HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2302-12099.Approval of an Updated Residential Winter Gas and Electric Rebate Program to Mitigate
Extraordinarily High January 2023 Customer Bills, Including Repeal and Replacement of
the Gas Rebate Program and Budget Appropriation adopted on March 27, 2023 and
Approval of Budget Amendments in the General Fund, Electric Fund, and Gas Fund, at a
Total Cost of up to $2,468,385; CEQA: Not a project under CEQA Guidelines sections
15378(b)(4) and (5).
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: April 10, 2023
Staff Report:2303-1209
TITLE
Approval of an Updated Residential Winter Gas and Electric Rebate Program to Mitigate
Extraordinarily High January 2023 Customer Bills, Including Repeal and Replacement of the Gas
Rebate Program and Budget Appropriation adopted on March 27, 2023 and Approval of Budget
Amendments in the General Fund, Electric Fund, and Gas Fund, at a Total Cost of up to
$2,468,385; CEQA: Not a project under CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(4) and (5).
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Repeal the City Council actions on March 27, 2023 taken as part of agenda item 10, both
a gas rebate program and budget amendments.
2. Approve a residential natural gas rebate program of up to $1,761,550 intended to
mitigate extraordinarily high January 2023 natural gas costs. This gas rebate program
supersedes the gas rebate Council approved on March 27, 2023. The new rebate
program redistributes funds from customers who terminated service to targeted
programs for rate assistance, arrearages, and other hardships.
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3. Approve a residential electric rebate program of up to $706,835 intended to mitigate
extraordinarily high January 2023 electricity costs
4. Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Appropriation (requires a 2/3 majority vote). These
appropriation actions supersede the actions City Council approved on March 27, 2023.
a. In the General Fund by:
i. Increasing the Transfer Out expense appropriation to the Gas Fund by
$1,761,550 and
ii. Increasing the Transfer Out expense appropriation to the Electric Fund by
$706,835
iii. Decreasing the Budget Stabilization Reserve by $2,468,385.
b. In the Gas Fund by:
Jan. 2023 Gas Residential
Bill Range
% of Total
Residential Gas
Cu stomers
# of Resident ial
Gas Customers
Flat
Rebate
Amount
Cost
Greater than $800 10.1%2,134 100.00$ 213,400$
$400 to $800 34.7%7,322 85.00$ 622,370$
Les s than $400 55.2%11,654 70.00$ 815,780$
S ubto t al 100.0%21,110 1,651,550$
Rate As s is tance Program 470 100.00$ 47,000$
Arrearage > 180 days 280 100.00$ 28,000$
Winter Rebate Application 350 100.00$ 35,000$
S ubto t al 1,100 110,000$
Tot al Gas Rebate 1,761,550$
Jan . 2023 Electric
Residential Bill Range
% of Total
Residential
Electric
Cust o mers
# of Residential
Elect ric
Customers
Flat
Rebate
Amount
Total Cost
Greater than $500 2.0%492 65.00$ 31,980$
$300 to $500 6.7%1,691 45.00$ 76,095$
Les s than $300 91.3%22,938 20.00$ 458,760$
Subtotal 100.0%25,121 566,835$
Rate As s is tance Prog ram 650 100.00$ 65,000$
Arrearage > 180 days 400 100.00$ 40,000$
Winter Rebate Application 350 100.00$ 35,000$
Subtotal 1,400 140,000$
Tot al Electric Rebate 706,835$
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i. Increasing the Transfer In revenue estimate from the General Fund by
$1,761,550, and
ii. Decrease Customer Revenue estimate for residential customers by
$1,761,550.
c. In the Electric Fund by:
i. Increasing the Transfer In revenue estimate from the General Fund by
$706,835, and
ii. Decreasing for Customer Revenue estimate for residential customers by
$706,835.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a result of the extraordinary high energy prices many residential customers in Palo Alto are
suffering the economic burden of extreme and unexpectedly high gas and electric bills. City
Council directed staff on February 13, 2023 to propose a rebate to gas and electric residential
customers of up to 20% based on the highest month of bills. In response, staff analyzed January
2023 residential natural gas and electric bills with service periods of January 1, 2023 through
January 31, 2023.
The natural gas rebate program would be funded by a General Fund transfer to the Gas Fund of
up to $1,761,550. The electric rebate program would be funded by a General Fund transfer to
the Electric Fund of up to $706,835. The total of the gas and electric rebate program amounts is
up to $2,468,385.
Based on feedback from the Finance Committee and City Council, the rebate programs were
designed to provide meaningful rebates to all residential natural gas and electric customers.
Additional financial assistance will be provided to residents enrolled in the Utility’s Rate
Assistance Program and/or have utility bill arrearages of greater than 180 days. The total amount
of all of the Winter rebate programs described in this report will be up to 20% of the total amount
of Jan 2023 residential gas and electric bills, or $2,492,019.
BACKGROUND
Natural Gas Utility
Natural gas market prices were extremely high in January 2023; much higher than last year’s
winter prices, and the highest since the 2001 energy crisis. Gas commodity prices for January
2023 were five times higher than January 2022 gas prices, tripling some customers’ gas bills. The
February and March 2023 gas commodity rates are $1.26 and $0.77 per therm; significantly lower
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than January 2023 rate of $4.00 per therm. CPAU’s monthly gas commodity and volumetric rates
are available on the Utility’s residential rates page.1
Gas customers across California are experiencing similar impacts. Gas market prices can fluctuate
greatly from month to month due to trade issues, weather, and supply or production challenges.
The unusually high prices this winter have been attributed to historically cold weather, high gas
demand, low regional gas storage levels, constraints on gas supplies flowing into California, and
an increased reliance on natural gas in the electric power sector as a result of the ongoing
drought’s impact on hydroelectric supplies. CPAU purchases natural gas for its customers at
market prices, and does not control those market prices, nor mark-up the cost of the gas
purchased on behalf of its customers.
On March 27, 2023, staff presented two gas rebate options to Council2
The table below shows natural gas rebate amounts under both options. The total cost to the
General Fund of the rebates under either option will be up to $1,771,586.
Option 1: Consumption-based rebate for all January 2023 residential natural gas customers
equivalent to 20% of their January 2023 gas bill. The average rebate would range
from $2.39 for customers with gas bills less than $20, to $609.50 for customers with
gas bills greater than $2,000.
Option 2: Flat rebate of $80.78 for all January 2023 residential natural gas customers, based
on an average January residential gas bill of $403.90. The average residential gas
customer used 76.1 therms in January 2023 and was billed $403.90. $80.78
represents 20% of the average residential January 2023 gas bill.
1 Utility’s Residential Rates https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/utilities/rates-schedules-for-
utilities/monthly-gas-commodity-rates.pdf
2 March 27, 2023 City council Staff Report 2303-1034
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemMiniPacket?id=1834
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Jan. 2023 Residential Gas Rebate Amounts and Costs
Electric Utility
From July 2019 through April 2022 the City did not increase retail electric rates, to mitigate the
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents and businesses. In that time supply and
distribution expenses increased $50 million (30%). The expense increases combined with
pandemic-related electricity sales revenue declines created a $43 million shortfall in FY 2022.
Some of this was related to the impacts of extreme drought and rising electricity market prices,
and in response, the City activated the hydroelectric rate adjuster (E-HRA) of 10% in April 2022.
In 2023, the City began increasing base rates to begin recovering costs, starting with a 5% rate
increase on July 1, 2022. In late 2022 electricity market prices increased at unprecedented levels,
leading to the need to increase the hydroelectric rate adjuster on January 1, 2023 an additional
20% to match the cost of replacing hydroelectric power with market power. As a result, since
April 2022, retail electric rates have increased by approximately 35%.
On March 21, 2023, staff presented two electric rebate options to Finance Committee3 (in
Attachment A to Item #4 on the Committee Agenda). The table below shows electric rebate
amounts under both options. The total cost to the General Fund of the rebates under either
option will be up to $720,433.
Option 1: Consumption-based rebate for all January 2023 residential electric customers
equivalent to 20% of their January 2023 electric bill. The average rebate would range
3 March 21, 2023 City Council Staff Report
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meeting/attachment/1085.pdf?name=Attachment%20A%20Residential%20E
lectric%20Rebate%20Options
Jan. 2023 Gas Bill
Range
Number of
Accounts
% of Total
Accounts
Total Gas
Retail Bill
Charges;
Jan. 2023
Average
Jan. 2023
Gas Bill
Cost of Option 1;
20% Rebate
Amount
Cost of Option 2;
Flat $80.78
Rebate
Option 1;
Average
Customer
Rebate at 20%
Level
Option 2;
Flat Rebate
< $20 996 4.5%11,885$ 11.93$ 2,377$ 80,457$ 2.39$ 80.78$
$20 - $49.99 1,019 4.6%36,822$ 36.14$ 7,365$ 82,315$ 7.23$ 80.78$
$50 - $99.99 1,849 8.4%138,420$ 74.86$ 27,684$ 149,362$ 14.97$ 80.78$
$100 - $149.99 1,478 6.7%184,444$ 124.79$ 36,889$ 119,393$ 24.96$ 80.78$
$150 - $199.99 1,440 6.6%250,927$ 174.25$ 50,185$ 116,323$ 34.85$ 80.78$
$200 - $299.99 2,850 13.0%715,232$ 250.96$ 143,046$ 230,223$ 50.19$ 80.78$
$300 - $399.99 2,735 12.5%954,365$ 348.95$ 190,873$ 220,933$ 69.79$ 80.78$
$400 - $499.99 2,557 11.7%1,146,966$448.56$ 229,393$ 206,554$ 89.71$ 80.78$
$500 - $599.99 2,184 10.0%1,196,926$548.04$ 239,385$ 176,424$ 109.61$ 80.78$
$600 - $699.99 1,623 7.4%1,049,637$646.73$ 209,928$ 131,106$ 129.35$ 80.78$
$700 - $799.99 1,050 4.8%784,075$ 746.74$ 156,815$ 84,819$ 149.35$ 80.78$
$800 - $899.99 704 3.2%596,422$ 847.19$ 119,284$ 56,869$ 169.44$ 80.78$
$900 - $999.99 473 2.2%447,375$ 945.82$ 89,475$ 38,209$ 189.16$ 80.78$
$1,000 - $1,499.99 786 3.6%924,556$ 1,176.28$ 184,911$ 63,493$ 235.26$ 80.78$
$1,500 - $1,999.99 110 0.5%185,125$ 1,682.95$ 37,025$ 8,886$ 336.59$ 80.78$
> $2,000 77 0.4%234,657$ 3,047.50$ 46,931$ 6,220$ 609.50$ 80.78$
Grand Total 21,931 8,857,834$403.90$ 1,771,567$ 1,771,586$
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from $2.08 for customers with electric bills less than $20, to $774.37 for customers
with electric bills greater than $2,000.
Option 2: Flat rebate of $27.05 for all January 2023 residential natural gas customers, based
on an average January residential electric bill of $135.26. The average residential
electric customer used 609.2 kWh in January 2023 and was billed $135.26. $27.05
represents 20% of the average residential January 2023 electric bill.
Jan. 2023 Residential Electric Rebate Amounts and Costs
In addition to the Winter Rebate Program, the City is providing free access to the Home Efficiency
Genie program, sharing energy saving tips, enrolling eligible customers to the rate assistance
program, and offering special payment plan arrangements for those who need extra time paying
their winter energy bills for six to eight months.
ANALYSIS
Natural Gas Rebate Program
Staff analyzed January 2023 residential natural gas bills for the service period from January 1,
2023 through January 31, 2023. CPAU had a total of 21,931 residential gas customers in January
2023. The total January 2023 residential gas retail commodity charges were $8.9M, compared
to $4.8M in December 2022 when the commodity cost was $1.42 per therm. Gas residential bills
for January 2023 were as follows:
Jan. 2023 Electric
Bill Range
Number of
Accounts
% of Total
Accounts
Total Electric
Retail Bill
Charges;
Jan. 2023
Average Jan.
2023 Electric
Bill
Cost of
Option 1;
20% Rebate
Amount
Cost of
Option 2;
Flat $27.05
Rebate
Option 1;
Average
Customer
Rebate at 20%
Level
Option 2;
Flat Rebate
< $20 2,243 8.4%23,384$ 10.43$ 4,677$ 60,673$ 2.08$ 27.05$
$20 - $49.99 4,522 17.0%160,527$ 35.50$ 32,105$ 122,320$ 7.10$ 27.05$
$50 - $99.99 6,655 25.0%489,647$ 73.58$ 97,930$ 180,018$ 14.72$ 27.05$
$100 - $149.99 4,751 17.8%584,921$ 123.12$ 116,984$ 128,515$ 24.62$ 27.05$
$150 - $199.99 3,071 11.5%531,536$ 173.08$ 106,307$ 83,071$ 34.62$ 27.05$
$200 - $299.99 3,180 11.9%769,615$ 242.02$ 153,923$ 86,019$ 48.40$ 27.05$
$300 - $399.99 1,190 4.5%407,777$ 342.67$ 81,555$ 32,190$ 68.53$ 27.05$
$400 - $499.99 521 2.0%231,091$ 443.55$ 46,218$ 14,093$ 88.71$ 27.05$
$500 - $599.99 206 0.8%111,495$ 541.24$ 22,299$ 5,572$ 108.25$ 27.05$
$600 - $699.99 102 0.4%66,361$ 650.60$ 13,272$ 2,759$ 130.12$ 27.05$
$700 - $799.99 68 0.3%50,836$ 747.59$ 10,167$ 1,839$ 149.52$ 27.05$
$800 - $899.99 40 0.2%33,678$ 841.95$ 6,736$ 1,082$ 168.39$ 27.05$
$900 - $999.99 19 0.1%17,714$ 932.29$ 3,543$ 514$ 186.46$ 27.05$
$1,000 - $1,499.99 38 0.1%45,879$ 1,207.34$ 9,176$ 1,028$ 241.47$ 27.05$
$1,500 - $1,999.99 9 0.0%15,750$ 1,750.02$ 3,150$ 243$ 350.00$ 27.05$
> $2,000 16 0.1%61,950$ 3,871.86$ 12,390$ 433$ 774.37$ 27.05$
Grand Total 26,631 3,602,161$ 720,433$ 720,369$
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On March 27, 2023, the City Council voted to approve unanimously an alternative hybrid
calculation for Gas rebates with flat rebate amounts for different tiers of user bills. In addition to
the flat rebate amount, Council approved additional funding for customers enrolled in the City’s
Rate Assistance Program 4(RAP) or who have gas bill arrearages greater than 180 days.
Customers who terminated gas service from the City as of March 27, 2023 are not eligible for the
gas rebates. Approximately $60,000 was redistributed to additional program such as RAP,
arrearages, and other hardships through the winter rebate application, increasing the flat rebate
amount from $50 to $100.
Overall, the program costs were not to exceed the 20% rebate for all January 2023 residential
natural gas customers. The tables below outline staff’s revised calculation for Council approval.
Rebates will automatically be posted on customers’ accounts - both the flat rebates and the
additional support for customers in the Rate Assistance Program or with bill arrearages greater
than 180 days, as well as other customers in need, as described below.
Alternative Hybrid Jan. 2023 Residential Gas Rebate Amounts and Costs
Jan. 2023 Residential Gas Additional Assistance Rebates and Costs
4 Rate Assistance Program https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities/Residential/Utilities-
Assistance/Rate-Assistance-Program-RAP
Jan. 2023 Gas
Resident ial Bill
Range
% of Tot al
Residential Gas
Customers
# of Resident ial
Gas Customers
Greater than $1,000 4.4%973
$500 to $1,000 27.5%6,034
$150 to $500 43.7%9,582
Les s than $150 24.4%5,342
Jan. 2023 Gas Residential
Bill Range
% of Total
Residential Gas
Customers
# of Residential
Gas Customers
Flat
Rebate
Amount
Cost
Greater than $800 10.1%2,134 100.00$ 213,400$
$400 to $800 34.7%7,322 85.00$ 622,370$
Les s than $400 55.2%11,654 70.00$ 815,780$
Subtot al 100.0%21,110 1,651,550$
Jan. 2023 Gas Residen tial
Bill Ran g e
% of Total
Residential Gas
Cu stomers
# of Residential
Gas Cust o mers
Additional
Rebate
Amo unt
Cost
Rate As s is tance Program 470 100.00$ 47,000$
Arrearag e > 180 days 280 100.00$ 28,000$
Winter Rebate Application 350 100.00$ 35,000$
Sub total 1,100 110,000$
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Utilities will also create a new Winter Rebate application for customers who are not eligible under
RAP or who do not have arrearages greater than 180 days. Active residents with hardships such
as reduction of employment, loss of a wage earner, or high medical bills can apply for an
additional $100 rebate which will be credited to their utility bill. The Winter Rebate application
can be found at: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities/Residential/Utilities-
Assistance.
Electric Rebate Program
Due to concerns raised by residents of their high electric bills this winter, staff analyzed January
2023 residential electric bills for the service period of January 1, 2023 through January 31, 2023.
CPAU had a total of 26,631 residential electric customers in January 2023. Total January 2023
retail residential electric charges were $3.6M, compared to $2.9M in December 2022. residential
bills for the service period of January 2023 were as follows:
On March 21, 2023, the Finance Committee requested a hybrid program that would provide a
more meaningful rebate across all customer classes and offer additional rebate assistance to
customers with low-income or other hardships be calculated and return to the Committee April
4th. However, with the recent direction from the City Council on March 27, 2023, staff has
recalculated an alternative hybrid electric rebate in alignment with the gas utility rebate. In the
interest of quickly responding to these high utility costs incurred by customers, staff has brought
this rebate program to the full Council for approval. The recommended rebate program mirrors
the tiered flat rate rebates for all customers based on bill size, and provides additional support
for those customers with low income or other hardships.
Overall, the program costs were not to exceed the 20% rebate for all January 2023 residential
utility customers. The tables below outline staff’s revised calculation for Council approval.
Rebates will automatically be posted on customers’ accounts both the flat rebates and the
additional support for customers in need.
Jan. 2023 Residential Electric Rebate Amounts and Costs
Jan. 2023 Electric
Resident ial Bill Range
% of Tot al
Resident ial
Electric
Custo mers
# of Residential
Elect ric
Cu stomers
Greater than $1,000 0.2%63
$500 to $1,000 1.6%435
$150 to $500 29.9%7,962
Les s than $150 68.2%18,171
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Jan. 2023 Residential Electric Additional Assistance Rebates and Costs
Next Steps
Below is table of the combined gas and electric rebates if a residential customer has both gas and
electric utility services. City staff will calculate the individual residential rebate amount based on
the number of services, RAP enrollment, and arrearage status. The rebates will be applied on
customer’s April or May 2023 utility bill as “Winter Rebate” depending on their billing schedule.
Customers who apply for the Winter Rebate hardship program will receive a subsequent rebate
after their application is approved.
A customer with a low January bill (less than $400 gas bill and less than $300 electric bill) will
receive a rebate of $90; they may also qualify for an additional $400 rebate if they are enrolled
in RAP and have arrearages greater than 180 days. A customer with a high January bill (greater
than $800 gas bill and greater than $500 electric) will receive a rebate of $165, they may also
qualify for an additional $400 rebate if they are enrolled in RAP and have arrearages greater than
180 days.
Jan. 2023 Elect ric
Residential Bill Range
% of To tal
Resident ial
Electric
Customers
# of Residen t ial
Elect ric
Customers
Flat
Rebat e
Amoun t
Total Cost
Greater than $500 2.0%492 65.00$ 31,980$
$300 to $500 6.7%1,691 45.00$ 76,095$
Les s than $300 91.3%22,938 20.00$ 458,760$
Subtotal 100.0%25,121 566,835$
Jan. 2023 Elect ric
Residential Bill Range
% of Tot al
Resid ential
Electric
Cu stomers
# of Resid en tial
Electric
Customers
Addit ional
Rebate
Amo u n t
Tot al Co st
Rate As s is tance Program 650 100.00$ 65,000$
Arrearag e > 180 days 400 100.00$ 40,000$
Winter Rebate Appli cation 350 100.00$ 35,000$
S ubt otal 1,400 140,000$
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FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Staff recommends a total appropriation of $2,468,385 in the FY 2023 General Fund; a transfer
to the Gas Fund of $1,761,550; a transfer to the Electric Fund of $706,835; and offset by a
reduction of $2,468,385 in the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve.
The General Fund transfers will support expected lower customer revenues in the Gas Fund
budget by $1,761,550 to provide gas rebates in the form of bill credits for customers and
expected lower customer revenues in the Electric Fund by $706,835 to provide electric rebates
for residential customers also in the form of bill credits for customers.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Council’s approval of updated residential Winter gas and electric rebate programs, repeal of the prior
gas rebate program, and associated budget appropriations does not meet the California Environmental
Quality Act’s definition of a project, under Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines
Section 15378(b)(4) and (5), as a governmental fiscal and administrative activity which will not cause a
direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
APPROVED BY:
Dean Batchelor, Director Utilities
Staff: Dave Yuan, Strategic Business Manager
Jan 2023 Residential Bill # of
Accounts1
% of Total
Accounts Cost Gas Rebate Electric
Rebate
Combined
Rebate
High Billl 2,626 5.7%245,380$ 100.00$ 65.00$ 165.00$
Med/High Bill 9,013 19.5%698,465$ 85.00$ 45.00$ 130.00$
Low/Med Bill 34,592 74.8%1,277,540$ 70.00$ 20.00$ 90.00$
SubTotal 100.0%2,221,385$
Rate Assistance Program 1,101 110,100$ 100.00$ 100.00$ 200.00$
Arrearage > 180 days 669 66,900$ 100.00$ 100.00$ 200.00$
Winter Rebate Application 700 70,000$ 100.00$ 100.00$ 200.00$
SubTotal 247,000$
Total Cost 2,468,385$
1 One customer may be grouped in multiple bill tiers and qualify for both electric and gas rebates