Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Revenue Agreement C24184 with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, for the provision of California Alternate Rates for Energy 2020 - 2023, in the amount of up to $20,000, for the term commencing upon execution through December 31, 2023; and
2) Authorize the Health and Human Services Agency Director, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement C24184, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: This is a revenue agreement.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On October 26, 2004, The County entered into an Agreement on behalf of California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) to assist PG&E in increasing its customer participation in PG&E’s California Alternative Rates for Energy (“CARE”) Program. The County served as a Community Outreach Contractor by assisting qualified individuals in applying and enrolling in the CARE program. A $12 Capitation fee was paid by PG&E per customer. For each customer enrolled, the County and the customer each received $6 of that capitation fee. That program ended, and the County has not performed the role of assisting clients for approximately ten years.
In this new Agreement, PG&E has offered the County the same opportunity to provide community outreach to eligible PG&E clients and has increased the capitation fee payable to the County to $20 per customer who enrolls in PG&E’s CARE program as a result of the County’s work assisting customers with application for the CARE program.
As part of the Housing Expense Assistance Program (HEAP), HHSA provides financial utility assistance to low income households in El Dorado County, and, staff provides HEAP-eligible households energy education and counseling on ways to conserve home energy costs. Since the County is already meeting with HEAP-eligible clients who may meet the CARES income qualification that could benefit from the CARE Program, PG&E is offering funding for this purpose HEAP Staff will have the ability to income qualify a client for CARE and sign a family up through the online PG&E CARE portal. By signing families up with CARE, families may receive up to a 30% monthly discount off their utility bill. This will help families lower their monthly energy cost and overall home energy burden.
Families will be signed up for the CARES program when they are meeting with staff during their HEAP appointment or during an Outlying Site appointment. HEAP Staff will conduct the CARES application process online through a PG&E CARE portal.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, Agency staff would continue to refer clients to apply for CARE directly through PG&E. However, it would be the sole responsibility of the client to contact PG&E to conduct the application process online, provide income eligibility and provide necessary documents required by PG&E.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 10/26/2004 Agenda item #6.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. This is simply a stipend to offset staff time and result in a Net County Cost reduction of approximately $20,000.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Agreements C24184
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement to the HHSA Contracts unit at 3057 Briw Rd.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities.
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director