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SFPUC updates Clean Power SF enrollment, readies July commercial rollout
Summary
San Francisco’s Clean Power SF is serving about 81,000 accounts with a 3.2% opt‑out rate; staff told the Local Agency Formation Commission that a July enrollment will add roughly 25,000 commercial accounts and increase program demand nearly fourfold as outreach and a new website ramp up.
Michael Hyams, director for Clean Power SF at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, told the Local Agency Formation Commission on April 20 that the program is serving about 81,000 accounts, roughly 22 percent of the city’s potential customers, and has an opt‑out rate near 3.2 percent. "The program's serving 81,000 accounts today," Hyams said, adding that the Super Green upgrade rate has ticked up to about 4.2 percent.
Hyams said enrollment will expand in July 2018, when the program will add about 25,000 commercial accounts and roughly 1,300 net energy metering (solar) accounts. "July enrollment will increase the program customer account from the 81,000 ... to just over 105,000," he said. Hyams said the added commercial accounts will raise average demand served from about 65 megawatts today to roughly 235 megawatts, and that full citywide enrollment scheduled for February 2019 would further increase demand to about 405 megawatts.
Hyams also summarized recent rate decisions, saying the commission adopted new rates on April 10 that are intended to help build financial reserves while delivering about a 2 percent savings versus comparable PG&E service. He flagged an active regulatory matter at the California Public Utilities Commission related to the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA), saying stakeholders have debated the PCIA methodology for months and that the city and its CCA peers filed testimony on April 2.
Tyler Gamble, deputy director of communications for power at the PUC, presented the outreach plan for the July enrollment. Gamble described separate enrollment notices for commercial and residential customers beginning the first mailing in early May, targeted outreach to high‑energy commercial customers, partnerships with business groups and advocates, paid digital advertising and a redesigned campaign website with a bill calculator. "The first enrollment notice goes out on May 7," Gamble said, and the new site will be mobile friendly and enable improved tracking of customer interactions.
Commissioners asked staff why customers opt out despite projected savings. Hyams said opt‑outs most often reflect distrust of local government or dislike of automatic enrollment. Public commenters including representatives of 350 Bay Area and the San Francisco Green Party praised the program and urged LAFCO to monitor state legislation and broader city climate goals.
Next steps: staff will carry out the July enrollment and report back with outreach results and analytics after the campaign and as the PUC prepares to sign up the remainder of the city in early 2019.
