Utility Franchise Work Group

After a very good discussion at the Council's Committee of the Whole this morning, the committee voted to create a new Utility Franchise Work Group to assist the City in preparing for negotiations regarding our electric and natural gas franchise agreements with public utility companies.  I am one of the four Council Members who have been appointed to this Work Group.  

Among its tasks, the work group will develop a set of policy principles that will guide the city in its franchise discussions; review and consider potential legislative and/or other regulatory changes and consider formal support for these changes on the City’s state legislative agenda; and develop a community engagement program.  I am very supportive of having this conversation, and exploring all of our options: renewing the franchise agreements, renegotiating them to include more green energy and energy efficiency, or starting the process to become a municipal power utility.