SFPUC Commission Meeting - April 23, 2024 - Farewells, CAP, CleanPowerSF, and Public Testimony
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SFPUC Commission Meeting - April 23, 2024
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission met on April 23, 2024, to discuss the Water and Wastewater Customer Assistance Program (CAP) update, a BAWSCA water use report, approval of the CleanPowerSF Load Management Standards Plan, and adoption of the Power Miscellaneous Fee schedule. The meeting also featured extensive public testimony on environmental issues, especially concerning Tuolumne River flows and salmon conservation, and honored retiring Commissioner Sophie Maxwell and retiring Secretary Donna Hood.
Consent Calendar
- Item 7a: Approve Modification No. 1 to Job Order Contract No. JOC-95 (General Engineering Construction) and Item 7b: Approve novation of Contract No. PUC-0002.F (Security System Maintenance). Both were approved unanimously (5-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Environmental and River Flow Concerns: Over a dozen speakers from the Tuolumne River Trust, Golden State Salmon Association, Sierra Club, Restore the Delta, and others urged the commission to not appeal a recent court loss, to support the state's Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, and to withdraw support for voluntary agreements. Speakers noted salmon returns on the Tuolumne River declined from an average of approximately 13,000 to hundreds, leading to the closure of salmon fishing for two consecutive years. They criticized the SFPUC's "design drought" of 8.5 years as unrealistic and called for more reasonable demand projections.
- Equity and Shutoffs: A few speakers, including Jennifer Vitaru (online), addressed the Pierce Street outfall issue and clarified prior claims about outreach. Others thanked Commissioner Maxwell and Secretary Hood for their service and dedication.
Discussion Items
- 5a. Water and Wastewater Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Update: Deijah Andrus presented. The CAP program, started in 2004, now serves over 6,700 customers (200% enrollment growth over three years). The program uses a tiered discount (up to 40%) based on area median income. Staff reported 73% initial denial rate, but 63% of appeals are approved. Commissioners discussed language access for denial letters, the planned resumption of shutoffs (delayed by pending CWAP funds), and potential inclusion of disabled veterans. The program anticipates $4.5 million in discounts this fiscal year.
- 5b. and 5c. Retirement Recognitions: The commission adopted resolutions honoring Secretary Donna Hood (16 years at SFPUC, 270 meetings without fail, 2,747 resolutions facilitated) and Commissioner Sophie Maxwell (5 years as commissioner, former supervisor, instrumental in closing the Potrero Power Plant). Both received tributes from commissioners and staff.
- 6. Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Update: Nicole Sandkulla presented data showing that BAWSCA agencies have reduced water use by 32% since peak (1986-87) despite a 34% population increase. Average residential per capita consumption reached a historic low of 55 gallons per person per day in fiscal year 2022-23 (drought year). The SFPUC supplies two-thirds of BAWSCA's water. BAWSCA is initiating a new demand study and drought report.
- 8. CleanPowerSF Load Management Standards Plan: Michael Himes presented the plan required by the California Energy Commission. The plan evaluates real-time electricity pricing but recommends not developing such rates at this time, citing cost, equity, and technological feasibility concerns. The commission approved the plan unanimously (5-0).
- 9. Power Miscellaneous Fee Schedule: Public hearing on proposed updates. Staff recommended eliminating four rarely used fees (pending shutoff notice, field action charge, pole/underground disconnection fee, and field visit fee) and updating the temporary service installation/removal fee to recover current costs. Approved unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Minutes of April 9, 2024 (5-0).
- Approved: Consent Calendar items 7a and 7b (5-0).
- Approved: CleanPowerSF Load Management Standards Plan (5-0).
- Approved: Power Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (5-0).
- Directives: Staff to explore options for improving CAP application language access; to consider a pilot for real-time pricing with diverse customer participants; and to increase water representation in San Francisco Climate Week programs.
- Next Steps: CAP program data to be reviewed quarterly; BAWSCA demand study and drought report planned for completion within a year; CleanPowerSF staff to monitor state pilot programs for potential future rate development.
Meeting Transcript
The call to vote order call to order the April 23rd, 2024 meeting of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Can we have a roll call of office? Roll call, please. President Paulson. Here. Vice President Rivera. Here. Commissioner Jamy. Yeah. Commissioner Maxwell. Here. Commissioner Stacy. Here. And we have a quorum. So I'd like to announce uh that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission acknowledges that it owns and are stewards of the unceded lands located within the ethnohistoric territory of the Molecla Ohlone tribe and other familiar descendants of the historic federally recognized Mission San Jose Verona Band of Alameda County. The SFPUC also recognizes that every citizen residing within the Greater Bay Area has and continues to benefit from the use and occupation of the Molecula Aloney tribes aboriginal lands since before and after the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's founding in 1932. It is vitally important that we not only recognize the history of the tribal lands on which we reside, but also we acknowledge and honor the fact that the Molecula Alone people have established a working partnership with the SFPUC and our productive and flourishing members with the grant within the greater San Francisco Bay Area communities today. Commissioner Rivera. Thank you, President Paulson. I would please like to ask for a moment of silence in memory of the untimely death last week of an active duty San Francisco firefighter, Lieutenant C. Steve Silvestrich. Steve leaves behind his wife and four children. Lieutenant Silvestrich was not only an exemplary firefighter, he was also my friend. Thank you. Let us observe that moment of silence, please. Thank you. You read item number three, please, Donna. Item three is approval of the minutes of April 9th, 2024. Are there any corrections or additions to the minutes? Seeing none, um, can we open the minutes up to public comment, please? Remote callers, raise your hand if you wish to provide comment on item number three. Do we have any members of the public present to provide comment on item number three approval of the minutes? See none. Do we have any callers with their hands raised? Madam Secretary, there are no callers that wish to be recognized. Thank you. Public comment and item three is closed. Okay, thank you. Can I get a motion and second to approve the minutes of April 9th, please? Move to approve. There's a motion and second. Can we have a roll call, please? President Paulson. Aye. Vice President Rivera. Aye. Commissioner Maxwell. Aye. Commissioner Jami. Aye.
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