Rules Committee forwards I Kwan nomination to full Board amid assurances on Clean Power SF

Chair John Avalos opened the Feb. 12 Rules Committee hearing by introducing Mayor Ed Lee's nominee for Seat 2 on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, I Kwan, whose term the clerk listed as ending Aug. 1, 2018. Kwan, general manager at the California Academy of Sciences, told the committee he is "committed to and passionate about Clean Power SF" and said "getting Clean Power SF up and running by the end of this year is 1 of my top priorities." He said he would set a realistic launch date and stick to it.

Supervisors pressed Kwan on likely challenges facing the SFPUC. Kwan cited drought response and public outreach and stressed emergency preparedness, adding that the PUC must balance infrastructure investment with rate affordability. He described his operational background overseeing facilities and public programs at the Academy of Sciences as preparation for the commission role and said he understands ratepayer impacts firsthand.

Several supervisors questioned whether Kwan's professional ties to corporate contributors, notably PG&E, could present a conflict. Kwan responded that PG&E is a charitable contributor to the Academy and that donations represent "less than 1%" of corporate charitable giving to the institution and approximately "0.77%" of the Academy's overall budget; he said he does not solicit or approve those donations and that such support does not affect his salary or benefits. He told the committee he would consult the city attorney and would recuse himself if a material conflict arose.

During public comment a number of speakers, including representatives of neighborhood organizations and people who work with Kwan, urged the committee to approve the nomination, praising his community organizing, operational competence and commitment to ratepayer advocacy. Other commenters, including a Green Party representative, urged caution and asked the committee to follow the city charter and prior precedent, arguing the seat's description requires specific ratepayer advocacy experience and recommending the full Board consider the nomination without recommendation so the city attorney could review any legal questions.

After discussion the committee amended and approved a motion "to support Mr. Kwan for the rate payer seat on the Public Utility Commission and move it forward to the full board with recommendation," taking that action without objection. The committee record shows the item will next be considered by the full Board of Supervisors.

The committee's deliberations repeatedly returned to Clean Power SF: supervisors emphasized that the commission will face pressure from established utilities and labor interests and said they expect appointees to be independent and to defend the city's policy goals. The vote at Rules does not finalize the appointment; the full Board will take final action.