Glendale utility outlines $9.3M PBC plan, expands rebates and EV incentives

Glendale Water & Power (GWP) staff presented a two‑year package of clean‑energy programs funded through the utility’s public benefit charge (PBC) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), asking the City Council on June 4 to approve program design and preliminary budgets ahead of final budget adoption June 24.

The PBC portfolio shown to the council proposed $9,300,000 for fiscal year 2025–26 and $11,500,000 for fiscal year 2026–27, with large shares directed to energy bill assistance for income‑qualified customers and new or expanded rebates for heat‑pump water heaters, heat‑pump HVAC systems and electric‑panel upgrades, GWP said.

Why it matters: the PBC is paid through a utility surcharge and is earmarked for energy‑efficiency, renewables and low‑income assistance. The council questioned whether the fund balance and the proposed pace of program roll‑out matched community needs and asked staff for plans to scale programs that show strong uptake.

GWP clean energy staff said the portfolio aims to balance customer outreach, equity and cost‑effectiveness. “Our portfolio is built to provide diverse programs to all customers in Glendale, empowering them to reduce consumption and actively support decarbonization goals,” Ruzan Soloyan, GWP clean energy officer, told the council. Soloyan said state law directs utilities to invest in multiple categories and that the PBC programs are presented to council biennially.

Program highlights from the PBC presentation included: - Home energy and water rebates for ENERGY STAR appliances and measures, with proposed increases in rebates for heat‑pump water heaters (from $1,000 to $4,000) and for heat‑pump HVACs (from $500 to $1,000 per ton), plus a new rebate for electric panel upgrades needed for electrification. - A direct‑install turf replacement pilot for 10 sites in disadvantaged communities and home retrofit services offering LED lighting, sensors and window film. - Business incentives, including a Business Energy Solutions program and commercial water‑ and energy‑saving rebates (some rebates described as covering up to roughly 90% of the cost for smaller appliances in specific cases). - Expanded EV incentives: proposed increases in the off‑peak EV charging monthly incentive from $12 to $15 in FY25‑26 and to $20 in FY26‑27, residential and multifamily charger rebates, and a planned used‑EV rebate program (income‑qualified) budgeted at $500,000 for FY26‑27 to support an estimated ~380 incentives annually.

On LCFS funding, staff recommended budgets of roughly $2.1 million for FY25‑26 and $2.9 million for FY26‑27 to continue transportation electrification programs, including public charging infrastructure, multifamily charger rebates and an expected ramp of 15–25 new public charging ports per year. Brian Salazar, GWP staff presenting LCFS programs, said the utility had sold credits recently and retains a credit balance to fund the next year’s programs.

Council members repeatedly pressed staff on timing and scale: Councilmember Brotman noted the PBC fund balance (staff said about $10,000,000) and asked why more money wasn’t put into peak‑shaving or R&D. Staff responded that the portfolio is being rolled out in phases so programs can be designed, launched and monitored for cost‑effectiveness before additional allocations are made.

On verification and program effectiveness, staff said usage data from advanced meters (AMI) and third‑party statistical analyses are used to measure savings for home energy reports and other offerings. For the off‑peak EV incentive, staff explained the program uses AMI meter signatures to confirm charging times and provides “forgiveness” for a limited number of monthly peak events.

Council direction and next steps: staff said the proposed budgets and program outlines will be included in the final staff report for the June 24 budget hearing and that they will return with implementation details, communications plans and options to reallocate funds if uptake justifies scaling. No formal vote or ordinance was taken during the presentation.

Council members also asked for greater business outreach and coordination with chambers, and suggested leveraging partnerships (for example, with financial institutions) to help residents finance larger electrification measures such as HVAC replacements.

Staff cited state guidance including references in the presentation to Senate Bill 1037 and AB 2021 as framing requirements and forecasts for energy‑efficiency planning. Metropolitan Water District regional programs were cited as partners on water‑efficiency rebates.

The council will consider the staff report and final budget adoption on June 24, when any adjustments to the amounts or program scope would be finalized.