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SFPUC outlines phased CCA marketing plan; public raises ethics concerns about peaker communications
Summary
SFPUC outreach staff described a phased, research-driven marketing plan for any San Francisco CCA. During public comment, advocates alleged SFPUC edited ISO communications used to justify proposed peaker projects; those allegations were not resolved at the meeting.
SFPUC outreach staff told LAFCO Friday that a successful Community Choice Aggregation enrollment requires staged, research-driven marketing and sustained grassroots outreach — and warned a full-scale paid campaign should follow, not precede, key program details.
Tony Winnecker, director of communications and outreach for the SFPUC, outlined four phases: message research and testing, pre-enrollment outreach, an intensive opt-out enrollment campaign partnered with the selected energy service provider, and post-enrollment retention work. Winnecker said meaningful research and clear answers about program mix and rates would improve credibility and campaign effectiveness and cited the utilitys recent citywide campaigns (water-conservation and sewer master-plan outreach) as examples of scale and cost.
"We believe basic research has to be in place... so that when people say when and how much and what's the exact mix of renewable resources, we have an answer," Winnecker said, describing the steps SFPUC recommends before launching multi-channel paid advertising and large-scale enrollment drives.
The meeting also touched on the separate but related subject of city peaker (CT) projects and communications with the California ISO. During public comment, Eric Brooks of the San Francisco Green Party said a public-records review showed SFPUC director Barbara Hale edited communications between SFPUC staff and the ISO that were later used to justify peaker installations. Brooks called the exchanges "deeply troubling" and urged a reexamination of the peaker project and staff communications. The allegation was not formally resolved during the meeting; SFPUC staff emphasized they were providing technical information to policymakers and described ongoing engagement with the ISO and policymakers about alternatives and timing.
Separately, SFPUC assistant general manager Barbara Hale reported that the PUC had completed oral interviews for RFQ respondents and would recommend contract awards to Local Power and GES at a June commission meeting, advancing the procurement step for CCA implementation work.
No formal action was taken on the peaker allegation at LAFCO; the concern was raised in public comment for further follow-up by commissioners and staff.
