There will be no impact to the General Fund. The CPUC grant funds 100% of the costs associated with implementing this program and no matching funds are required.
In July 2012, the County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), a collaborative partnership among the nine (9) Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma Counties) led by ABAG, which focuses on implementing energy efficiency programs throughout the Bay Area.
On July 9, 2013, the County entered into a subcontract agreement with ABAG in an amount not to exceed $404,167, containing requirements associated with the County's use of CPUC grant funding for the period of January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2014 to cover costs for providing allowable marketing, education and outreach to support BayREN activities. This subcontract agreement was amended by the County on June 3, 2014, due to a CPUC decision in September 2013, to reduce the overall funding amount allocated by the CPUC to BayREN. This action resulted in a $22,250 decreased in the reimbursement limit to the County, from $404,167 to $381,917, with no change in the original term (January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014).
On November 24, 2014, the CPUC issued a 2015 Decision (D.14-10.046) that approved additional BayREN funding for calendar year 2015. As a result, BayREN allocated a total of $180,834 to Contra Costa County for calendar year 2015 to cover its costs to continue promoting the following four (4) existing BayREN subprograms that were previously funded under the 2013-2014 subcontract agreement with ABAG:
1. Single-Family Housing,
2. Multi-Family Housing,
3. Building Codes and Standards, and
4. Energy Efficiency Financing.
Both the Single-Family and Multi-Family subprograms offer free technical services and financial incentives (rebates) if owners/contractors make specific energy efficiency improvements to existing residential infrastructure. The Codes and Standards subprogram offers various resources (including training) to support local government officials with code compliance and enforcement. The Energy Efficiency Financing subprogram focuses on marketing various financing options to diverse commercial and residential consumer markets throughout the Bay Area.
The proposed subcontract agreement between ABAG and Contra Costa County will allow the County to continue to access CPUC grant funds awarded to ABAG for the purpose of promoting BayREN subprograms offered in Contra Costa County. The amount specified in the agreement is not to exceed $180,834 and will cover the period of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. These funds are to cover County costs to promote the program. The cost of the rebates is funded separately by CPUC.
Concurrently with the proposed 2015 agreement, ABAG has also requested that each of the nine counties execute a Restated and Revised MOU, (attached), which better defines the roles and responsibilities of ABAG and the counties participating in BayREN.
The County will not be able to participate in BayREN or ensure energy efficiency services are provided to County residents and property owners.