Memorandum
Date: July 8, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Benjamin Rickelman, Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: 10:30 A.M. - Consideration of a Presentation by Sonoma Clean Power on a Feasibility Study for Sonoma Clean Power Lake County Expansion
Executive Summary:
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), a non-profit that purchases electricity generation for customers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, while PG&E continues to maintain and operate all the poles, wires and substations of the grid.
There are currently 25 operational CCA programs in California serving more than 14 million customers. The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Ordinance 3206 on June 23, 2015, to authorize implementation of a CCA program, with the goal of reducing energy costs. Lake County re-evaluated CCA service in 2019, when it requested SCP to study the feasibility of expanding service to Lake County. SCP’s study, which was released in March 2020, found that it would be unable to offer competitive service to Lake County residents at the time due to the expected cost of PG&E’s Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) fee on Lake County relative to the PCIA fee on SCP’s existing customers. PCIAs are required so customers leaving the Investor-Owned Utility (PG&E) do not burden remaining utility customers with costs which were incurred to serve them.
Market and regulatory conditions have improved since the Feasibility Study in 2020. SCP reengaged with the Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2025, regarding the unincorporated areas of Lake County potentially joining SCP and its GeoZone initiative. The Board of Supervisors authorized staff to request a new feasibility study from SCP. The cities of Lakeport and Clearlake also expressed interest in joining SCP. Subsequently, SCP’s Board directed staff to conduct a feasibility study of SCP expansion to unincorporated Lake County, the City of Clearlake, and the City of Lakeport.
The updated feasibility study has a base market scenario of Lake County customers having total bill savings of 4.2% to 12.9%. This feasibility study assumes power for the expansion to Lake County will be first procured on the spot market with the overall power costs very sensitive to market price and assumes existing regulatory conditions. There is a sensitivity analysis in the Feasibility Study that models out the impact of differing energy prices. Next steps for a Q2 2027 SCP service start date in Lake County are outlined in the Feasibility Study.
Geof Syphers and staff from Sonoma Clean Power will be present to answer any questions from your Board and provide further information on potential next steps.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☒ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Informational report. Consider Direction to staff, as appropriate.