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Council asks staff to review solar contract for wastewater plant after continued PG&E charges
Summary
A councilmember reported ongoing high electricity bills at the wastewater treatment plant despite a solar contract and asked staff and legal to review the Silicon Ranch agreement for possible breach or renegotiation; staff agreed to have the city attorney and operations staff investigate.
A councilmember raised concerns during the July 8 budget workshop about the wastewater treatment plant’s energy costs and an existing solar contract, and asked staff to investigate whether the solar contractor has met contract obligations.
The councilmember said the city continues to pay substantial PG&E bills and also recent payments to the solar contractor. She reported seeing biweekly payments in the range of $15,000–$18,000 to the contractor and continued monthly PG&E charges of roughly $30,000, and asked staff to review the solar contract for performance issues or potential breach. The councilmember asked staff to consult an attorney who specializes in solar contracts if necessary and to determine whether the city could renegotiate or terminate the contract.
City staff said the city attorney and operations staff will review the contract and invoices. Councilmembers also discussed the fairness of passing costs to ratepayers if contract or vendor issues had increased operating costs, and said they would not want to raise rates without exhausting options to lower costs.
Staff indicated they will coordinate with the public-works and wastewater operations staff and the city attorney to review invoices and determine next steps, including whether to seek a legal remedy or renegotiation.
