HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 14, 2017 B-01 SMAGENDA ITEM f3�1
CITY OF LODI
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• COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Provide Direction Regarding Residential Lottery Outcome for Annual Lodi Electric
Utility Solar Rebate Program
MEETING DATE: February 14, 2017
PREPARED BY: Business Development Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide direction regarding the residential lottery outcome for the
annual Lodi Electric Utility Solar Rebate Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On November 2, 2016, the City Council directed staff regarding
rebate caps for the annual Lodi Electric Utility (LEU) Solar Rebate
Program. At that time. Council directed staff to cap residential
rebates at $5,000 per installation.
For the 2017 program, a total of 52 residential rebate applications were received by the January. 31 filing
deadline. LEU uses a lottery selection process in an effort to distribute funds in a fair and equitable
manner and maintains a waiting list for applications that are not chosen. With sufficient funding for 37
new residential solar projects, 15 applications would be placed on a waiting list.
On February 8, 2017, a public lottery was held in Council Chambers with a handful of solar contractors
and customers in attendance. Individual tickets representing projects were placed in a raffle barrel and
randomly selected. Near the end of the process, staff observed a number of tickets had fallen out of the
barrel, compromising the integrity of the lottery. As a result, staff placed all slips back into the barrel and
the lottery process restarted. This resulted in 11 of the applications originally selected to receive a rebate
being placed on the waiting list. To add further complication, prior to the restart of the: lottery selection
process, two attendees left after learning their clients' projects had been selected for the rebate.
LEU's annual program is funded by the California Solar Surcharge (CSS). However, Public Benefits
Funds may also be used for solar incentives, should the Council direct staff to provide funding to one or
more of the applications on the waiting list.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funding is required.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: IrjQltled in FY2016/17 Budget Account No. 50465100.72920
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Business Development Manager
APPROVED:
Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager