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SFPUC outlines Clean Power SF rollout, plans focused outreach and revised schedule
Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission heard staff updates on Clean Power SF, including a third‑party reviewed business plan, procurement bids, and an outreach plan that prioritizes early enrollment citywide and automatic enrollment beginning in the Southeast. Staff said some supply contracts will require Board of Supervisors approval, shifting the timeline by weeks.
Barbara Hale, the SFPUC—s assistant general manager for power, told commissioners on Tuesday that the agency—s Community Choice Aggregation program, Clean Power SF, remains on track but needs a revised timeline and additional review. "It—s clear to us that some of our supply options ... involve us making commitments over the $10,000,000 threshold and so it will require Board of Supervisor approval," Hale said, adding that staff now expects a short schedule shift measured in weeks rather than months.
The SFPUC said it is preparing a Clean Power SF business plan that will be third‑party reviewed and integrated with the power enterprise—s overall business plan. Staff also reported substantial market interest: six bids were received under bid option 1 (three firms shortlisted) and 52 bids under option 2, plus six bids for resource adequacy capacity. Hale said staff is evaluating price, project viability, delivery dates and contractual terms as it builds a recommended procurement package.
Outreach and enrollment are central to the launch strategy. Tyrone Joo, who presented the outreach approach, said citywide early enrollment begins immediately and that the first phase of automatic enrollment will prioritize the Southeast (Bayview/Hunters Point) neighborhood because of its history of nearby power plants and a concentrated customer load mix. "Clean Power SF will provide clean, renewable power to all San Franciscans," Joo said, describing a two‑product offering: a default green product (roughly 33–50 percent renewable) and a 100 percent renewable premium called "Super Green."
Joo described a dual path: door‑to‑door canvassing and targeted mailers to encourage early opt‑in to the Super Green product before automatic enrollment, plus a larger advertising and stakeholder campaign ahead of service cutover. Staff presented targets for the first two phases: an opt‑out rate below 20 percent and Super Green making up about 5 percent of enrolled accounts by the end of phase two.
Commissioners asked how Clean Power SF—s business plan will tie to the power enterprise budget and to Hetch Hetchy issues. Hale said the CCA plan and the enterprise business case are connected but distinct lines of business; the CCA plan will be a focused business case that factors into the enterprise plan and the budget workshops, which commissioners will be able to review.
Several public speakers urged a balanced roll‑out. Eric Brooks of San Francisco Clean Energy Advocates supported a Southeast start but cautioned against concentrating automatic enrollment only in District 10, warning it could leave the program open to targeted opposition. "We do not want you delaying your October approvals," Brooks said, urging the commission not to trade speed for perfection. LAFCO Executive Officer Jason Fried praised the marketing plan but urged both rapid action and caution in timing and implementation.
Next steps: staff will finish the third‑party business plan review, return with a revised schedule (staff said in the meeting the delay is measured in weeks), continue procurement evaluations, finalize opt‑out mailers for the automatic enrollment sequence and present implementation details and budget items during upcoming workshops and meetings.
