[00:00:06]
WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER OR COMMITTEE MEMBER ON THE WAY, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
I THINK WE HAVE, UH, ENOUGH TO START.
UM, WELCOME TO THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 23RD.
UM, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU, UH, DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCILMAN? COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
HERE, CHAIR, COURAGE PRESENT CHAIR.
UH, WE HAVE AN AGENDA TODAY WITH SEVERAL BRIEFING ITEMS. UH, AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THROUGH THESE PRETTY EASILY.
THERE ISN'T ANY ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THESE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM C P S ENERGY ON THESE ISSUES.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE HAVE, UM, ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY ON THESE ISSUES? WE DO.
[Approval of Minutes ]
DO THE MINUTES FIRST, SIR? OH, YES.LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UH, DO THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 7TH.
UH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES FROM OUR APRIL 7TH MEETING? OKAY, THEN I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 7TH.
[Public Comment ]
DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, I'LL CALL THEM AN ORDER OF THEIR HAVING SIGNED UP, A COUPLE OF THEM SIGNED UP ONLINE, I THINK.
AND THEN I KNOW, UH, THERE'S ONE WHO SIGNED UP THIS MORNING.
SO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE THREE MINUTES.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, DD BELMAR.
SHE WANTED TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS, UH, ON THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS, THINGS OF THAT NA NATURE.
ACTUALLY, I, I, I, UH, DIDN'T DO THAT RIGHT.
I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA.
AGENDA ITEMS TWO, FOUR, AND FIVE.
I'M A CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATE WITH CONSUMER, UH, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION CALLED PUBLIC CITIZEN.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE RETIREMENT OF SPRUCE ONE POWER PLANT AND CONVERSION OF THE SPRUCE TWO POWER PLANT.
FROM COAL TO NATURAL GAS, UH, GENERATION, THE DECISION TO FINALLY SHUT DOWN THE SPRUCE, UH, COAL PLANT PLANT WAS A MAJOR WIN FOR OUR CITY AND REGION.
BUT FOR OUR HEALTH, CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILLS, WE NEED TO ENSURE WE'RE PURSUING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER CLEAN POWER AND RATE PAYER SAVINGS.
THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY IS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND THE TAX INCENTIVE PROVISIONS, UH, THAT WILL HELP TO SPEED UP THE ADOPTION OF CLEANER, CHEAPER ELECTRICITY MAKING GAS A LESS COMPETITIVE CHOICE FOR OUR POWER SUPPLY.
RENEWABLE GENERATED ELECTRICITY REDUCES POLLUTION.
THIS IS CRITICAL IN SAN ANTONIO, IN THE BEXAR COUNTY, UH, REGION.
SINCE THE E P A HAS PUT US IN NON-ATTAINMENT FOR OZONE, THAT MEANS OUR AIR IS UNHEALTHY TO BREATHE.
UH, ON AGENDA NINE, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, COLLABORATION BETWEEN C P S ENERGY STEP PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY'S RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROGRAMS LIKE THE MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM TO ENHANCE, ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR RESIDENTS.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, THERE ARE FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO AUGMENT, UH, THE STEP PROGRAM SO WE CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS.
C P S ENERGY IS GOING TO COME TO YOU ALL, UH, FOR ANOTHER RATE HIKE SOON, AND THIS COLLABORATION CAN HELP LOW-INCOME, UH, RESIDENTS REDUCE THEIR HEATING AND COOLING COSTS.
UH, AGENDA NUMBER FIVE ON THE UPDATE ON, UH, C P S ENERGY RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UH, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THE, OUR TERMS WILL BE ENDING IN JULY.
UM, NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN FOR, UH, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH US AFTER THAT, BUT, UM, IN, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE WILL BE A RATE HIKE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY, SOME COMMITTEE THAT WILL ADVOCATE FOR RATE PAYERS.
SO I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK.
[00:05:11]
GOOD MORNING CHAIR, COURAGE AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT FOUR ON THE C P S RATED ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS ITEM FOUR, THE C P SS AND COSA COLLABORATION.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, RUDY GARZA, JONATHAN DE HEINA, AND LOZANO, AND THE C P S STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED WILLINGNESS AND AVAILABILITY TO PROVIDE UPDATES AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW STEP PROGRAM.
I ALSO APPLAUD VERONICA GARCIA AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES STAFF AND PARTNERS FOR THEIR GREAT WORK IN IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
A MODEL I BELIEVE C P S CAN ALSO REPLICATE WITH THE PENDING COLLABORATION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK CITY MANAGER WALSH FOR CONDUCTING THE SUSTAINABILITY PRO PROGRAM AND INVENTORY LATE LAST YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE FOR THIS COLLABORATIVE, A COLLABORATIVE THAT ADDRESSES THE SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE WHEN WE SEEK TO IMPLEMENT THE CAP.
AND THAT SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM IS THAT MANY OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING EXTREME, WHETHER EVENTS, THE HISTORIC INJUSTICE OF REDLINING AND THE LACK OF INVESTMENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES, AND IS NOW EVIDENT IN THE DETERIORATING CONDITION OF VERY OLD HOUSING STOCK DURING THE STORM URI, THEY SUFFERED DISPROPORTIONATELY BESIDES THEIR WEATHERIZATION.
AND ENERGY CONTINUES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
THEY CONTINUE TO SUFFER A FINANCIAL BURDEN.
THE PROPOSED COLLABORATIVE WORK IS AN EXCELLENT FIRST STEP TOWARD DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS A SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF THE ECOS, A COLLABORATIVE IN DEVELOPING THE TARGETED ENERGY EFFICIENCY WEATHERIZATION RESILIENCY PILOT PROJECT.
THE PILOT PROJECT WOULD COMPLEMENT C P S AND CSAS PARTNERSHIP BY STRATEGICALLY UTILIZING THE RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY FUND, THE REESE TO LEVERAGE I R A AND OTHER RELATED SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING.
THE PARTNERSHIP WOULD INCORPORATE COMMUNITY NONPROFIT RESILIENCY HUBS IN ORDER TO COORDINATE AND ENHANCE C P S AND COSA COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS WORK IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE IN MANY CASES IN SILOS.
THESE NONPROFITS WOULD PROVIDE RESILIENCY NAVIGATORS, TRUSTED COMMUNITY LIAISONS THAT COULD INFORM AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS THROUGH AVAILABLE SERVICES AND RESOURCES.
MY REQUEST TODAY IS THAT C P S AND COASTAL LEADERSHIP CONSIDER THIS TARGETED PROJECT BY ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE ITS DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO PRIORITIZE REESE PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE THE MOST DIRECT SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY BENEFITS TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. NORE.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND NOW WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND GO ON TO THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
[Briefing and Possible Action on the following items ]
BRIEFING BY C P S ENERGY ON THE STATUS OF NEW POWER GENERATION PLAN PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING THE RETIREMENT OF SPRUCE ONE POWER PLANT AND THE CONVERSION OF SPRUCE TWO.AND SO I, I INVITE A PRESENTATION, UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING JUST BEFORE WE START THE PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE C P SS ENERGY, RUDY, ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION'S RELIABLE PUBLIC POWER PROVIDER AWARD THAT C P S RECEIVED.
I KNOW THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT REWARD.
I THINK IT SHOWS THE KIND OF WORK C P SS HAS UNDERTAKEN WHEN IT COMES TO POWER CONTINUING POWER, NEW POWER GENERATION.
I'D BE GLAD TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION NOW.
MORNING CHAIR, COURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR YOU ON SPRUCE AND WE'LL, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR GENERATION PLAN.
I GUESS GOING INTO THIS I'LL LEVEL SET.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR COAL UNITS AND THEN OUR PATH TO 2050.
I KNOW YOU ALL RECALL THAT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, OUR BOARD VOTED, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A BLENDED GENERATION PLAN THAT'LL PROVIDE RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE GENERATION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH 2030.
THIS WILL BE THE BASIS THAT WE'LL BUILD FUTURE GENERATION ON.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF TIMELINE, THE MILESTONES THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS FOR SPRUCE ONE AND TWO.
AS NOTED, WE ANTICIPATE RETIRING SPRUCE ONE IN 2028.
SPRUCE TWO WILL BE CONVERTED TO NATURAL GAS AND GO IN, GO INTO SERVICE IN 2027.
NOW, AS YOU ALSO KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING MORE LEGISLATION IN PLACE, CASPER, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAS US UNDER A POTENTIAL FIP FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT COULD AFFECT THE SCHEDULE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THE SIP AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT PROCESS WHILE
[00:10:01]
THIS, UH, THE REVIEW TAKES PLACE.UM, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT IF THE FIP IS IMPLEMENTED, WE WILL LIKELY OPERATE THESE UNITS LESS IN THE COMING YEARS, AND THAT WILL, UH, MOVE US TO GREATER RELIANCE ON NATURAL GAS.
BUT THIS IS THE PLAN WE HAVE TODAY, AND WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING.
WE'VE GOT A TEAM IN AUSTIN THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES THERE.
AND WE'RE, UH, WE'RE MONITORING, THIS IS THE TIMELINE THAT SHOWS THE ACTIVITIES WE HAVE TO PERFORM AT A HIGH LEVEL AND WHEN WE EXPECT IN SERVICE DATES.
HIGHLIGHTED AT THE TOP IS, OF COURSE, SPRUCE TWO CONVERSION, JUST AS I INDICATED, UH, BY END OF 2027, WE ANTICIPATE OPERATING THAT UNIT ON NATURAL GAS SPRUCE ONE WILL BE OFFLINE IN 2028.
AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR PATH FORWARD TO 2050 AND NET ZERO CARBON NEW TECHNOLOGY IS GONNA PLAY A KEY ROLE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS MOVING FORWARD WITH INVESTIGATION AND KEY SELECT, UH, TECHNOLOGIES.
WE'VE, UH, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH QUID NET.
THAT'S A FORM OF ENERGY STORAGE.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING THAT PROGRAM UP AND MOVING BY 2024 ON A PILOT BASIS.
WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY INITIATED STUDIES OF OUR LOCAL AREA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO US, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY.
HYDROGEN STORAGE IS ANOTHER AREA THAT HOLDS PROMISE FOR OUR AREA.
YOU'RE, I'M CONFIDENT YOU'RE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE BEGINNING THAT RESEARCH AS WELL.
UH, IN FACT, WE'LL BE TRAVELING HERE THIS NEXT MONTH TO MEET WITH A COMPANY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO WE ARE LOOKING CLOSELY AT HYDROGEN.
UH, NEW NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES MAY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR A CITY, AND WE'RE STARTING TO EXPLORE THOSE AS WELL.
UH, WE'VE DONE AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND WE'LL BE MEETING WITH VENDORS IN THE COMING MONTHS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING.
AS YOU LOOK FORWARD, WE, WE SEE A LOT OF DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGY AROUND NEW GENERATION.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO SPEND TIME THERE AS WELL.
TODAY, OUR LEGISLATORS LEGISLATURE IS STILL IN SESSION.
WE'RE PULLING OUR TECHNICAL TEAMS TOGETHER, AND ONCE THE LEGISLATURE COMPLETES THEIR PROCESS THIS YEAR, WE'LL START MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR NEW GENERATION DESIGN AND PLANNING.
WE DIDN'T WANNA GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF THEM IN CASE THERE'S CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO FACTOR INTO OUR PROGRAM, BUT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE PREPARED TO GO AND WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE INTERNALLY SO THAT WE'RE ON THE MARK AND CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S THE END OF MY PREPARED COMMENTS, AND I'D TAKE QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE WANTED TO KIND OF GET AN UPDATE ON HOW QUICKLY WE MAY BE PROGRESSING ON THE COAL SITUATION, BUT YOU'VE KIND OF OUTLINED SOME OF THE REST OF IT AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED THE STATE PROGRAM AND A FEDERAL PROGRAM, CIP AND FIP.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE TO BE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES OR BARRIERS THAT MIGHT COME UP THAT COULD AFFECT OUR TIMELINES? SO, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE, WE EXPECT THAT THE CASE WILL BE ADJUDICATED WHETHER WE MOVE TO THE FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OR OUR STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN STANDS.
THE, THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE THE NUMBER OF CREDITS THAT WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE FOR ONGOING OPERATION UNDER THE FEDERAL PROGRAM.
IF WE OPERATED THE SAME WAY THAT WE WOULD UNDER THE STATE PROGRAM, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUY MORE CREDITS, UH, NOX CREDITS FOR ADDITIONAL EMISSIONS.
SO IT IT'S MORE STRINGENT AND REQUIRES MORE FROM C P S.
NOW, I, I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT THERE, THERE COULD BE SOME BARRIERS THROWN UP BY EITHER THE P U C OR ERCOT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, DECOMMISSIONING SOME OF OUR PLANTS BECAUSE THEY LOOK AT IT FROM A STATEWIDE LEVEL.
HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING, OR ARE WE ANTICIPATING ANYTHING, UH, IN THE WAY OF ACTIONS FROM THE STATE THAT MAY REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SOME OF OUR TIMELINE? SO WE HAVE NO COMMITMENTS OR APPROVALS YET FROM ERCOT.
OUR, OUR TEAMS HAVE MET WITH THEM.
UM, IT'S, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT AS WE GO FORWARD AND BUILD OUT OUR NEW GENERATION, THAT WOULD SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF ERCOT AND THEY WOULD ALLOW US TO RETIRE OUR AGING UNITS THAT ARE BECOMING LESS RELIABLE AND IN FACT CAN CAUSE THEM GREATER PROBLEMS. OKAY.
[00:15:01]
YOU MENTIONED, UM, A TYPE OF STORAGE THAT I HADN'T HEARD.SO COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT THAT STORAGE IS? WE'RE GONNA DO A PILOT ON, YOU SAID.
SO QUI NET IS GEO MECHANICAL STORAGE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY, THEY DRILL A WELL, AND THEY TAKE WATER FROM THE SURFACE AND PUMP IT UNDERGROUND TO PRESSURIZE AN EXISTING, UH, GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.
AND THEN THEY RELEASE THAT PRESSURE AND USE THAT, UH, WATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY ON THE SURFACE.
THINK OF A, A HYDRO PROJECT WHERE YOU PUMP WATER UP A HILL INTO A POND AND THEN LET IT FLOW BACK DOWNHILL.
THEY'VE JUST CREATED A VERSION THAT WORKS IN FLAT LAND AREAS WITH SUITABLE GEOLOGY.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT AS, AS YOU EXPLORE THAT MORE.
I THINK, UH, THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ON THIS.
ANY COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVE A QUESTION? YES, COUNCILWOMAN? YEP.
UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OTHER PRESENTATIONS TO SEE.
SO, CURRENTLY AS WE SIT, WE, WE ARE ON TARGET FOR THAT 2028 CLOSURE DATE OF THE COAL PLANT.
UM, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD MAKE IT FASTER,
IF TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, THEN I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL, WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
'CAUSE IT IS, I, I THINK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND IF THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO MAYBE, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS, UH, AT THE RAC COMMITTEE, UH, AS SOME OF, YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE COMMITTEE AND THERE WAS AN EARLIER DATE.
THE, THE HICCUP WAS THE COST AND THE TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THERE.
UH, I ALWAYS HOPE THAT TECHNOLOGY MOVES SO FAST THAT, THAT IT WOULD BE CATCHING UP.
BUT I, I APPRECIATED THE OTHER MEMBERS THOUGHTFULNESS ABOUT WE NEED TO GO WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND NOT WHAT'S POTENTIALLY OUT THERE.
BUT IF THE TECHNOLOGY DOES, UM, AVAIL ITSELF IN, IN THE FUTURE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO REVIEW.
AND I THINK THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.
IF, IF THERE IS TECHNOLOGY THERE THAT CAN, THAT CAN MOVE UP THAT DATE THAT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD LOOK AT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND MAYBE INVESTING IN THAT.
SO WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT.
COUNCILWOMAN, EITHER OF THE OTHER MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I'M ANXIOUS TO SHOW THE, UH, DID YOU HAVE THE GOOD RESULTS OF, OF BRUCE ONE CLOSING? I'M CURIOUS, HAVE YOU CONDUCTED ANY STUDIES ON, OR ANY PROJECTIONS OF WHAT THE SAVINGS WOULD BE FOR A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER GIVEN ALL OF THESE CHANGES? SO OUR FINANCIAL TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER THE COST OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM, AND, AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL WIND UP SPENDING MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO YOU THINK IT'LL GO UP? YES, MA'AM.
SO THEN ON THAT NOTE, UM, IS, IS THERE A PLAN FOR THE RACK? UH, IS IT TO, TO CONTINUE AFTER JULY? OR IS THERE, UM, A SUN SETTING ACTION? SO I'M GONNA PHONE A FRIEND ON THAT ONE.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S OUR JOB TOO, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE A PLAN COUNCILWOMAN.
I THINK THE, THE BOARD IS GOING TO ALLOW THE ACT TO FINISH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, AND SHANNON WILL COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA REEVALUATE KIND OF ALL OF OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, CUSTOMER COMMITTEES AND, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH A PLAN.
SO I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME TRANSITION, UH, THAT THE BOARD WILL, WILL CONSIDER.
UH, THE, WE'VE PUT A LOT ON THE RACK.
THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD KIND OF WANTS TO DO A REFRESH ON THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, SO I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE A COMMITTEE, WHETHER IT'S A RACK OR SOMETHING ELSE, UH, GOING FORWARD THAT WOULD HELP US, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE INPUT THAT THAT, THAT THEY HAVE REALLY DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB ON.
WELL, MA'AM, I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THERE IS A, I MENTIONED BEFORE, A, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVOCACY THERE, UM, TO CONTINUE THAT FOR OUR RATE PAYERS.
UM, AND, UH, GOING BACK TO, UH, WANTING TO SHOW THE, THE, THE GOOD BENEFIT, UM, THE, THE RESULT OF, OF, UM, THIS PLAN.
HAS THERE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL OR A HEALTH IMPACT STUDY DONE ON HOW THIS WILL AFFECT, UM, OUR, UH, OUR COMMUNITY? SO LIKE HOW, HOW THE POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM THIS? WE HAVE NOT DONE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CHANGE IN EMISSIONS PER SE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM MONITORS EMISSIONS, AND THEY'VE BEEN GOING DOWN FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE.
IF THERE'S A WAY TO, TO MAYBE GET, UM, WHAT THEY HAVE, UM, AND ALSO THE GOING BACK TO WHAT IT MIGHT COST A RATE PAYER, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
[00:20:01]
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR, UM, SOME ENTITY LIKE THE RAC CONTINUING TO, UH, TO EXIST.UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S A DEFINITE INTEREST FOR MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN POLICY MAKING, ESPECIALLY WITHIN AN ENTITY LIKE, UH, C P S AND OUR UTILITIES.
UM, SORT OF IN LINE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN CAB HARVARD WAS, UH, ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF A TABLE SHOWING COSTS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MAYBE GRAPHICS OR, UM, SOME SORT OF A GRAPH DEMONSTRATING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OVER TIME.
UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE GOAL IS GONNA BE, UH, NET ZERO CARBON, UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SEE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE BASED ON OUR PLAN.
UM, AND THEN I HEAR THAT ALL THINGS SEEM LIKE WE'RE ON TRACK TO RETIRE, UH, SPRUCE ONE AND CONVERT SPRUCE TWO.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN, YOU CAN FORESEE THAT MIGHT CHANGE THAT TIMELINE OR IMPACT US NEGATIVELY IN TERMS OF, UH, ACHIEVING THAT GOAL? SO, AS CHAIR COURAGE MENTIONED, WE DO REQUIRE ERCOT APPROVAL MM-HMM.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE, THE PROGRAM WE'VE OUTLINED TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW GENERATION WILL ALLOW ERCOT TO SUPPORT OUR TRANSITION.
AND THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO SPEND ADDITIONAL FUNDS, SIGNIFICANT MONEY IF WE DID NOT STOP BURNING COAL BY 2028.
SO, SO TOGETHER, WE BELIEVE WE'LL BE IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION.
SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THOSE ARE THE ONLY BARRIERS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IDENTIFIED.
THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING NUTS AND BOLTS THAT COULD THROW THINGS OFF.
AND, AND, AND WE'RE COMMITTED, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CLOSING DOWN THE COAL UNITS, AS WE'VE SAID, AND WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.
THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY CAVEAT WOULD BE ACTION AT THE STATE, AT THE STATE LEVEL, YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS NOT BEEN REAL SUPPORTIVE OF US TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND AN ACTION BY THE LEGISLATURE, UM, OR THEM FIGHTING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE TIMELINE AND THE STEPS THAT WE TAKE, UH, BECAUSE WE WANT SOME CERTAINTY THERE BEFORE WE START INVESTING MONEY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HAS A POTENTIAL IMPACT.
YOU KNOW, OUR RATE PAYERS, OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO, UM, SO I, I WOULD JUST CAVEAT THAT ANYTHING THE STATE COULD DO TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN UNKNOWN OUT THERE THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO KEEP, KEEP WORKING THROUGH.
AND I'LL, I'LL CLOSE OUT BY SAYING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT MY GOAL WOULD BE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN THE 2050 TIMELINE.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES, UH, BUT I'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, JUSTICE COUNCILMAN VIA GRANT SAYS AS, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOP, AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, THAT WE JUMP ON THEM AND WE'D BE AS AMBITIOUS AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES YOUR PRESENTATION.
THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS A BRIEFING BY C P S ENERGY ON THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTING, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ALL OF THEIR SERVICES.
I AM, UH, MARIA STANTON, AND I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF SUPPLY CHAIN AT C P S ENERGY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY OF ALLOWING US TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THIS UPDATE ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS AT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.
HERE'S THE, UM, AGENDA, SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT, UH, WE WILL BE GOING OVER THIS MORNING.
UM, PLEASE NOTE, I WILL BE GOING OVER THE SUPPLY CHAIN SIDE AND, UM, WE HAVE OUR, UH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER STRATEGY, DEANNA HARDWICK, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THE CUSTOMER IMPACTS.
UH, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE, UM, COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE STAY FOCUSED ON MITIGATING, UM, THE SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS THAT WE KNOW ARE IN AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A LIST THAT SHOWS, UM, THE, UH, MORE POPULAR, UM, ITEMS, IF YOU WILL, THAT, UM, ARE CHALLENGING TO SECURE.
UM, AND I WILL, UH, CALL OUT THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT.
UM, THOSE ARE THE, UH, MUCH COVETED SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMER UNITS THAT ARE INSTALLED IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN VISITING WITH MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, UM, JUST TO GET IN PERSON UPDATES THAT WE BRING BACK TO OUR TEAM, BUT ALSO OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE STAY VERY CLOSE TO UPDATING, UM, THE STAKEHOLDERS SLIPPERS AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT, UM, IS THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION AND KIND OF WHAT OUR MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS ARE SEEING.
OUR TEAM HAS, UH, DEPLOYED A NUMBER OF MITIGATION EFFORTS.
UM, WE'RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR NOW.
UM, AND HERE ARE, HERE ARE THE ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO, UM, REALLY HIGHLIGHT, BUT I WILL, UH, FOCUS ON THAT FIRST ONE.
UH, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO INCREASE THAT DIVERSITY OF MATERIALS AND TO EXPAND OUR, UH, LIST OF VENDORS, WE HAD TO RELAX OUR TRANSFORMER STANDARDS.
UM, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE
[00:25:01]
SAW SOME FAILURES IN JANUARY, WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT.OUR MANUFACTURERS QUICKLY, UM, RESPONDED BY INVESTING MORE TIME INTO TRAINING AND ALSO QUALITY ASSURANCE BEFORE THOSE TRANSFORMERS ARE SHIPPED TO C P S ENERGY.
WE'VE ALSO INCREASED OUR COMMUNICATION.
UM, IT'S BEEN, UM, A, A STRONG FOCUS FOR US.
UM, BUT WE HAVE ENGAGED NOT JUST OUR SUPPLIERS, BUT WE ALSO OUR MANUFACTURERS TRADE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE T TEXAS PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION, T P P A, THE LARGE PUBLIC POWER COUNCIL, L P P C, AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER POWER ASSOCIATION, A P P A, AND THEN MANY OF OUR PEER UTILITIES.
UM, THIS IS A GLOBAL SITUATION, UM, AND WE STAY VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER UTILITIES HERE IN THE US.
UM, LOCALLY WE'VE ALSO BEEN, UM, UH, LEVERAGING ON, UM, GREATER, GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, UM, AS, AS OUR PARTNERS.
AND ALSO, UM, WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE DIALOGUE OPEN AND THAT WE, UM, STAY OPEN TO ANY REFERRALS OR ANY, UM, IDEAS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR, FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES.
UH, I HEARD THAT YOU HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY COME, AND REALLY HE PRAISES ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND TRYING TO GO AHEAD AND FIND SOME SOLUTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW, AND A KEY TO THAT DEVELOPMENT IS BEING ABLE TO SUPPLY THE POWER, WHETHER IT'S A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.
SO I HEAR THE COMMUNITIES UNDERSTANDING YOUR SITUATION AND, AND, UH, JUST WORKING, WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
WE DO APPRECIATE THEM TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US YESTERDAY.
UM, THESE ARE, ARE THE, UH, DRIVERS.
NOW I'M GONNA FOCUS ON DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS FOR A BIT.
UM, BUT THE, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR MANUFACTURERS, OR THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT ARE CAUSING THE SHORTAGES, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE RAW MATERIALS AND LABOR.
UM, A LOT OF THAT CAME OUT OF COVID, AND OUR MANUFACTURERS ARE SLOWLY RAMPING UP, TRYING TO GET BACK TO PRE COVID NUMBERS.
UM, WHAT'S MADE IT A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE DATA POINT THAT I HAVE HERE OF 50% HIGHER MATERIAL USAGE SINCE 2019.
UM, AND SO THAT, UH, MADE IT A PERFECT STORM, IF YOU WILL.
UH, FOR, FOR OUR, UH, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE ALSO COMPETING WITH A LOT OF OTHER INITIATIVES THAT I'VE, I'VE LISTED HERE.
UM, ONE I'D HAVE NOT, I DIDN'T CALL OUT WAS THE WEATHER EVENTS.
JUNE 1ST IS THE KICKOFF OF HURRICANE SEASON, AND AS COASTAL COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED BY THOSE STORMS, A LOT OF THESE MATERIALS OBVIOUSLY ARE PRIORITIZED AND SHIPPED OVER FOR RESTORATION THERE.
UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF, UH, SOME SAMPLES OF OUTREACH THAT WE'VE DONE, JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN, UM, USING A VARIETY OF MEDIA THROUGH OUR CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND OTHERS WHO INVITE US, UM, TO SPEAK TO THE TOPIC.
UM, BUT WE DID BEGIN COMMUNICATING IN 2021 WHEN WE SAW THIS WAS BECOMING AN, AN, UM, AN ISSUE FOR US.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY, RUDY GARZA, OUR C E O AND PRESIDENT, SENT A LETTER TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY COUN, UH, COMMISSION OF TEXAS, UM, ESCALATING THIS, THIS SAME TOPIC, UM, WHICH WAS ALSO ON THE AGENDA OF THE, UH, SAN ANTONIO TO DC TRIP THIS YEAR.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN MONITORING IT, AND I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO IT, AND I WAS ABLE TO RECORD A PODCAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO JUST SHARING WHAT WE'VE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WILL, UH, TALK TO ABOUT GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.
A LOT OF THESE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, A LOT OF OUR UTILITIES C P S, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN, UM, KIND OF THE, UH, RESPONSE FROM OUR, OUR DC UM, OUR, OUR, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BRIEFLY CONSIDERED UTILIZING THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TO FUND THE RAMPING UP OF TRANSFORMER PRODUCTION.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ENDED UP SHIFTING EFFORTS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY INSTEAD.
AND SO THE FUNDS WERE THEN, UM, DISTRIBUTED FOR ITEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, MORE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF HEAT PUMPS.
UM, THERE WERE ALSO SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES COMING OUT OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S, UH, PROPOSED CHANGES OR MANDATES, UM, SUCH AS THE, UM, PROPOSED CHANGE.
THEY'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE THIS IN JUNE NEXT YEAR, IF THEY WILL CHANGE THE STANDARD, UH, FOR TRANSFORMER MANUFACTURERS, SORRY, FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF TRANSFORMERS.
WHAT WILL, UM, END UP CHANGING IS THE CORE, TRADITIONALLY WE USE GRAIN ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S PROPOSING, UH, AMORPHOUS STEEL CORES
[00:30:01]
FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.BUT IN THAT RE IN THAT CHANGE OF THE WINDING, UM, IT MAKES IT A HEAVIER OVERHEAD TRANSFORMER, WHICH MEANS WE WILL NEED A LARGER, THICKER POLE.
THOSE ARE ALREADY, AS YOU SAW ON MY LIST, UM, IN SHORT SUPPLY.
AND THE FORESTRY SERVICE IS ALSO PUSHING BACK ON CONSERVATION SO THAT WE DON'T CUT, UM, TREES.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WELL, UH, FOR CUSTOMER IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TRANSITION NOW TO MS. HARDWICK.
UH, CARMEN NIELSEN WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, SO YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME.
UH, SO TODAY, JUST WANNA KIND OF GO THROUGH HOW WE'RE TRACKING AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER IMPACTS.
YOU HEARD, UH, MARIA TALK ABOUT THE SINGLE PHASE, UH, TRANSFORMERS.
THAT'S REALLY FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS, WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE MAJORITY OF THE GROWTH.
AND THIS IS WHERE, UH, WE DID HAVE, UM, ABOUT, UH, 12 MONTH LEAD TIME.
UM, AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COLLABORATE.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, RESA GABA, SAMMA, UH, AND EVEN A, UH, INDEPENDENT DEVELOPER TRA UH, TRAVEL DOWN HERE YESTERDAY FROM DALLAS INITIALLY TO COME SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET MORE TRANSFORMERS.
AND ENDED UP THANKING OUR TEAM FOR BEING ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS IS AN EVOLVING, UM, ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS COLLABORATIVE AND AS CREATIVE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND, UH, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS HAVE CONTINUED TO HELP US, UH, FIND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR DEVELOPERS, AND ALSO JUST SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.
AND IT, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING OUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED, FINDING DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS WHERE WE CAN, CHANGING THE SPECIFICATIONS TO WHERE WE ARE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE POWER, BUT ALSO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE.
UH, ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE JUST, UH, FINDING WAYS TO, UH, BE TRANSPARENT.
SO WE HAVE AN ONLINE QUEUE THAT WE WORKED WITH REX AND CASSAVA SPECIFICALLY.
SO ANY DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE IN THE QUEUE, THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND SEE REAL TIME UPDATES THERE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANNA SUPPORT THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN, AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY'S, UH, DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER COMMUNITY ENTITIES THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY CUSTOMER OR ANY, UH, ANY GROUP THAT HAS QUESTIONS FOR US OR HAVE SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK AS BEST AS WE CAN.
UM, LET ME ASK IF, IF WE'VE BEEN SHARING THIS KIND OF INFORMATION WITH THE NORMAL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER.
UH, IT'S ONE THING TO SAY BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, UH, COMMERCIAL OPERATORS NEED TO HAVE THESE, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER.
IF THERE'S A STORM, AN ELECTRIC PROBLEM, AND A TRANS AND, AND A TRANSFORMER GOES OUT, PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT MAY BE DELAYED OR DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING TO GET THAT ENERGY BACK UP FOR THEM.
SO I'M WONDERING, ARE WE EXPLAINING THIS TO THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER TOO? UH, FROM, UH, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS, UH, IN TERMS OF STORM RESTORATION, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY DELAYS THAT'S, UH, IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO RESTORE POWER AFTER, UM, WE SEE STORMS MOVE THROUGH FOR ANY OUTAGE SITUATION.
UH, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO EXPLAIN WHY AN OUTAGE MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
UH, WE ARE PREPARED IF WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING A STOCKPILE FOR, UH, AND THAT WE REPLENISH.
AND MARIA'S TEAM WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR, UH, ELECTRIC, UH, UM, UH, DISTRIBUTION SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE A STOCKPILE THERE.
I DID WANNA ADD, UM, I KNOW MARIA MENTIONED A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE SHARE, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE ENTIRE PUBLIC, BUT THERE WAS A INSTANCE, IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WAS BAD WEATHER COMING IN.
WE WERE ALREADY SEEING SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES, AND WE DID MESSAGE THAT RESTORATION COULD TAKE TAKE LONGER.
SO WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT, JUST DEPENDING ON THE DIFFERENT, UM, SEVERITY OF WEATHER EVENTS.
AND WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED IN, WE HAVE A C E O NEWSLETTER, AND IT'S A TOPIC THAT WE'VE, WE'VE SAID REPEATEDLY.
YEAH, THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I THINK MANY PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY INDIRECTLY.
THEY MAY WORK FOR A COMPANY OR THEY MAY KNOW PEOPLE WHO DO, AND SOMETIMES C P S ENERGY GETS A BAD REPUTATION SAYING, OH, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO HELP BUILD A NEIGHBORHOOD, OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND TO SOME KIND OF A PROBLEM IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA.
WHY AREN'T THEY DOING BETTER? AND
[00:35:01]
EVEN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN SHOULD BE INFORMED ABOUT THE, THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, SO THAT THEY CAN TELL THEIR NEIGHBOR, HEY, WELL, THEY'RE HAVING A PROBLEM, HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKING AT YOUR BILL.UH, SO I JUST ENCOURAGE, UH, C P S ENERGY TO DO AS MUCH AS IT CAN TO EDUCATE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THIS SITUATION REALLY AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
ANYONE WHO'S DOING A SUBDIVISION RIGHT NOW THAT WANTS TO PUT IN 500 HOMES, AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WELL, THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S GONNA BE INVOLVED IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO'S SAYING, WELL, WHEN ARE THEY GONNA GET THIS DONE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT DEVELOPER? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
SO, AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, I THINK IS, IS JUST ONE MORE WAY OF, UH, BUILDING THE TRUST THAT C P SS HAS HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND, AND REBUILDING THAT TRUST NOW.
AND WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF CLIPS AND MARIA MENTIONED THAT PODCAST SHE WAS ON RECENTLY.
WE WILL WORK WITH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TO GET THAT TO YOU ALL AS WELL.
YOU CAN HAVE IT AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION, BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD INFO.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS.
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? OKAY.
AND, UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AND THAT'S A BRIEFING ON COLLABORATION BETWEEN C P S ENERGY STEP PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, AND THE CITY'S RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROGRAMS, LIKE MINOR REPAIR, MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THAT.
YEAH, THA SO GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
UM, I WANTED TO START BY ALSO SHARING MY THANKS TO DEEDEE AND PETER, UM, OVER THE LAST YEAR, REALLY, THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE RAMP UP OF THE STEP PROGRAM.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GIVING US FEEDBACK AND BEING PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
SO I TOO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH, UM, THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF OUR STEP PROGRAM.
UM, I DID FEEL LIKE I WANTED JUST TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME OF A LEVEL SETTING AND REMINDING EVERYONE WHO MAY BE WATCHING FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT, WHAT THE STEP PROGRAM IS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
UM, THE STEP PROGRAM IS OUR FIVE YEAR PROGRAM THAT LOOKS AT REDUCING ENERGY USAGE AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH SOME VERY SPECIFIC GOALS AROUND REDUCTION OF DEMAND, UM, TO THE SYSTEM, ENERGY EFFICIENCY SAVINGS, UM, SOME VERY TARGETED PROGRAMS AROUND MUL, UH, WEATHERIZATION FOR BOTH HOMES AND MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
UM, AVOIDED COSTS FOR CAPACITY AND, AND, UM, IMPACTS TO BILLS AS WELL AS, UH, AVOIDED CARBON.
AND SO WE'RE ON A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM, WE'RE 10 MONTHS INTO THAT FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.
UM, AND, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION AND PARTICIPATION OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND HELPING US TO REACH THIS, THESE GOALS.
UM, WANNA SPEND SOME TIME JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH WEATHERIZATION.
AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS LAST SUMMER, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR INVESTMENT FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CUSTOMERS WOULD BE.
SO OUR L M I CUSTOMERS, FOUNDATIONALLY, THE BIGGEST PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT IS OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM OR CASA VERE AS SOME, AS SOME PEOPLE MAY KNOW ABOUT IT.
UM, IF YOU RECALL WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WEATHERIZATION, THAT'S WHERE THERE WAS THE MOST POTENTIAL FOR COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, NOT ONLY WITH THE CITY, BUT WITH OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LEVERAGING AND GETTING AS MUCH TRACTION AS WE CAN.
AT THE ROOT OF THAT, THOUGH, WAS THE TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAD RAN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, WHICH WAS REALLY MORE OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH LIKE ONE VENDOR THAT WAS REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE ENGAGEMENT, INTERACTION AND UPGRADES THAT WERE HAPPENING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE LAUNCHED AN R F P SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT APPROVAL, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS SUMMER, UM, WE'RE ON TRACK TO ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THAT R F P, WHICH WILL BASICALLY DEBO THE APPROACH UP TO THIS POINT.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THERE'LL BE MORE VENDORS, MORE, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH FOLKS HERE LOCALLY TO ENGAGE OUR CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS UNDER LIKE ONE MASTER CONTRACT.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT NOW TO BRING MORE VENDORS INTO THE POOL, ALLOW MORE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH C P S ENERGY.
AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING MULTIPLE GOALS WITH THIS AND MULTIPLE, WE HOPE TO THEN DEPLOY THIS AND HAVE THIS OUT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, PRETTY QUICKLY HERE, UM, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S THREE MAIN BUCKETS, RIGHT? YOU HAVE THE CUSTOMER AND OUTREACH AND MANAGEMENT PART.
YOU HAVE THE ASSESSMENT AND INSPECTION, AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE, THE, THE AGENCIES OR THE GROUPS THAT WILL GO AND DO THE ACTUAL WORK FOR OUR, OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO UP TO THIS POINT IS A SNAPSHOT BETWEEN AUGUST AND APRIL THAT I'LL CALL OUT A FEW THINGS.
UH, WE'VE WEATHERIZED JUST OVER 1300 HOMES.
UH, AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, AVERAGE SAVINGS FOR THESE HOMES ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO GO AND WEATHERIZE IS ABOUT $500 A YEAR.
UM, THIS IS BASED OFF THE VARIOUS THING, UH, MINOR, I'M SORRY, THE, THE VARIOUS, UM, ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES THAT WE CAN DO IN THE HOME.
UM, IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON
[00:40:01]
NEW TARGETED OUTREACH, UM, GOING INTO THE, THE AREAS OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS AND MAKE 'EM AVAILABLE.WE HAVE MULTIPLE, UM, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS THAT WE'VE DONE, AND WE'VE ALSO SPENT TIME ENSURING THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH AS MANY FOLKS TO HELP PROMOTE FOR THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION OF THE PROGRAM.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE STARTED A SMALLER PILOT, IF YOU WILL, OF ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE MINOR HOME REPAIR FUND.
WE HAVE ABOUT 10 HOMES, UM, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND DO SOME MINOR UPGRADES.
THESE THINGS INCLUDE LITTLE THINGS, UH, SUCH AS, UM, UH, CHECKING, UH, CERTAIN STRUCTURAL ISSUES, DOING MINOR THINGS AROUND THE HOME THAT OTHERWISE WHAT THEY WOULD NOT BE QUALIFIED TO DO.
ALL OF THIS IS INTO RAMP UP INTO WHAT WE THINK THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE ONCE WE'RE PAST THE, THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE.
UM, THE OTHER PART THAT I'LL MENTION IS THAT ONCE THAT R F P IS CONCLUDED, THAT WILL ALSO BEGIN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR MULTI-FAMILY CONCEPT OF WEATHERIZATION, WHICH IS ALSO A BIG IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE FIVE-YEAR GOALS.
UM, PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING PROGRAM.
WE'LL GO IN THERE AND DO SOME, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITTING TO BRING THESE UNITS UP TO A BETTER ENERGY STANDARD.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A POSSIBLE REBATE THAT WOULD GO TO THE ACTUAL APARTMENT COMPLEX.
OUR BIGGEST, UM, OPPORTUNITY HERE, OR BIGGEST INITIATIVE HERE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SAVINGS, WHATEVER SAVINGS ARE ACHIEVED, ARE ACTUALLY GONE, ARE, ARE PASSED THROUGH BACK TO THE CUSTOMER, RIGHT? WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CUSTOMER IS THE ONE RECEIVING THE MOST BENEFITS.
SO I'M GONNA TRANSITION HERE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED LAST SUMMER, AND WE'LL MENTION EVERY TIME THE FOUNDATIONALLY AS WELL, OUR PROGRAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE OUTREACH, MARKETING, COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CAN DEVELOP.
SO WHAT WE'VE SPENT TIME HERE OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS IS STARTING TO RAMP UP OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, N H I S D PARKS AND OTHERS TO HELP SEE, AND WHERE WE CAN HAVE, UM, CROSS-FUNCTIONAL OR STREAMLINED PROCESSES SO THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING AS MUCH, UM, OPTIONS OR SOLUTIONS AT ONE TIME VERSUS HAVING TO GO THROUGH MANY STEPS OR DIFFERENT PROCESSES.
UM, WE CONTINUE AROUND THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THERE AS WELL.
YOU ALL HAVE PLAYED A GREAT ROLE WITH US THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UM, HELPING US PROMOTE THE, UH, ACTIVITIES OF OUR PROGRAM AS WELL.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PARTNERING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUTING OUR PROGRAMS AND ALSO EDUCATING ON WHAT THE DO'S AND NODES ARE TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE, IN THE RIGHT APPROACH.
AND THEN SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD ONE OF THE, YOU HEARD PETER SPEAK TO IS GRANT FUNDING.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER ON THIS.
I'LL JUST MENTION, BECAUSE I'LL NEVER WASTE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT GRANTS IN PARTICULAR FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
THE, THE GRANTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THERE'S GONNA BE AN APPROACH WHERE YOU ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE STATE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY DOLLARS.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT WILL APPLY FOR DOLLARS.
AND THEN FROM THERE, THE COGS IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, ACOG WOULD, WOULD PARTNER WITH US AND GO AFTER THOSE DOLLARS.
THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A DIRECT ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIKE US AND THE FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT'S GONNA BE PUSHING OUT THOSE DOLLARS.
SO I JUST, I JUST SAY THAT FOR A REFERENCE POINT.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN SOME OF THE MORE TRADITIONAL ONES WE'VE SEEN FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE, WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE IF THERE'S WAYS TO RATHER MAKE OUR IS BETTER, BUY DOWN THE COST, REDUCE THE BURDEN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, WHATEVER THE CASE, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I ALSO WON'T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DEANNA HARDWICK AND HER TEAM, UM, KJ, UH, KJ FEDERER AND JESSE HERNANDEZ.
UM, OUR PARTNERSHIPS GO WELL BEYOND JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, RIGHT? WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROMOTE OUR PROGRAMS AND FIND THE SYNERGIES OR THE ALIGNMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO, TO PROMOTE THESE, TO PROMOTE THE, TO PROMOTE THEM, I'M SORRY, THE PRODUCTS OR THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CASA VEDA JUST PLAY A SMALL COMPONENT OF THAT BROADER COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OTHER NONPROFITS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO RATHER, UM, EVENTS OR, OR ACTIVITIES THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE AND PARTICIPATE IN AS WELL TOO.
UM, AND YOU'LL SEE HERE ARE JUST THE LIST OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT PU ENERGY CURRENTLY OFFERS TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.
AND AS A, AS A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY SHOULD ANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS EVER NEED, UM, ANY TYPE OF CONNECTION OR, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO US ABOUT GETTING THEM INTO THE RIGHT PROGRAM.
AND WITH THAT, SIR, I WILL PAUSE AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, JONATHAN.
UM, WE, WE SEE THE WEATHERIZATION AS A MAJOR IMPACT ON, ON A LOT OF FAMILIES.
ONE THING YOU NOTED, UH, I THINK IN SLIDE FIVE YOU SAID, UH, THE HOMES WEATHERIZED, UH, ANNUAL SAVINGS, $500.
WHAT IS THE COST TO C P S WHEN
[00:45:01]
THEY WEATHERIZE? SURE.UM, I'M GONNA LOOK BACK FOR A SECOND.
AVERAGE COST FOR HOME IS ABOUT $5,000.
AND THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE, THE CERTAIN KEY PROCESS.
SO THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM, AND THEN, UH, VERIFICATION.
NOW, I DON'T THINK, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UNDER WEATHERIZATION, THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF PAYING FOR REPAIRS TO PROPERTIES OTHER THAN THE WEATHERIZATION FEATURES.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
BEFORE THIS LAST TRANSITION TO THE NEW PROGRAM THERE, THERE REALLY WASN'T A FUND FOR ANY TYPE OF REPAIR WORK.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, IF A CUSTOMER WAS DISQUALIFIED FOR A REASON, WE WOULD JUST PUT 'EM ON A WAITING LIST AND, AND, AND MOVE ON.
AND WHERE IS THIS FUND SITUATED NOW THAT WILL HELP WITH SMALL MINE REPAIRS TO ENABLE SOMEBODY TO GET WEATHERIZED? WHERE IS THAT FOUND IN YOUR SURE, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OPTIONS, AND I'LL SPEAK TO THE ONES THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY IN CONTROL OF.
ONE OF THEM IS, UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR CURRENT VENDOR THAT HAS PUT SOME DOLLARS IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY MANAGING THAT THROUGH OUR VENDOR.
UM, THE SECOND ONE IS THAT THERE WAS SOME DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO REAP, UM, PREVIOUSLY THAT, THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED THAT WE WILL USE ONCE THE FULL PROGRAM IS DEPLOYED OR THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW PROGRAM IS DEPLOYED.
UM, THERE IS, THERE IS DOLLARS AVAILABLE THROUGH REAP THAT ARE GONNA BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE I KNOW REAP IN THE PAST NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT'S CORRECT.
WITH REPAIR, BUT NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT.
NOT ONLY WILL THEY GIVE HELP TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS PAYING THEIR BILL, BUT ALSO MAYBE NEED SOME MINOR REPAIRS TO IMPROVE THEIR HOMES SO THAT THEY CAN THEN GET WEATHERIZED.
THERE'S GONNA BE A SMALL ALLOCATION THAT I BELIEVE THAT WAS GOING SPECIFICALLY OR THROUGH REAP TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A, AN INTERESTING LETTER GIVEN TO US TODAY, UH, FROM ONE OF OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WAS REALLY SAYING THE CITY OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT TAKING SOME MONEY OUT OF OUR REESE PROGRAM, WHICH WE JUST BEGAN LAST YEAR, AND TRYING TO PUT IT INTO REAP TO GO AHEAD AND HELP WITH THAT.
UH, AND I KNOW THE REESE PROGRAM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD IN THERE WAS, UM, TAKING THE CITY'S 14% OUT OF THE STEP AND ALLOWING US TO USE IT IN, IN THE REESE AREA.
UH, AND ONE OF THEM WAS FOR SMALL GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT PETER WAS TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
UM, BUT WE HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN THE REESE PROGRAM SAYING THAT WE COULD GIVE MONEY TO REAP.
AND SO THAT'S, UH, A NEW LITTLE TWIST THAT'S BEING SUGGESTED BY ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BUT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY HAS ITS OWN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, UH, FOR MINOR REPAIR AND, AND MAJOR MM-HMM.
HOW ARE, IS YOUR OFFICE PARTNERING WITH D H S TO INITIATE THAT KIND OF WORK, UH, SO THAT, YOU KNOW TOGETHER SURE.
WE'RE ABLE TO WEATHERIZE A LOT MORE HOMES AND, AND IMPROVE THOSE HOMES TOO? YEAH, LOOK, I THINK THE FAIR ASSESSMENT IS THAT IT'S, IT'S IN FLIGHT AND IT'S EARLY.
SO WE HAVE HAD SOME INITIAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT PARTNERSHIPS COULD LOOK LIKE, UH, WHERE THE ALIGNMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S STILL IN FLIGHT IN THE, IN THE EARLY STAGES.
BEN, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
LET ME FIRST BEGIN BY THANKING RUDY AND JONATHAN FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER, PARTNER ON THIS.
WE KIND OF STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS BACK IN DECEMBER WHERE WE SAW SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY COLLABORATE BETWEEN THEIR PROGRAMS, PARTICULAR WEATHERIZATION.
SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, AS JONATHAN SAID, THOSE ARE IN FLIGHTS, BUT THERE ARE, THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COULD HELP WITH MINOR REPAIRS.
WE HAVE OUR UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE TREE MITIGATION FUND, THAT AS THEY'RE DOING WEATHERIZATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH C P S HAVE TREES INSTALLED WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO DO SO WITHIN, WITHIN, UH, CERTAIN PROPERTIES THAT WE WOULD DO ALL OF THAT AT ONE TIME AND, AND REALLY COLLABORATE, TRY TO MAKE IT SEAMLESS FOR THE CUSTOMER AND GET TO A BETTER OUTCOME THAT IS IN FLIGHT.
THE TIMING ON THIS CONVERSATION IS GREAT BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING TO YOU NEXT WEEK IN B SESSION, UH, ON WEDNESDAY TO TALK ABOUT AN UPDATE, UH, FROM OUR DECEMBER CONVERSATION ON SOME OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS, REESE TREE MITIGATION SOLAR, R F P.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET INTO MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, THOSE TOPICS NEXT WEEK.
I DO EXPECT YOU'LL GET SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF.
I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE REESE FUND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS, UH, BOTH FOR, FOR THIS YEAR, BUT ALSO THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS,
[00:50:01]
UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND, AND WE CAN GET YOUR FEEDBACK.AND THEN NOT ONLY LOOK AT HOW WE SPEND THE FUNDS FOR F Y 23, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER FOR F Y 24 AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE'LL HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH YOU NEXT WEEK ABOUT THAT.
I BELIEVE OUR REESE PROGRAM WAS A TWO YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, SO, UH, WE'LL BE EVALUATING THAT AT THE END OF OR NEAR THE END OF THAT TIME TO SEE IF WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT.
UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS? YES, PHYLLIS, THANK YOU.
UM, I AM, IF I GO TO SLIDE EIGHT WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS, THE ONE THING I DON'T SEE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WE TALK ABOUT ALLEYWAYS AND WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THE ALLEYWAYS USED AND POSSIBLY HELPING.
'CAUSE THERE ARE SOME ALLEYWAYS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND CUT THAT ARE ONLY BEING USED BY OUR UTILITY COMPANIES.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HELPING NEIGHBORS MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES, UH, OR EVEN MULTI-FAMILY, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALLEYWAY MAINTENANCE ALSO AND WORK WITH, WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ALLEYWAYS THAT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN.
BECAUSE I KNOW AT LEAST FOR DISTRICT THREE, THAT HAS BECOME A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THEM TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT.
AND WHEN ASKED, I'M TOLD, WELL, THE UTILITIES USE THAT ALLEYWAY.
WE ARE NOT USING IT FOR A SOLID WASTE, BUT THE UTILITY IS USING IT.
THE OTHER THING IS, I DO WANT, AND, AND BEN, TO HAVE THAT LARGER CONVERSATION, BUT I, I AM HESITANT TO THE IDEA OF C P S GETTING INTO TOO MUCH OF THE, UM, REHAB, BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL THAT'S THE CITY'S PURVIEW WITH OUR MON DOLLARS THAT WE HAD.
SO I REALLY WANNA HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE RE REHAB, THE MINOR RE MINOR REPAIRS.
I REALLY, I TRULY WANT THEM TO BE MINOR BECAUSE IF YOU WALK INTO SOME HOUSES IN, IN, UM, DISTRICT THREE SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
SO WE ARE, YOU, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT, AT ACTUAL WIRING THAT'S STILL ON THE KNOB IN SOME HOMES MM-HMM.
AND THAT IS NOT BY ANY MEANS WHAT IN C P S PURVIEW, AND THAT IS WHERE I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO STAY.
IN THE SAME THING, I'D HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH HAWS WHEN YOU HAVE CLAY PIPES THROUGHOUT, UH, A HOME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
NOW, IN OTHER DISTRICTS, NEWER DISTRICTS, IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
AND THAT'S WHY I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHY SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAMS AND WE DON'T BEGRUDGE THEM BECAUSE IT'S COMING IN.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED C P S TO GO INTO THAT MUCH OF A REHAB PROGRAM.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT LARGER CONVERSATION AT THE CITY LEVEL FOR THAT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK MY, MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND THAT WE HAVE CONVERSATION AS A FULL COUNCIL, BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY SHOULD EITHER BE HAD IN CHECK COMMITTEE OR PLANNING.
AND SO MAYBE WE NEED A B SESSION REGARDING THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL, CHAIRMAN, MAY, MAY I MAKE JUST ONE COMMENT? UH, COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, I THINK REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY MINOR HOME REPAIR.
UM, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE CCPS FOLKS.
I THINK THE, THE NUMBERS I HAD HEARD BEFORE IS MOST OF THOSE ARE BETWEEN LIKE 500 AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THAT ENDS UP, UM, MAKING SOMEBODY INELIGIBLE, UM, THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON, UM, HOUSING.
OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS DOLLARS, UH, C D B G DOLLARS THAT WE COULD, UH, ALLOCATE TOWARDS THAT.
UM, I THINK THE OTHER THINGS ARE REALLY ABOUT HOW WE COLLABORATE, NOT NECESSARILY ASKING C P S TO TAKE ON THAT WORK, BUT HOW DO WE APPROACH A RESIDENT, UM, WHETHER IT BE C P S OR US, AND GET TO, YOU KNOW, A SUITE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO REALLY IMPROVE THAT OUTCOME FOR THAT RESIDENT.
SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO FOCUS ON.
UM, AGAIN, WE'LL PROBABLY GET INTO MORE OF THAT DETAIL NEXT, NEXT WEEK AS WELL AS PART OF THAT PRESENTATION.
OH, YES, COUNCILMAN, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I WAS GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE ON THE POINT OF, UH, MINOR REPAIR AND, UH, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A VERY SPECIFIC LIST OF REPAIRS ON THE SLIDE.
UM, FIVE, ARE THOSE THE ONLY REPAIRS THAT THE SMALL ROOF LINKS, PLUG PLUMBING, THOSE, THOSE ARE THE GENERAL ONES, COUNCILMAN? YES.
MAYBE A BETTER WAY TO SAY THOSE ARE THE MOST COMMON ONES THAT WE SEE.
THAT, THAT WITH A SMALL INVESTMENT IN THAT FIVE TO, YOU KNOW, A THOUSAND DOLLARS RANGE CAN GET A HOUSE QUALIFIED.
AND I LOVE, UM, 1,320, UH, HOMES
[00:55:01]
HAVE BEEN WEATHERIZED IN THAT PERIOD OF, AS OF APRIL.UM, I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING A MAP OR MAYBE A BREAKDOWN BY COUNCIL DISTRICT IF A MAP ISN'T POSSIBLE.
UM,
YEAH, SO A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE KIND OF LEADING UP TO THIS THROUGH THE R F P AND, AND KIND OF THE CONVERSATION.
A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE DID RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE IS WE ACTUALLY WENT OUT AND TALKED TO MULTIPLE, UM, UH, OWNERS OF MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, RIGHT? TO GET AN IDEA OF, OKAY, HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL, RIGHT? BECAUSE OUT OF THE GATE, WE KNEW FOR SURE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CUSTOMERS WERE THE ONES REAPING THE BENEFITS OF ANYTHING THAT WE DO, UM, FOR THAT MULTIFAMILY RESIDENT.
UM, SO WE TALKED TO THEM TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO WORK? IS IT TO MIRROR SOME OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM WHERE WE DO EVERYTHING TURNKEY? OR IS IT, DO WE ALLOW THE, THE, THE MULTIFAMILY OWNER TO ACTUALLY GO DO THE TURNKEY AND THEN WE GO BACK AND VERIFY, MEASURE AND VERIFY THAT THEY DID THE WORK AND THEN JUST PAY A REBATE.
THAT SEEMED TO BE THE OVER, UM, UH, THE VERY POPULAR ROUTE WAS THEY, THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE WORK AT THEIR FACILITIES, LET THEM MANAGE THAT.
UM, THE, THE KEY REQUIREMENT THOUGH IS GONNA BE THAT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT THE BENEFITS, WHATEVER BENEFITS WENT BACK TO THE CUSTOMER.
WE'VE ALSO UTILIZED ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE ATTEND TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS. SO INFORMALLY AND BOTH FORMALLY, WE'VE RECEIVED FEEDBACK AROUND WEATHERIZATION IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, I THINK REALISTICALLY, ONCE WE START DEPLOYING THE PROGRAM OR LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM, WE'LL HAVE TO DO ANOTHER ROUND OF CHECKS WITH THOSE CUSTOMERS TO SEE WHAT THAT ENGAGEMENT LOOKED LIKE, WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS AND VERIFY IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING FROM OUR PROGRAM, THE RIGHT PROGRAM.
UM, WE KNOW THE VERIFICATIONS CAN HAPPEN ON THE WEATHERIZATION PART, BUT ALL OF THIS AT THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING IS ALSO THE EXPERIENCE FOR THAT CUSTOMER.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS STARTING.
I THINK IT'S, UM, IMPORTANT AND THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES AND FOLK WHO, UH, WOULD BENEFIT FROM A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT PREVIOUSLY WEREN'T QUALIFIED.
SO THIS FILLS A GAP, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, I THINK THIS ALSO IS MAYBE THE ITEM IN WHICH I CAN, UH, SHARE THIS IDEA FOR, UM, SOME SORT OF A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT OR A MODEL HOME.
UM, WHEN I GOT INTO TEACHING, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD WAS THAT, UM, IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT, THEN YOU WON'T BE IT.
AND SO MANY FOLK DON'T HAVE, UH, SOLAR PANELS IN THEIR, IN, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AT ALL OR ANY OF, UH, OUTWARD DISPLAYS OF WEATHERIZATION.
AND SO, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PROGRAM OR TO ENHANCE ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS TO REALLY TARGET, UH, HIGH EQUITY, LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE SO SOLAR, SO THAT THEN OTHER FOLK AROUND THEM SEE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME, THE SAME STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR ROOFS IN THESE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOUCHY, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE WITH A PRO, WITH A PROGRAM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE? YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.
I, I, I DON'T HAVE A DIRECT ANSWER RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN TO SAY, LET ME TAKE THAT BACK AND, AND THINK ABOUT IT.
I THINK, UM, ONE THING THAT I FAILED TO MENTION IS, YOU KNOW, L M I WILL BE MORE THAN JUST WEATHERIZATION.
SO WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON WHAT A SOLAR PROGRAM FOR L M I CUSTOMERS WILL LOOK LIKE, AND THAT'S PART OF THE, THE, THE PLAN HERE FOR THE SUMMER.
UM, AND IT'S TAKEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS COUNCIL MEMBER INTO, UH, INTO CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, A LOT OF THE BARRIERS FOR ENTRY, EVEN IF YOU JUST TAKE THE FINANCIAL PART, IS GONNA BE INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF, RIGHT.
CAN THE HOME, YOU KNOW, UH, ACCEPT THE, THE INSTALL? AND THEN MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE DO IT WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACKWARDS ON WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING WITH OUR TREES, RIGHT? BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARTICULAR ALSO HAVE GREAT TREES BECAUSE THE TREES HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS AS WELL.
SO I THINK FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR ALL OF THAT IS OUR OPTIONS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF L M I FOR SOLAR.
BUT I, LET ME TAKE BACK THAT IDEA, BECAUSE MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO PARTNER WITH AN AGENCY OR A GROUP TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THIS.
UM, SO YEAH, LET ME, LEMME TAKE THAT BACK.
THANK YOU FOR THAT IDEA THOUGH.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SLIDE EIGHT, THERE'S 14 PROGRAMS HERE.
I JUST WANNA, UH, THANK C P S AND COMMEND YOU FOR, UM, TAKING THAT EXTRA STEP TO HELP, UH, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE, UH, SAN ANTONIANS, UM, FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.
AS I LOOK OVER IT, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY,
[01:00:01]
UM, BURN INJURY, DISCOUNT, AFFORDABILITY, SPECIAL NEEDS SENIORS.SO I THANK YOU FOR, FOR TAKING THAT EXTRA STEP.
UM, THE, THE CAA VERE, WE HAD, I THINK, WHAT WAS IT, RUDY? I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, 30,000.
IT WAS LIKE THE, WHICH ONE WAS IT? IT WAS THE 30000TH HOME.
SO THAT, THAT WAS IN MY DISTRICT, AND THAT WAS, UH, LIKE LIFE CHANGING FOR A GRANDMOTHER AND HER, HER TWO GRANDSONS.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UM, WELL, HERE IT SAYS 1805 HOMES, WEATHERIZED.
SO THERE, YEAH, IT'S, SO THIS IS FISCAL YEAR, END OF DATE.
SO IT'S JUST, IT'S A TIMING DIFFERENCE ON THE TWO, BUT OKAY.
THAT NUMBER'S CHANGING DAILY AT THIS POINT.
BUT OVERALL, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN 1800.
IT'S, IT IS OVER THE LIFESPAN OF THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE THAT WAS IN THE WINTER THAT WE CORRECT.
SO THE, THE PROGRAM GOES BACK NOW ALMOST 12 YEARS.
SO TOTAL PROGRAM IS WELL OVER 30,000 NOW.
SO IN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, I GUESS C P S, IF I HEARD CORRECTLY, C P S UH, HELPED ME OUT WITH THESE REPAIRS.
UM, THERE ARE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, AND THEN THERE ARE SEPARATELY THE, THE MINOR REPAIR.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THESE 14, RIGHT? IT'S OUTSIDE OF THIS 14.
SO CURRENTLY WE, WE MANAGE THAT THROUGH THE VENDOR THAT HAS THE CONTRACT.
AS PART OF THAT REQUIREMENT, THEY, THEY WERE GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, THE NEXT STEP IS THOUGH, NOW HOW DO WE RAMP UP AND LEVERAGE THE ALIGNMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT YEAH.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THOSE MINOR REPAIRS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, UH, IN EDGEWOOD, IN MY, IN MY DISTRICT, THAT'S A GAME CHANGING AGAIN.
UM, BUT NOW THEIR HOMES ARE A LITTLE BIT WARMER OR COOLER OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED.
UH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE? YEAH.
SO THIS ROLE IS GONNA SIT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM.
SO JESSE HERNANDEZ, WHO MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW, AND KJ FEDERER, UM, OUR VP OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, THIS ROLE IS REALLY TO JUST BE AN EXTRA LIAISON ON COMMUNICATING ALL THE EVENTS, ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES, ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, REALLY JUST PUTTING EMPHASIS THAT THIS IS THE PERSON THAT WILL HELP KIND OF COLLECT AND COORDINATE THESE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROCESSES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR CREW TEAM, WORKING THROUGH OUR OUTREACH TEAM.
UM, THIS IS REALLY JUST TRYING TO HELP, AGAIN, WITH SOME SYNERGIES AND COLLABORATION.
UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING OUT IN THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW DO WE LEVERAGE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PRESENCE.
SO ARE, WHO ARE THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS? ARE THEY EMPLOYEES? YEAH.
ARE THERE PEOPLE OUT? GOOD QUESTION.
UH, SENIOR DIRECTOR, JESSE REENGAGEMENT.
UH, SO THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR, IT'S, UH, WITH THE NEW WEATHERIZATION, R F P THAT JONATHAN MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA BRING THEM ON BOARD.
THEY'RE GONNA BE A CONTRACTOR THAT'S GONNA WORK FOR, FOR ONE OF OUR, OUR PRIME CONTRACTORS, BUT THEY'LL BE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH MYSELF AND MY TEAM, UH, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING ON TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AS AN EXAMPLE, LAST FRIDAY, WE, WE MET WITH, UH, PARKS AND N H S D.
SO THIS, UH, COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR WOULD WOULD'VE BEEN IN THAT MEETING WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY HIRED, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS OTHER NON-PROFITS TO SEE HOW WE CAN BUILD THOSE SYNERGIES TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS TO GET THOSE, THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT MIGHT NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP TO CONNECT THEM THROUGH OUR BUNDLED APPROACH TO MORE ASSISTANCE.
HOW MANY DO YOU PLAN ON HAVING? CURRENTLY WE START WITH ONE, BUT DEPENDING ON HOW THE GROWTH GOES, WE CAN EXPAND IT BEYOND THAT AS WELL.
WELL, BUT BEYOND THAT, WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP ON, ON MY TEAM THAT'S ALREADY DOING THAT, AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CREW TEAM, THAT IT'S ACTIVELY DOING THE BUNDLE SUPPORT.
UM, I I, I, I'M SURE WHEN, WHEN THE PERSON IS HIRED, IF YOU COULD CONNECT A THE COUNCIL TO THAT PERSON SO WE CAN HELP WITH OUTREACH AS WELL THROUGHOUT WHATEVER CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE, THAT'S ONE OF THE PERSONS WILL DO.
UM, AND, UH, I RECALL, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THESE PROGRAMS, UH, THE, UH, THE DIFFICULTY WE HAD WITH PEOPLE AFTER THE PANDEMIC, GETTING TO SIGN ON FOR, UM, PAYMENT PLANS, UM, BEFORE THE, UH, THEIR SERVICES WOULD BE CUT OFF BEFORE THE KIND OF MORATORIUM ON THAT.
UM, SO I THINK YOU GUYS DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF THAT.
AND I, I KNOW ALL THE COUNCIL OFFICES DID OUR BEST TO TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT TOO AND BRING PEOPLE IN, EXCUSE ME, TO GET THEM IN ON PAYMENT PLANS.
UM, SO GOING BACK TO, UH, THE, WELL, I THINK ALREADY YOU'RE DOING EXCELLENT OUTREACH, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE CITY.
AND SO I KNOW THAT'S, THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR US EVEN.
UM, BUT HOWEVER WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I, I ALWAYS SAY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS BY KNOCKING ON DOORS.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY, WEIRDLY, UM, THE SUPER OLD SCHOOL KNOCK ON DOORS AND TALK WITH PEOPLE.
UM, BUT WE, WE'LL HELP YOU WITH THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
UM, THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION, I, I DO THINK THERE IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE, HOW THE CITY AND C P S WORK TOGETHER ON THESE THINGS.
I, I DO AGREE THAT IT'S A PURVIEW OF THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S EXCLUSIVELY THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY, THOUGH.
SO, UM, UH, BEING THAT WE'RE A PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY AS WELL.
SO I, I DO THINK IT WARRANTS A BIGGER CONVERSATION, THOUGH.
UM, I'LL JUST SHARE, UH, ANOTHER COMMENT TOO, AND IT'S REALLY IN LINE WITH, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, THAT WE'VE GOT FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THIS, AND IT'S A MATTER OF COLLABORATION,
[01:05:01]
I WOULD THINK.FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEBODY SAYS, YOU KNOW, MY UTILITY BILL'S TOO HIGH, AND YOU SAY, WELL, MAYBE YOU NEED WEATHERIZATION, AND YOU WOULD SEND OUT A CONTRACTOR UNDER YOUR R F P TO GO OUT AND EVALUATE THE PROPERTY, AND IF THEY THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE HOME ELIGIBLE, THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE A LINK TO THE CITY AND TO D H S AND SAID, THIS HOUSE IS A REAL GOOD CANDIDATE FOR WEATHERIZATION, BUT THEY'VE GOT THIS AND THAT, AND THIS AND THAT, AND IT'S SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THEN THAT HOUSE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED AND MOVED RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE SO IT GETS THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
SO THE WEATHERIZATION CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THAT'S GONNA BE A SYSTEM OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND, AND C P S TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THE OTHER THING I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT, AND I'VE HARPED ON THIS BEFORE, IF WE WEATHER WEATHERIZE A HOME, WE SHOULD PUT DEMAND MANAGEMENT IN THAT HOME.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR HOME AS FAR AS CONTROLLING THEIR ENERGY.
IF DEMAND MANAGEMENT LOWERS THEIR TEMPERATURE A COUPLE OF DEGREES AND THEY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, THEY CAN GO OVER AND RAISE IT BACK UP.
BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES C P S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER CONTROL THE FLOW OF ENERGY AT CRITICAL TIMES.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND EVEN A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR $2,000 AND HELP THEM LOWER THEIR BILL $500 A YEAR, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE DEMAND MANAGEMENT AS PART OF THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT, UH, CP S'S BOARD WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING THAT AS A POLICY, AS PART OF, UH, WEATHERIZATION.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GONNA SAY, WELL, NO, DON'T WEATHERIZE MY HOUSE.
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT CONTROL MY THERMOSTAT WHEN THEY KNOW THEY COULD CHANGE IT TO WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.
SO RUDY, I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE.
AND, AND MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER A A FINAL COM, A POINT FOR ME BEFORE WE GO TO RUDY IS, UH, COMMON THEME I'M HEARING IS OUTREACH.
SO THE, THE, THE CELL, I ALWAYS GOTTA MAKE THIS, THIS, UH, THIS PITCH.
IT STARTS WITH CALLING US, RIGHT? SO FOR ANYONE LISTENING AND FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS AN ASSISTANCE, IT'S IF YOU CALL US, WE WILL FIND A WAY TO CONNECT ALL THE DOTS FOR YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW.
ANYWAY, THE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, IS GONNA BE WHETHER OR NOT THAT HOME ON, YOU KNOW, IN, IN DISTRICT THREE HAS ACCESS TO, OR DISTRICT TWO HAS ACCESS TO WIFI IN THEIR HOUSE, WHICH THEY NEED TO, TO MAKE THE PROGRAM WORK.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY MAYBE TO PARLAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE CONVERSATION WITH, UH, A AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONVERSATION TO SEE WHERE THE OVERLAP IS.
THAT'LL BE, THAT'LL JUST BE THE ONE LIMITING FACTOR, RIGHT? TO CERTAIN HOMES NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS OUR, OUR THERMOSTAT PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON, CAN I JUST MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT? OKAY.
YOU KNOW, ON THE COORDINATION COLLABORATION SIDE, AND WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT WEATHERIZATION MINOR REPAIR, UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE SOMETIMES IS GETTING SOMEONE ENGAGED.
UM, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT ON THE PROPERTY TAX SIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE PROBABLY PEOPLE THAT COULD APPLY FOR A HOMESTEAD THAT DON'T HAVE A HOMESTEAD.
TROY AND TEAM ARE DOING ANALYSIS AROUND REALLY TRYING TO NARROW THAT DOWN TO WHERE WE THINK THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS RESIDE.
WE'RE GONNA USE, YOU KNOW, PARTNER AGENCIES TO HELP US DO THAT.
BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF SOMEBODY GETS INTO THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM THROUGH THIS OUTREACH, IF WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AND REALIZE, HEY, THIS INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIES FOR A HOMESTEAD, YEAH, WE WOULD THEN PICK THAT UP AND GET THEM SIGNED UP.
SO IT CAN BE EVEN BROADER, BROADER THAN JUST THE PROGRAMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
IT'S REALLY JUST LOOKING ACROSS, UH, OUR WORK, UH, IF YOU WILL, AND THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
UM, THE, ONCE WE'RE IN A HOME THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, MARGINALIZED FOR WHATEVER REASON OR ISN'T CONNECTED, AND, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED THIS, UM, THIS ASSISTANCE, THERE'S A, A PROBABLY A WIDE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR.
SO I, I LOVE THE IDEA OF, UM, GETTING THEM SIGNED UP FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
BUT, UM, ANY OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, NONPROFITS AND, UH, AND THEN, AND, AND NOT JUST NONPROFITS, BUT CITY, UM, RUN PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN, UM, INFORM THEM OF.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A PERSON, UH, SORT OF ON THE HOOK, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN THEY'RE, THEY, THEY'RE BUYING INTO, UM, AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, MAYBE WE CAN, UH, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP THEM WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY SMART.
WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON THE C P SS, UH, ENERGY RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S HISTORY.
UH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND, UH, FUTURE ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES.
I DID HEAR FROM RUDY THAT THERE'S MAYBE A TIME CERTAIN WHERE THAT COMMITTEE MAY NOT
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CONTINUE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT TODAY? WHERE, WHERE DO THEY THINK WE'RE GONNA BE GOING ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS? SO SHANNON, IF YOU'LL MAKE A PRESENTATION.UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH AN UPDATE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED THIS, UM, EFFORT WITH OUR RATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REALLY WHAT WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO DO WAS TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE DONE THAT ON A NUMBER OF REALLY TOUGH TOPICS.
UH, WE STARTED WITH AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES, REALLY JUST TO BRING EVERYBODY UP, UM, ON UNDERSTANDING THE SORTS OF ISSUES THEY WERE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I REALLY HAVE TO COMPLIMENT ALL OF THE HARD WORK DONE BY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT TO ABSORB, AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
UM, THEY PROVIDED INPUT ON THE LAST RATE REQUEST.
UM, THEY HAVE PROVIDED INPUT ON THE STEP PROGRAM.
UM, BENNY ALREADY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WENT TO THE BOARD RESULTING IN A RESOLUTION ON OUR GENERATION PLANNING, AND NOW THEY'RE IN THE RATE DESIGN DISCUSSION.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WORK WILL COME TO, UM, A CONCLUSION IN JUNE OR JULY.
UH, MEANING THEY WILL PROVIDE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AT THAT TIME.
RIGHT NOW, REALLY WHAT THEY HAVE FRAMED THEIR CONVERSATION AROUND IS AFFORDABILITY.
THEY STARTED BACKUP IN FEBRUARY, REALLY ATTEMPTING TO APPROACH THIS SUBJECT WITH THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT CONSERVATION BILL RELIEF AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE DATES OF THE, UM, COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE THEY HAD REALLY FULL, UH, DISCUSSIONS ON THOSE TOPICS, TOPICS.
UH, THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, REED WILLIAMS REALLY DID PROVIDE THIS AFFORDABILITY TRIANGLE AND HAS DESIGNED THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS FRAMEWORK.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL.
UM, A LOT OF REALLY GOOD IDEAS ON HOW, UM, AFFORDABILITY, UM, IS BETTER ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND ITS RELATION TO AND INDEPENDENCE ON CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT.
I WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE MEMBERS THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AS APPOINTED, UM, BY COUNCIL, AND THEN A REMINDER OF THOSE APPOINTED BY OUR BOARD.
UM, AND AGAIN, UM, I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD QUESTIONS HERE TODAY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE IS.
UM, I THINK THAT, AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE WILL GET TO ITS INPUT PROVIDED TO THE BOARD ON RATE, DESIGN RATE, STRUCTURE, AND AFFORDABILITY.
AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE, UM, C P S ENERGY IS ABSOLUTELY REMAINS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, SEEKING THEIR INPUT, AND, YOU KNOW, HONORING OUR COMMITMENT AS A PUBLICLY OWNED ASSET.
SO I'M GONNA PAUSE NOW AND SEE IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS TRIANGLE HERE.
YOU'VE GOT BILL RELIEF, CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT.
ARE ALL OF THOSE PLANNED ON BEING PART OF THE NEXT RATE INCREASE THAT WE HEAR IS COMING DOWN THE LINE? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE ALL THREE OF THESE GONNA BE INCORPORATED INTO WHATEVER THAT RATE INCREASE IS GOING TO BE ASKED OF, OF THE COUNCIL? OR ARE WE JUST GONNA SAY, WELL, THIS IS OUR NEED BECAUSE THIS IS HOW MUCH WE OWE? AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
SO HOW DOES THE WORK OF THE RATE COMMITTEE EXISTING TODAY AND, AND WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER GONNA GO INTO THAT NEXT REQUEST? I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, ALL OF THIS WILL BE IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT RATE IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE CON CONTINUED PROVISION OF SERVICES.
I THINK THE GOOD THING IS, UM, WHAT I'VE HEARD HERE TODAY IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW PROGRAMS MIGHT WORK TOGETHER, HOW WE MIGHT COLLABORATE ON EFFORTS TO OVERALL GIVE THE MOST AFFORDABLE PRODUCT TO OUR C P S ENERGY CUSTOMERS, UM, AND DO SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, LIKE CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT.
SO I FEEL CONFIDENT IN SAYING YES, ALL OF THESE CONCEPTS WILL BE BUILT INTO ANY RATE, DESIGN STRUCTURE AND AMOUNT DISCUSSION.
RUDY, MAKE SURE I WASN'T CUTTING YOU OFF.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE RAC, I, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE DIFFICULTY KIND OF COALESCING AROUND ONE IDEA OR TWO IDEAS.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WE'LL SEE.
IS THERE KIND OF A RANGE OF THINGS WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT AS WE GO FORWARD? UH, I THINK WHAT THE, THE RAC HAS KIND OF COME TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO UPGRADE OUR ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM, OUR, OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, IT NEW RATE DESIGN, HOW, HOW WE ACTUALLY BUILD CUSTOMERS CAN'T REALLY COME INTO PLAY UNTIL WE GET PAST THIS, THIS, UH, E R P TRANSFORMATION.
AND SO WE GOTTA STAY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES TO KIND OF WHERE WE CAN RESTRUCTURE OUR RATES, YOU KNOW, ON HOW THE BILL LOOKS TO THE CUSTOMER, THAT WE WOULD'VE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT, UH, WHAT SOME OF THE OPTIONS ARE.
[01:15:01]
KIND OF THROWN EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE, UH, BUT I THINK THEY'RE COALESCING AROUND THINGS WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING, YOU KNOW, TO AN UPGRADED, UH, YOU KNOW, BILLING SYSTEM.SO, UH, SO I, SO YOU'VE GOT MY COMMITMENT, UH, AND, AND I'M COMFORTABLE, UM, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THAT, THAT THE BOARD WILL GET A VERSION OF, OF A RATE CONVERSATION THAT WILL INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE GET FROM THE RACK.
UH, IS, IS THE BOARD OR, OR YOUR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT OTHER COMMITTEES THAT, UH, EXIST, UH, IN THE WAY OF ADVISING, UH, THE BOARD? I THINK IT'S THE CAC.
IS THAT RIGHT? AND ARE THERE OTHER COMMITTEES BESIDES THAT ONE THAT ARE OPERATING? WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT WE BRING TOGETHER, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BRING TOGETHER THE SOLAR INSTALLERS.
WE WE'RE STARTING TO MEET WITH PETER, PETER AND SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, DEEDEE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WE'RE INTERESTED IN WEATHERIZATION AND AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, UH, TO GIVE US FEEDBACK.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE BRING FOLKS TOGETHER EVERY DAY TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I THINK, UM, AND I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR THE BOARD OR GET IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, SAWS RECENTLY HAS GONE TO KIND OF A, A RE A RECONDITIONED, UH, COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, UH, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME OF IT, BUT IT'S A CITIZEN IMPACT COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE US KIND OF CONSIDER SOME SIMILAR VERSION OF WHAT SAS HAS DONE.
AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL TO THE BOARD.
AND PROBABLY GOING BACK INTO THE, INTO THE NINETIES.
UM, IT MIGHT BE MORE, UM, ASSIGNMENT BASED WHERE, WHERE THE BOARD SAYS, HEY, WE'D LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE OR THIS SUITE OF ISSUES AND GIVE US FEEDBACK ON THESE ISSUES RATHER THAN JUST SOME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S A QUARTERLY MEETING.
SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR CUSTOMERS TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE ASK A LOT OF THESE COMMITTEES, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE MEANINGFUL INPUT POINTS FOR US.
UH, AND, UH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE FIND SOME BALANCE.
WELL, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE RACK IS GOING TO GO AWAY, I WANNA BE SURE THAT ANY OTHER COMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT RATE ADVISORY ALONG THE WAY, WHETHER IT'S SIX MONTHS FROM NOW OR A YEAR FROM NOW, HAS THE SAME KIND OF, UH, PUBLIC OPENNESS THAT THE RAC HAD.
NOW, THE CAC, AS IT HAS EXISTED, HAS GONE THROUGH A FEW CHANGES, BUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEIR MEETINGS WERE ALL PRIVATE.
YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
YOU DIDN'T GET MINUTES, PEOPLE COULDN'T GO AND SPEAK.
UH, IT'S, IT'S OPENED UP A LITTLE BIT SINCE THEN, BUT IT'S STILL NOT AS, AS OPEN AS THE RACK WAS.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO RELY ON AN EXISTING COMMITTEE, AND MAYBE YOU'RE GONNA TRY AND MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO IT, I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT, UH, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT ITS OPINION ON RATE HIKES IN THE FUTURE.
SO, WELL, COUNCILMAN, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE NOW, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, VERY LARGE, YOU KNOW, IMP IMPORTANT ENTERPRISE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, UH, FOR OVER 18 MONTHS NOW.
AND I, I, I'M HOPEFUL THAT AT THIS POINT, I, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY APPROACH TO LEADING THIS ORGANIZATION IN A TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE MANNER.
AND YOU GOT MY COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEEK, UH, COMMUNITY INPUT IN AN, IN AN OPEN, PUBLIC, TRANSPARENT MANNER GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, SO WHATEVER DIRECTION THE BOARD GOES IN, UH, YOU KNOW, CHAIRWOMAN GONZALEZ HAS BEEN SUPER, UM, UH, UH, UH, FOCUSED ON TRANSPARENCY, UH, AS ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES.
SO, UH, YOU'VE GOT MY COMMITMENT THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE ASKING FOR FEEDBACK IN WHATEVER FORM THAT THE BOARD DECIDES IS, IS APPROPRIATE FOR US.
THAT'S, UH, ALL MY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? PHYLLIS, THANK YOU.
UM, I AM PART OF THE RAID ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND IT HAS BEEN SO ENLIGHTENING AND I'VE BEEN SO THANKFUL FOR THE PROCESS.
UH, THE, THE ONE THING THOUGH I DID SEE IS THAT WHEN I GOT IN AND, UH, AND THE REASON I WENT IN IS 'CAUSE MY APPOINTEE, WHO, WHO WAS DOING A GREAT JOB, JUST FELT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE THERE, AND I COULD, AND THERE WAS A HUGE TIME COMMITMENT.
UH, I THINK SOMETIMES THE MEETINGS LAST THREE HOURS, AND THAT, THAT'S A REALLY BIG ASK FOR, FOR ONE OF MY RESIDENTS.
SO I JOINED THE COMMITTEE AND WAS MADE CLEAR, AND I, I ENJOY IT BECAUSE I'M THERE AS, UM, RATE PAYER PHYLLIS VRAN, UM, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER PHYLLIS VRAN.
BUT I THINK THE ONE THING IS THE GOAL AND THE PURPOSE WERE SET OUT GENERATIONAL PLANNING AND, AND THE RATE ADVISORY.
AND I, I BELIEVE FROM THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A TALENTED AND COMMITTED
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GROUP, UH, LIKE PETER AND DIDI THAT ARE HERE, THAT A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT CAME UP FROM THE THE REAP WERE A RESULT OF THAT COMMITTEE AND THEIR CONVERSATION.SO I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TITLED THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THEN MY FIRST QUESTIONS FOR MY, FROM MY RESIDENTS ARE, IS MY RATE GOING UP AGAIN? SO I THINK WE, THAT I HOPE THE BOARD CONSIDERS WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED? UM, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN MAKING SURE WE'RE MEET, MEETING OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER? AND YOU HAVE, UM, A LARGE GROUP OF COMMITTED PEOPLE THAT I CAN, I THINK CAN HELP LEAD THAT MOVING FORWARD.
AND, UM, MANY OF YOUR APPOINTEES ARE EXCELLENT, UM, AT THE CONVERSATION.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT I NOTICED IN TERMS OF THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES, IS THAT, ESPECIALLY AS I LOOK AT THE TRIANGLE
AND, UH, AND MY, MY, UH, RAC MEMBERS WILL KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT I BRING UP.
IF WE CAN GET OUR, UM, CITIZENS TO CONSERVE AND TO LOOK AT, AT, AT THEIR, WHAT THEY'RE DEMANDING, THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MEET OUR GOALS, UM, IN, IN A LARGE PART, NOT FULLY, BUT WE CAN MEET OUR GOALS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON, ON HOW, HOW YOU, UH, STILL HAVE THE REPRESENTATION, STILL HAVE COUNCIL HAVE APPOINTEES, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT COMMITTEE LOOK LIKE? DOES IT LOOK LIKE TWO, TWO, UH, COMMITTEES OR IS IT ONE COMMITTEE WITH, UM, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MAYBE GETTING TOGETHER IN THEIR APPOINTEE OF THAT PERSON? SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
I THINK THE, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
THEY'RE DOING THE JOB THAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO, AND IT HAS BEEN, UM, QUITE A, A COMMITMENT FOR THEM TO DO THAT MONTHLY.
I, I KNOW ONE TIME WE MET, I THINK TWICE IN ONE MONTH BECAUSE WE HAD ANOTHER PRESENTER COMING IN, SUBCOMMITTEES, UM, THEY'VE JUST BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
SO, UM, I I HOPE Y'ALL TAKE THE, THE, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND MOVE IT FORWARD TO THE, THE BOARD.
OKAY, COUNCILMAN Q RODRIGUEZ? THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I HEAR A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE SOME SORT OF, UH, CITIZEN LED COMMITTEE, UM, IN SOME FORM OR SHAPE.
AND WHAT I WANNA STRESS IS THAT WHILE I THINK THERE MAY, THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW MEMBERSHIP OR FOR, UM, SOME NEW GOALS, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO NOTE THAT WITH A TOPIC LIKE, UH, C P S AND UTILITIES, IT GENERALLY, UM, THERE'S INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT'S BEEN GAINED BY THESE MEMBERS, AND SO IT, IT'S, UH, ALMOST VITAL THAT MANY OF THEM COME BACK AND CONTINUE THEIR WORK.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S ALSO, IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE STOPPED ONCE THE RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE.
UM, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, FOLLOW THROUGH ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOPICS.
UH, THE RAC WAS DESIGNED FOR SUCH AS GENERATION PLANNING, STEP, FUTURE RATE REQUESTS, UM, AND TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE CREATIVELY BECAUSE AS, UH, AS YOU IMPLEMENT PLANS, OFTEN THEY, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
AND SO, UM, TO HAVE THAT CON, THAT CONSISTENT VOICE IS NECESSARY.
AND SO I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
I DO ALSO WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME AND SAY THANK YOU TO AN AQUIFER FOR HER SERVICE.
UM, AND THANK, THANK YOU AN AQUA FOR YOUR IMPORTANT, VERY NECESSARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE RAC.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS VERY CLOSELY DESIGNED, UH, CONTINUING IN, UH, POST JULY.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, WE MENTIONED EARLIER A CONTINUATION OF SOME SORT.
UM, MAYBE SOME OF THE PLAYERS CHANGE, BUT, UM, I DO THANK, UH, PETER AND DIDI, UH, ALSO A GOOD FRIEND, FIO SELLI, WHO I THINK STEPPED DOWN, BUT, AND, AND THEN OF COURSE, MAYA APPOINTEE, ALVARO, UH, RODRIGUEZ, UH, BECAUSE IT, AND, AND ALSO MY, UH, COLLEAGUE PHYLLIS YAN SERVICE ON, ON THE RACK.
UM, AND I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A GOOD POINT TO BE MADE ABOUT SOME INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND, AND KEEPING THE, UM, THE INTENT OF A LOT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT, UH, THE OUTCOMES MAY BE.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY AGAIN, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CONTINUATION.
I, I DO THANK RUDY, THOUGH, UH, YOU MADE A A POINT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, AND I AM, I DARE SOMEBODY TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING BY, UH, THE CURRENT CHAIR, UH, BECAUSE SHE'LL NOT
[01:25:01]
ALLOW ITI KNOW THAT RUDY WILL MAKE SURE, BUT IT IS NICE TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE ROOM, UM, INFORMING US ALL REALLY OF, OF, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND ESPECIALLY THE, UH, THIS PARTICULAR RACK, I THINK HAS A REALLY, A VAST ARRAY OF EXPERIENCE.
SO I THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AGAIN, AND, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED WORK.
NOW IF I JUST WANNA CLEAR UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE RACK IS GONNA BE WORKING ON RATE DESIGN, TRYING TO MAKE A FINAL RECOMMENDATION.
DOES THAT INCLUDE TOPICS LIKE RATE DECOUPLING AND THE TIME OF USE RATES? ARE THOSE INCORPORATED INTO THAT OR WILL BE IN THAT DISCUSSION? WE HAVE.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAD, UM, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON BOTH OF THOSE TOP TOPICS.
SO I EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE, AND I ABSOLUTELY EXPECT THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE, SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSING AS THEY REACH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
HOW MANY MEETINGS DO YOU THINK THERE'LL BE ON? THINK THERE'LL BE ON THAT COMMITTEE BEFORE JULY, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE STOPPING THREE.
AT LEAST THREE MORE MEETINGS? YES.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA.
SO I WANT TO THANK C P S ENERGY FOR BEING HERE, ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS, BEING RESPONSIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.