01-14-2019 BPU RPT 14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PJ A r F R F N F R c v L I F E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES W& Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: JANUARY 14, 2019 ITEM NO: 14 SUBJECT: INCREASE INCENTIVE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 TREE POWER PROGRAM AND ISSUE PURCHASE ORDERS TO PARKVIEW NURSERY, 4377 CHICAGO AVENUE; PARKVIEW NURSERY, 3841 JACKSON STREET; AND LOUIE'S NURSERY, 18550 VAN BUREN BOULEVARD IN A COLLECTIVE AMOUNT OF $485,000 ISSUES: Approve an increase in the incentive for the Tree Power Program from $25 to $35 per tree for both the Tree Power Rebate Program and the Tree Power Program's Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign and approve the issuance of purchase orders to qualified vendors to implement the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Tree Power Program Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign in a collective amount for $485,000. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: Approve an increase in the incentive for the Tree Power Program from $25 to $35 per tree for both the Tree Power Rebate Program and the Tree Power Program's Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign; and 2. Approve the issuance of purchase orders to Parkview Nursery, 4377 Chicago Avenue; Parkview Nursery, 3841 Jackson Street; and Louie's Nursery, 18550 Van Buren Boulevard and make changes to the purchase order amounts based on the variable product demand of each nursery for the Tree Power Program's Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign in a collective amount of $485,000. BACKGROUND: The Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) Tree Power Program has been successfully operating for over 15 years and is responsible for over 200,000 trees being planted in the City of Riverside. This is an energy efficiency program which provides rebate incentives to RPU's electric customers who plant shade trees in locations adjacent to their homes or businesses to help conserve energy and save on summer cooling costs. The program has two components including the Tree Power Rebate Program and the Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign, which together provide RPU customers the opportunity to receive a maximum of six trees annually. RPU is required by state law to establish energy efficiency goals and administer energy efficiency programs funded through the state -mandated Public Benefits Charge. The Tree Power Program has consistently helped RPU achieve its energy savings goal for a minimal cost. During Fiscal Year 2017/18, The Tree Power Program represented approximately 2.5% of the Public Benefits program budget but accounted for over 10% of RPU's reported energy savings. RPU conservatively estimates an annual energy savings of 164 kilowatt hours (kWh) per tree.