Summary

Utilities board approves projects, aid changes

RiversideJan 12, 20262 min read

At a glance

Quick context to catch up fast.

The Board of Public Utilities approved or recommended several utility-related actions, including a $1.56 million reliability project for Circuit 1313, a $268,975 fuel gas compressor maintenance contract, a $2.83 million federal grant application for backup generators at five critical water sites, and higher SHARE assistance limits for customers.

Projects mentioned

Browse all related coverage for the main local project pages tied to this summary.

Reliability Improvement Project

Committees mentioned

Open the committee coverage hubs tied to this summary.

Board of Public Utilities

Topics discussed

Budget & TaxEnvironmentalHousingUtilities

View official document

Was this summary helpful?

Your feedback helps us prioritize what to improve next.

What this means

The board backed spending and contract actions aimed at keeping water and electric service reliable and preparing for emergencies. It also supported raising some customer assistance amounts through the SHARE program, which helps with deposits, urgent notices, and monthly bills. Several items were moved forward for City Council approval, including the tree shade coupon campaign, property management services, and the emergency generator grant application. One agenda item was removed, and the board also agreed to cancel some 2026 regular meetings and hold one special meeting instead.

Key decisions

Follow the major takeaways from this briefing.

Approved a five-year, $268,975 services agreement with Northwest Industrial Engine and Compressor Company for fuel gas compressor maintenance at the Riverside Energy Resource Center.
Recommended City Council approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tree Power Program Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign in the amount of $478,584.
Approved Work Order 2501761 for the Circuit 1313 Reliability Improvement Project with a total capital expenditure of $1,560,000.
Recommended City Council authorize a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application for up to $2,829,300, including a 25% local match of $943,100, to fund five backup generators and automatic transfer switches at five critical water infrastructure sites.
Approved increasing SHARE deposit and urgent notice assistance from $150 to $250 and aligning monthly assistance increases with planned water and electric rate increases for calendar years 2025 through 2028.
Recommended City Council approve a five-year property management agreement for the Mission Square Office Building with approximately $958,300 in costs, with one optional five-year extension.
Approved cancelling the regularly scheduled Board of Public Utilities meetings of May 25, October 12, November 23, and December 28, 2026, and holding a special meeting on November 30, 2026.
Received and filed the legislative update covering measures affecting energy affordability, greenhouse-gas emissions compliance, market governance, wildfire mitigation, PFAS regulation, water-supply planning, and housing streamlining.
Removed the holding tank cost reimbursement item for 3625 Placentia Lane from the agenda.
Reviewed the Board of Public Utilities Standing Rules and Policy Guide and asked staff to return with a redline of recommended changes.

Timeline & follow-ups

Action items flagged by the community.

No follow-ups have been shared yet. Add one in the community board below.

Meeting information

Details and records from this meeting.

Board of Public Utilities

Jan 12, 2026, 6:30 PMCity Hall - Art Pick Council Chamber 3900 Main Street, Riverside Live Webcast at: www.RiversideCA.gov/Meeting Originally Published: December 30, 2025completed

Agenda

MISSION STATEMENT The City of Riverside is committed to providing high quality municipal services to ensure a safe, inclusive, and livable community. The City of Riverside Public Utilities Department is committed to the highest quality water and electric services at the lowest possible rates to benefit the community. For virtual Public Comment, two options are available: VIA TELEPHONE: Call (951) 826-8688 Press *9 to be placed in the queue to speak. Individuals in the queue will be prompted to unmute by pressing *6 to speak. VIA ZOOM: Use the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92696991265 Select the "raise hand" function to request to speak. An on-screen message will prompt you to "unmute" and speak. Public comments are limited to 3 minutes. Please follow along via the telephone or Zoom options above to ensure you call in at the appropriate time for your item(s). Public comments regarding items on this agenda or any matters within the jurisdiction of the Board can be submitted by eComment at www.RiversideCA.gov/Meeting until two hours before the meeting. Email comments to City_Clerk@riversideca.gov * * * * *
PAGE BREAK
6:30 P.M.
CHAIR CALLS MEETING TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
To comment on any matters within the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities, you are invited to participate via telephone at (951) 826-8688. Press *9 to be placed in the queue to speak. Individuals in the queue will be prompted to unmute by pressing *6 when you are ready to speak. To participate via ZOOM, use the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92696991265, select the "raise hand" function to request to speak. An on-screen message will prompt you to "unmute" and speak.
COMMUNICATIONS
Declaration of conflicts of interest on any agenda items (Board of Public Utilities)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of December 8, 2025
Approve cancellation of regularly scheduled Board of Public Utilities meetings May 25, October 12, November 23, and December 28, 2026, due to holidays, and hold special meeting on November 30, 2026
Recommend City Council approve Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tree Power Program Free Shade Tree Coupon Campaign for $478,584 from Public Benefits Residential Tree Power Program Account and authorize issuance of purchase orders and change orders to Parkview Nursery, 4377 Chicago Avenue; Parkview Nursery, 3841 Jackson Street; and Louie’s Nursery, 18550 Van Buren Boulevard based on variable product demand of each nursery for Tree Power Program’s Free Shade Tree Coupon campaign in collective amount of $478,584
Approve Work Order 2501761 for total capital expenditure of $1,560,000 from Public Utilities Electric Capital Account for Circuit 1313 Reliability Improvement Project
Approve Request for Proposal 2482 Agreement with Northwest Industrial Engine and Compressor Company, Riverbank, for $268,975 from RERC Maintenance-Generating Plants Account for fuel gas compressor maintenance through December 31, 2030 - Riverside Energy Resource Center
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
Receive and file legislative update to include multiple measures affecting energy affordability, climate compliance, and market governance with direct operational impact on Riverside Public Utilities, including legislation addressing affordability and greenhouse-gas emissions compliance, regional market governance, wildfire mitigation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulation, water-supply planning, and housing streamlining
Recommend City Council approve Request for Proposal 2498 Agreement with G&E Real Estate Management Services, Inc., doing business as Newmark, Irvine, for approximately $958,300 from Mission Square Property Management Account for property management services for Mission Square Office Building for over five-year term, with one five-year extension option - 3750 University Avenue
Recommend City Council approve submission of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMPG) application to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for $2,829,300, with 25 percent cost-share local match of $943,100 from HMGP Grant-Generator Project-RPU Account for design and construction of five backup generators and automatic transfer switches at four critical well sites and one critical booster station
Recommend City Council approve agreement with Robert Allen Shepherd which formalizes terms of 1999 letter agreement for holding tank cost reimbursement for estimated annual cost of $7,000 from Public Utilities Water Productions & Operations Professional Services Account in addition to $88,777.47 that has been reimbursed to date for holding tank cost reimbursement until time site can be connected to public sewer system - 3625 Placentia Lane
Approve increase to Sharing Households Assists Riverside's Energy (SHARE) deposit/urgent notice assistance from $150 to $250, effective from end of State of California’s COVID-19 Emergency on February 28, 2023, and continue SHARE monthly assistance increases in alignment with planned water and electric rate increases through 2028
Board of Public Utilities Standing Rules and Policy Guide review
BOARD MEMBER/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Systematic reporting on meetings, conferences, and seminars by Board members and/or staff
Items for future Board of Public Utilities consideration as requested by members of the Board. Only items that fall within the powers and duties of the Board of Public Utilities as set forth in the City Charter and/or the Riverside Municipal Code will be agendized for future discussion.
GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
WA-12 Agricultural Service Water Rate report - November 30, 2025
Accounts Receivable & Delinquencies as of October 31, 2025
Water Supply Report - October 31, 2025
Power Supply Report - October 2025
Electric Contractor and Consultant Panel updates for October 2025
Southern California Public Power Authority Agenda and Minutes
Upcoming City Council and Board Meetings
Electric/Water Utility Acronyms
* * * * * * * * * The next regular Board of Public Utilities meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026
For live Webcast of the Board Meeting: RiversideCA.gov/Meeting
* * * * * * * * * Sign up to receive critical information such as unexpected road closures, utility outages, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. www.RiversideAlert.com

Utilities board approves projects, aid changes

At a glance

Projects mentioned

Committees mentioned

Topics discussed

What this means

Key decisions

Timeline & follow-ups

Meeting information

Board of Public Utilities

Agenda

Documents from this meeting

Recent documents

Civic leadership