FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 4, 2021

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Following through on his commitment to engage the public on the future of energy in San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria announced today that he and the City Council have completed a rigorous community outreach process on the Citys gas and electricity franchises, the results of which show that residents value environmental protection above all else.

It comes as no surprise to me that what San Diegans care most about when thinking about our energy future is reducing pollution and combatting climate change, Mayor Gloria said. The results of the outreach campaign that my colleagues on the City Council and I have just completed will be incredibly valuable in guiding our efforts going forward. Im grateful to members of the public for their participation in this critically important conversation.

Between Jan. 23 and Feb. 24, Mayor Gloria and members of the City Council partnered on 13 community forums on the Citys gas and electricity franchise agreements, spanning all nine Council districts, providing an opportunity for San Diegans throughout the city to make their voices heard.

On a parallel track, the City launched an online survey that drew 1,378 responses. According to the survey, respondents have a high degree of satisfaction with the current state of gas and electricity services in San Diego and value reducing pollution above anything else.

Fire prevention, decreased pollution and continuity of service top the list of respondents desired outcomes for electricity services while decreased pollution, continuity of service and energy-efficiency programs that reduce demand are the primary outcomes for gas services.

Meanwhile, the City Councils Environment Committee provided an additional chance for San Diegans to provide input on the energy franchises.

Representatives of the Mayors office will give a presentation on the outreach campaign during the Environment Committee meeting that starts at 6 p.m. tonight.

Read community feedback here

Background:

SDG&E has held exclusive franchises with the City to provide gas and electric service since 1920. The current franchise agreements, established in 1970, were set to expire on Jan. 17, 2021. Under a process created by the previous mayoral administration, SDG&E was the lone bidder for a new franchise.

However, Mayor Gloria, in consultation with City Attorney Mara Elliott, determined that the bid was unresponsive to the minimum requirements set forth in the Invitation to Bid (ITB). Consequently, the Mayor cancelled the ITB process and initiated talks with SDG&E on extending the current franchises.

On Dec. 30, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayors request to extend the franchise through June 1, 2021.As he contemplates a new ITB,Mayor Gloria is deeply committed to creating a transparent, fair and competitive process that leads to new franchise agreements that protect ratepayers, allow the City to reach its climate goals, provide equitable access to environmental benefits for all communities, and include the flexibility to explore all options for how we supply energyin the future. He expects to release a new ITB in March.

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