of-a-kind learning center that
offers an inside look at the utility
systems that keep Roseville safe,
healthy and strong.
• Provides interactive learning
experience for all ages.
• Organizes special events,
school programs and workshops
to help our community learn
how to save energy and water,
reduce waste, protect the
watershed and live sewer.
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT EXAMPLES: ROSEVILLE
RiversideCA.gov
35 What could it contain?
• Hands on demo
• Teaching center/what we already do
for education and what could we do
in this proposed new space?
• Younger and Adult ed/utility career
pathway center/linkages with
Riverside higher ed institutions
• Residents/Customers can access state
of the art new and emerging EE tech
DEMONSTRATION CENTER CONCEPT
RiversideCA.gov
36 • Should RPU consider developing a demonstration center? – Must be linked to public benefit fund allowable uses
– Other uses require different funding
• How much should we spend on this?
• Where could it be?
– Could it be mobile/exist in community centers already in place, etc?
– Geo-equity considerations – available in each ward or in DACs? • Did any of the concepts sound as a right start for Riverside
DEMONSTRATION CENTER CONCEPT
RiversideCA.gov
37 • Upcoming battery storage rebate program
OTHER CONCEPTS
RiversideCA.gov
38 Draft version of
survey hand out
SURVEY DISCUSSION