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Council hears presentation on Utah Renewable Communities opt-out program; public hearing scheduled
Summary
Council member Joe briefed the council on an opt-out renewable-energy aggregation called Utah Renewable Communities, outlining a likely $4/month administrative charge, mailing costs for city notification and a six-month free opt-out window; council set a public hearing for the next meeting to take public comment and decide whether to remain in the program.
Oakley’s City Council received a presentation May 6 on the Utah Renewable Communities program, a state-authorized opt-out aggregation that would pool participating jurisdictions to procure solar resources and add renewable energy into the regional grid.
Joe, who serves on the program’s board by appointment, said the program is structured as an opt-out enrollment: jurisdictions decide whether to participate, and residents within participating jurisdictions will have the option to opt out. “This is an opt out program,” Joe said, describing a structure now in place in roughly 19 Utah communities. He said the program will add renewable energy to the grid but will not guarantee that a particular home is directly powered by solar; it replaces the amount of energy used by participants with renewable resources on the larger Rocky Mountain Power grid.
Key details reported by Joe included an initial administrative charge the public-service commission has set at about $4 per month per meter to cover start-up costs and billing changes, and a projected mailing/notification cost for the city of roughly $750 to $1,400 for required notices. He said there would be a six-month window after the program begins for customers to opt out at no charge; after that an opt-out fee of roughly $25–$30 may apply. Joe also said the program’s board has contracted for four solar projects and expects at least some additions to be online by 2028; he said participants could see a net credit after an initial four- to seven-year period depending on costs.
During public comment, resident Isabelle Fraser told the council she wants Oakley to adopt the program to expand access to clean energy. The mayor noted the item is on the council’s agenda and that a public hearing will be held at the next meeting so residents can comment formally.
Councilors did not take a vote at the May 6 meeting; the council scheduled a public hearing at the next meeting to accept formal comment and consider whether to remain in the program.
The transcript does not include the formal notice language or a final cost-benefit analysis for the city; Joe recommended that anyone with technical questions ask Emily Quentin, the staff contact he referenced, at the next meeting.
