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SFPUC advances Clean Power SF: $4M interim funding approved as advocates press for faster launch
Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved a $4 million temporary transfer from the Hetch Hetchy fund to provide working capital for Clean Power SF (CCA), while staff set a May schedule for not-to-exceed rates. Dozens of community speakers urged immediate launch and prioritizing local jobs and equity.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted April 28 to authorize a $4,000,000 temporary transfer from the Hetch Hetchy Enterprise Fund to provide short-term working capital for the Clean Power SF community choice aggregation program.
Nancy Hamm, interim CFO, told the commission the appropriation would support CCA operations for no more than two years while staff finalizes business rules and rate proposals. Assistant General Manager for Power Barbara Hale said the rate fairness board approved not-to-exceed rates on April 17 and staff plans to bring a rate proposal to the commission on May 12. The transfer was approved on a voice vote.
The measure drew broad public support at the meeting. Dozens of speakers — including representatives of the Sierra Club, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, local student and neighborhood groups, and Clean Power SF advocates — urged the commission to accelerate program launch, prioritize local hiring and job training for vulnerable communities, and ensure that the CCA’s portfolio includes greenhouse-gas-free generation. Jess Durbin Ackerman, conservation program manager for the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter, said the organization collected 6,273 handwritten letters urging launch.
Several speakers and LAFCO staff also urged clarity about how CCA pricing would relate to the utility’s wholesale and retail offerings. Jason Fried (LAFCO) and others flagged the tradeoffs between offering a premium greenhouse-gas-free product and keeping CCA costs low enough to be competitive for ratepayers.
Commissioners and staff discussed the governance and financing details. Staff noted the city commonly charges interest on intra-city loans to keep accounting separate among ratepayer classes; Barbara Hale said the interest practice is intended to avoid one set of ratepayers subsidizing another. Commissioners emphasized affordability and competitiveness for the CCA as they approved the temporary working capital request.
Next steps: staff will present not-to-exceed rates and the CCA program design at the May 12 commission meeting; the commission’s approval sent the appropriation request to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
