HomeMy WebLinkAbout16, COVID-19 Relief Efforts
WORKSHOP ITEM #16 Relief Efforts19-Review of District’s COVIDRelief Efforts19-Review of District’s COVID May 20, 2020
Review of District’s COVID Community•Customers•Board•Staff•19 crisis-District has been responding to the COVID•BACKGROUND / HISTORY 19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief
Efforts-
Review of District’s COVID line Board meetings-Conducting on•Closing District office to public•Prioritizing work••Implementing operational changes•Practicing physical distancing, hygiene,
and personal responsibility•Maintaining critical energy and water services to the community•Focus on mission critical work and employee safety•BACKGROUND / HISTORY 19 Relief Efforts-Review
of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-
Review of District’s COVID Financial resources and contingencies •Adequate resources and support•Dedicated and experienced staff•Positioned the District to respond to emergencies•Improving
meetings as we gain experience•Multiple ways to make public comment•Public can observe meetings via streaming video or participate with Zoom•line meetings per State requirements-Moved
to on•Board steps to continue District governance•BACKGROUND / HISTORY 19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-
Review of District’s COVID meeting th Approved by the Board at the April 15•19 Customer Relief Program-COVID•Working individually with customers•Waived for residential and business customers•ate
penalties and interestL•19 crisis-Suspended during the COVID•payment-Disconnects for non•Helping those in need•BACKGROUND / HISTORY 19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief
Efforts-
BACKGROUND / HISTORY needCould serve ~550 primary residential customers in •Board reallocated $275,000 to the program for total budget of $330,000•expendedstay at home orders OR until
the reallocated funds are in effect for 30 days after California (or locally) has ended the Remains •Continues to defer RES but will provide benefits later•Leverages existing program
and Sierra Community House (SCH) capacity•and those with other documented loss of 25% of incomeApplies to customers who have filed for State or Federal unemployment •back for existing
participants)-lookmonth -Increases the payment assistance to two months bill credit (12•in a meaningful and immediate way for primary residential customersExpands temporarily the District’s
existing Payment Assistance Program •19 Customer Relief Program-District’s COVID•19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID
NEW INFORMATION 2019all of last month than More applications processed since Board action •customer participationramping up capacity to process dramatic increase in District and SCH
•Partnering with the Town of Truckee and Truckee Chamber of Commerce•Website•Traditional media and outreach•Targeted social media campaign•Press release•KTKE interview/radio spots•District
and SCH aggressively promoting temporary relief program•19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID
NEW INFORMATION SCH increased staffing this week to support customer demand•Weekly run rate being impacted by SCH capacity to process applications•~1/3 of the reallocated budget has
been committed to date•19-business has been impacted by COVID~5% of applicants are primary residential customers whose local •~40% demonstrated loss of income•~60% filed for unemployment•~95%
of applicants are citing loss of 25% of income•10 calls per day-8•Over 100 in the cue at SCH•Over 120 applications processed•19 Customer Relief Program results to date-COVID•19 Relief
Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID
NEW INFORMATION and closely tracking the level of participation and budget expendituresStaff recommends continuing with the temporary relief program for now •term economic impacts remain
unknown-Duration of restrictions and long•Only partial lifting of restrictions to date•stay at home orders OR until the reallocated funds are expendedin effect for 30 days after California
(or locally) has ended the Remains •Duration of temporary relief program•19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID
NEW INFORMATION Seeking compelling solutions for the District•State, and local level and what shortfalls may existUnderstanding the business relief programs being offered at the Federal,
•sister utilities19 programs being offered to business customers by -Studying the COVID•Working within the constraints of funding sources and budget•Investigating potential business
relief programs•Working individually with customers•Waiving all late penalties and interest•19-hardship due to COVIDHelping District’s business customers who are suffering a financial
•19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID
FISCAL IMPACT Sufficient funds exist for this reallocation•Not charging staff time to the program•Approximately 1/3 committed to date•Programbudget to the Payment Assistance $275,000
of the FY20 Board approved Conservation reallocated 19 Customer Relief Program -temporary COVIDDistrict’s The •19 Relief Efforts-Review of District’s COVID19 Relief Efforts-Review of
District’s COVID
RECOMMENDATION Provide feedback and direction•-Review of District’s COVID-Review of District’s COVID