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SFPUC conditionally approves Clean Power SF supplier pool and unveils outreach timetable
Summary
The commission authorized staff to negotiate with a conditional pool of suppliers for Clean Power SF — limited to 50 MW and capped at $35 million per year — and heard a public outreach plan that begins opt‑out mailings in January and broad advertising and canvassing in early spring.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted Oct. 27 to conditionally authorize the General Manager to negotiate with a selected pool of qualified suppliers for the Clean Power SF program and laid out the program’s outreach and schedule.
Barbara Hale, Assistant General Manager for Power, told the commission the authorization is conditioned on: contract pricing consistent with adopted rate‑setting policies and affordability goals; renewable energy coming from California‑eligible portfolio content category 1 resources; appropriate credit support from counterparties; a total program volume cap of 50 megawatts; limits on contract lengths (bid option 1 and resource adequacy contracts capped at five years; renewable bid option 2 contracts limited to up to 25 years); and a program cost cap not to exceed $35,000,000 per year.
The commissioners asked about timing relative to PG&E’s green tariff and whether the city would know PG&E’s filing details before signing supplier confirmations. Staff said program schedules are similar; they expect to present additional business‑plan materials, expected costs and rates to the commission in early December and to seek Board of Supervisors approval as required.
Charles Sheehan, communications manager, presented a multi‑pronged outreach plan: summer and fall tabling events, targeted outreach in Southeast neighborhoods, educational mailers and two opt‑out mailings (first opt‑out notice to the post office Jan. 15), paid advertising beginning in March, door‑to‑door canvassing for some businesses, and collaborative advocate meetings (next advocates meeting Nov. 9). Staff also discussed safeguards for sign‑ups at public events when customers do not have PG&E account numbers and said they would verify enrollments by phone or email.
Public stakeholders including Eric Brooks (San Francisco Green Party), Jeremy Gong (Sierra Club), and Jason Fried (LAFCO) urged continued and earlier engagement with advocates, recommended prominent web and hashtag usage for outreach, and encouraged the commission to move the program forward so it can start reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions. The commission approved the staff recommendation by voice vote.
