Clean Power SF reports strong participation, details rebates and IRP timeline uncertainty

Cheryl Taylor, operations manager for Clean Power SF, told the Local Agency Formation Commission on Sept. 19 that the city’s community choice energy program continues to show high participation and is advancing customer rebate and pricing pilots while preparing a 2025 integrated resource plan (IRP).

Taylor said participation in Clean Power SF remains “over 95%.” She reported increasing usage that now “represents more than 16% of Clean Power SF’s annual retail sales” and said the growth is largely driven by commercial enrollment in response to the city’s renewable energy ordinance requiring large commercial buildings to purchase 100% renewable energy.

The IRP is a state-required energy planning document that Clean Power SF must file with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) roughly every two years. Taylor said Clean Power SF’s modeling team is prepared to begin analysis once the CPUC issues final inputs and targets, but the CPUC has not yet set a final filing date. “Pending an upcoming CPUC ruling, we now expect the due date will be sometime after 12/01/2025, and likely in early 2026,” Taylor said, adding that Clean Power SF and other community choice aggregators have requested a deadline extension to late February or early March to allow time after CPUC guidance is released.

Taylor described recent customer programs: a second round of Electrify My Ride e-bike rebates offering up to $1,000 per qualifying purchase; 1,000 income-eligible rebates became available and were claimed within hours. She said Clean Power SF has joined the CPUC’s hourly flex pricing pilot, and continues incentives for heat pump water heater upgrades that provide $50 monthly bill credits for two years (a total of $1,200) for standard participants and $50 monthly credits for three years ($1,800) for income-qualified customers.

On net energy metering, Taylor said staff proposed modifications intended to incentivize rooftop solar owners to increase on-site use of generated power. Staff held three industry webinars and solicited public comment via survey; Taylor said the proposal will go to the San Francisco Environment Commission on Sept. 22.

Commissioners used the presentation to press staff for affordability data. Commissioner Sevier asked whether Clean Power SF could regularly report descriptive statistics on affordability — for example, numbers of customers receiving disconnection notices, enrollment in budget billing programs, and calls for bill assistance — citing potential changes in federal and state assistance programs and growing local need. Commissioner Chan moved, through the chair, to ask the interim executive officer to work with SFPUC and Clean Power SF to produce an affordability report that could support a LAFCO resolution to the Board of Supervisors and the SFPUC. Chair Jackie Fielder agreed and directed staff to return with a report on a timeline appropriate to the executive officer’s schedule.

Taylor also said Clean Power SF’s community outreach for the IRP included one webinar and a six-week survey; staff received six survey responses. Taylor summarized survey themes: support for maintaining 100% clean energy; mixed views on accepting higher rates for time-coincident clean supply; interest in local renewable projects, rooftop solar, battery storage, virtual power plants, and exploring nuclear options with safeguards. Taylor said outreach materials were made available in multiple languages.

Clean Power SF provided a web resource for the IRP at cleanpowersf.org/resourceplan and said it will update stakeholders and webinar respondents when the CPUC issues final guidance.

The commission did not take any formal action on Clean Power SF programs during the meeting; members requested follow-up reporting on affordability metrics and IRP outreach and timeline.