Local updates in the time of COVID

Although COVID-19 vaccinations are starting to be distributed, the impacts of the pandemic continue to be felt, and EBCE continues to advance policies and programs focused on relieving the economic burdens felt by residents and businesses in Alameda County.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Gov. Newsom declared a statewide emergency to deal with the outbreak. In response, the state utility commission (CPUC) issued an order in April putting a one-year moratorium on disconnections for residential and small business customers of energy, water and communications utilities. At a February 11 meeting, the Commission extended the order through the end of June, with the option of further extensions after that.

While PG&E manages billing and disconnections, EBCE customers are protected by the order.

“EBCE is in full support of extending the order, since our customers and communities are living through extreme financial hardships right now,” says Feby Boediarto, Regulatory Analyst for EBCE. “We are pushing for policies that could help ease these stresses in both a short and long-term period.”

The order further requires utilities to plan for a transition to bill payment and other support programs after the moratorium ends.

The CPUC is also rolling out a new Arrearage Management Plan or AMP. Under the Plan, low-income customers who owe money on previously unpaid bills would be able to get that debt forgiven if they pay their current utility bills for 12 months, starting April 16.

When the order was issued, Melissa Kasnitz of the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley said, “California’s action will help reverse a long-term trend of increasing disconnections while also limiting the risk of an enormous crisis in disconnections when the moratorium associated with the COVID-19 pandemic expires next April.”

While the Plan is being implemented and promoted by PG&E, EBCE customers enrolled in either the California Affordable Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs are eligible. Customers must also owe at least $500 in arrearages, with some portion of that at least 90 days past due. The program allows up to $8,000 in total debt forgiveness per 12-month period.

More details are available here.

In 2020, EBCE distributed over $2 million in pandemic relief grants to member cities and organizations in Alameda County. Those funds helped pay for energy and utility bills, food security, rent support, and health and wellness; for personal protective equipment for area frontline workers and at-risk community members; and for workforce development programs.

As 2020 came to a close, EBCE staff identified $250,000 within the marketing and local development budgets that were unlikely to be spent before the fiscal year ended. The marketing funds came from lower than expected mailing costs, while the local development funds came from a commercial energy efficiency program that was delayed.

To put the money to use right away, staff proposed — and the board approved — a set of eight awards that expanded seven previous grants to food banks and hospitals, including Children’s Hospital Oakland and the Alameda County Foodbank.

“Our staff is grateful and proud that we can redirect additional resources to the communities we serve–especially when so many people are struggling,” says Alex DiGiorgio, EBCE’s Public Engagement Manager. “We felt the money could best be used back in the community.”