Utilities Advisory Commission finalizes FY2026 work plan after staff and commissioner edits

Palo Alto — The Utilities Advisory Commission completed a multi‑hour, line‑by‑line review of its proposed FY2026 work plan and voted unanimously to approve the final document for City Council consideration. Commissioners debated scope, staff capacity and where to place several proposed topics before consolidating most items into revised standing topics and adding a few distinct priorities.

What changed and why: Commissioners submitted 14 proposed work‑plan items; staff and commissioners iteratively revised the text to avoid duplicative items, to make expectations for staff feasible, and to ensure priorities aligned with council direction. After discussion, the commission accepted language that: (a) adds a distinct review of the long‑term gas utility strategy to be coordinated with the city’s climate and electrification goals; (b) incorporates a data‑center competitiveness and…