BACKGROUND
Roseville adopted the annual hydroelectric adjustment in 2009 to partially mitigate the impact of variations in hydroelectric resources on Roseville Electric Utility’s energy supply costs. The hydroelectric adjustment is calculated based on the difference between average and actual hydroelectric energy generation that Roseville Electric Utility expects to receive for the next fiscal year. In wetter than average years, the hydroelectric adjustment can be a credit on customer bills. In drier than average years, the hydroelectric adjustment is a charge on customer bills. The hydroelectric adjustment applies to all residential and commercial customers.
As stated in the Roseville Municipal Code, the “hydroelectric adjustment will be implemented for all residential and general service electric billings.” The Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 hydroelectric rate increase of 1.95 percent would have been effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Customers are facing unprecedented economic hardships brought forth by the California state-mandated shelter-in-place order on March 19, 2020. Temporarily suspending the hydroelectric adjustment on customer billings from July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020 will lessen the impact of utility bills during the summer months when electricity bills are typically higher.
Suspension of the hydroelectric adjustment is also consistent with Roseville Electric Utility's efforts to assist customers during the COVID-19 emergency. The utility is working closely with customers to discuss payment options, assistance programs, and has recently implemented the Residential Electric Relief Program, which offers bill credits to those most vulnerable.