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C.146

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	July 9, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Letter of Support to California Public Utilities Commission to Permanently Fund the Bay Area Regional Energy Network

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/09/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor

Contact:

Demian Hardman, (925) 674-7826

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 9, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board to send a letter to members of the California Public Utilities Commission recommending they permanently continue to fund the Bay Area Regional Energy Network.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no impact on the General Fund.

The Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) currently receives approximately $200,000 from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) each year through a contract with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). The funding covers DCD staff costs as well as other marketing and outreach activities that support the implementation of the energy efficiency measures within the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP).

BACKGROUND:

The County has been participating in BayREN since its inception under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) led by ABAG and established in July 2012 between the nine Bay Area counties. In late 2012, the CPUC approved BayREN as a pilot program to implement Energy Efficiency (EE) Programs for the purpose of filling gaps in EE Program activities not being offered by the Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs, such as PG&E) or Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs, such as MCE). On May 31, 2018, the CPUC approved the BayREN business plan that allocated increased funding for BayREN through calendar year 2025 (Decision 18-05-041).

On March 27, 2019, the CPUC issued a ruling (Rulemaking 13-11-005) to seek comments on future policy regarding the Regional Energy Networks (RENs). This includes existing RENs, such as BayREN, SoCalREN (covering Los Angeles County) and 3C-REN (covering San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties). Several policy questions are being considered, including, among other things, if (1) the Commission should consider canceling REN programs after the expiration of the current business plan period and (2) if RENs are still appropriate (new or existing) in light of likely geographic overlap, and/or portfolio overlap, with CCAs or other energy efficiency programs offered by IOUs. BayREN, as well as the other RENs, have provided formal comments on this ruling and are awaiting Commission action expected to occur sometime in July or August of 2019. To support the County receiving continued funding through BayREN for the County to meet its CAP goals, DCD staff recommends the Chair of the Board send a letter to the CPUC requesting that BayREN be permanently funded.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County would not have a position on CPUC actions that may affect the County’s ability of meeting its CAP goals and the County may not receive additional funding to support those efforts.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.