San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting – October 11, 2022

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) met on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 9:30 AM via teleconference due to the COVID-19 emergency. The meeting included reports on drought conditions and CleanPowerSF’s Integrated Resource Plan, as well as extensive public comment regarding water management on the Tuolumne River. Several agenda items were removed, including the Annual Citizens’ Advisory Committee update, the Upper Islais Creek Watershed Approach, and the Closed Session.

Consent Calendar

• Item 11a (Contract No. WD-2847): Approved – replacement of 8- and 16-inch ductile iron water main on Laidley Street and side streets.
• Item 11b (Contract No. WW-709R): Approved – various locations sewer replacement No. 13.
• A public commenter requested more background details on such contracts in future consent calendars. The Commission voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (Item 6) and Comments on Drought Update (Item 9a) and CleanPowerSF (Item 9c): Over 25 members of the public spoke. Most commenters urged the Commission to increase flows to the Tuolumne River, drop the lawsuit against the State Water Board’s Bay Delta Plan, revise the “design drought” (an 8.5-year planning scenario), and invest in water recycling. Speakers included:
  • Castille Willie (staff attorney, State of California Fairman) – requested reevaluation of design drought to benefit Bay Delta ecosystem and tribal/environmental justice communities.
  • Peter Dreckmeier (policy director, Tuolumne River Trust) – noted San Francisco has over four years of water storage (966,000 acre-feet) and urged action; highlighted that unimpaired flow in the lower Tuolumne was 9% last year.
  • Barry Nelson (Golden State Salmon Association) – said the Tuolumne River has the worst salmon record of any Sierra Nevada river; called for science-based flow standards.
  • John McMahon (president, Golden State Salmon Association) – stated San Francisco is “drowning in water” while the river is dewatered; urged SFPUC to withdraw lawsuits.
  • Several speakers (including Danny Zaki, Sierra Club; Molly Colton, Sierra Club California; Mary Butterwick; and others) emphasized environmental justice, indigenous water rights, harmful algae blooms, and salmon population declines. Many noted that only 186 Chinook salmon were counted last year.
  • Nicole Sandkulla (CEO, BAWSCA – representing 26 wholesale customers and 1.8 million residents) – thanked staff for thoughtful discussion and stressed importance of balancing conservation with regional economic health.
  • David Pilpel – commented on communications items (7d, 7e, 7f) and the need for timely reporting.
• Public comment on Consent Calendar: David Pilpel asked for more background on sewer replacement projects.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – Annual Election of Officers: Postponed to a future meeting when the fifth commissioner would be installed. Motion carried 3-0.
• Item 4 – Renewed Findings for Hybrid Meetings: Adopted to allow continued hybrid teleconference meetings due to COVID-19. Motion carried 3-0. One caller (David Pilpel) spoke on the item but had only a procedural comment.
• Item 5 – Approval of Minutes of September 13, 2022: Continued to next meeting due to a discrepancy (the agenda referenced September 13 but minutes were for September 27). Motion carried 3-0.
• Item 7 – Communications: The Commission acknowledged the reports (advance calendar, contract advertisement, correspondence log, franchise compliance, CleanPowerSF quarterly, and quarterly contract awards). Commissioner Maxwell expressed appreciation for the thorough reports. Public comment was heard.
• Item 9a – Drought Conditions Update: Steve Ritchie (Assistant GM for Water) presented:
  • Storage at Hetch Hetchy was 89% of average; total system storage (966,000 acre-feet) equates to approximately 4.6 years of demand.
  • The San Francisco Bay Area received 24.1 inches of rain in water year 2022 (above average), but upcountry precipitation was below median.
  • Customer water savings reached 13% in San Francisco and 9% wholesale (July–September 2022), resulting in about 10.3% overall reduction from base year.
  • Staff is evaluating strategies for deeper conservation if drought continues, including possible two-day-per-week outdoor irrigation limits.
  • Commissioner Rivera asked about projections for continued conservation and policy options (e.g., onsite reuse). Commissioner Maxwell asked about reaching a target per capita usage (e.g., 45 gallons/person/day) to become more drought-resilient. Commissioner Ajami raised concerns about wastewater capacity impacts from reduced water use. Mr. Ritchie noted that the physical system means water released from Hetch Hetchy goes into Don Pedro Reservoir, operated by irrigation districts.
• Item 9c – CleanPowerSF Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Modeling Results: Cheryl Taylor (Operations Manager, CleanPowerSF) presented:
  • Four portfolios were modeled: two conforming (base case and 95% time-coincident) and two alternate (Mayor’s EV/building electrification targets, and 50% local resource procurement).
  • Staff recommends the 90% time-coincident portfolio as it balances affordability, reliability, clean energy, and local investment. The 90% case requires 922 MW of new resources by 2035 and is only 4% more costly than the base case.
  • The local resource procurement alternative would serve 50% of load with local resources by 2030 but would increase annual revenue requirement by roughly 50% by 2032.
  • Commissioners asked about time coincidence, demand forecasting, transmission planning, and local geothermal resources. Staff clarified that the 90% time-coincident portfolio provides a “happy medium” without excessive overbuilding.
  • Written feedback is due October 14; final approval will be sought at the October 25 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Annual Election of Officers: Postponed (3-0) to a later meeting when a fifth commissioner is appointed.
• Hybrid Meeting Findings: Adopted (3-0) to continue teleconference meetings.
• Approval of September 13 Minutes: Continued (3-0) to next meeting due to date error.
• Consent Calendar: Approved (3-0) with contract awards for water main and sewer replacement.
• Drought Update: Staff will work with BAWSCA and wholesale customers to develop concrete conservation measures (e.g., two-day irrigation limits) to be presented by November 2022.
• CleanPowerSF IRP: Staff will present the final preferred conforming portfolio (90% time-coincident) for adoption at the October 25, 2022 commission meeting, with submission to CPUC by November 1, 2022.