City of Columbus - File #: 2704-2023

• File #: 2704-2023
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 9/22/2023
• In control: Public Utilities Committee
• On agenda: 11/6/2023
• Final action: 11/9/2023
• Title: To authorize the expenditure of up to $2,485.24 from the Electricity Grants Fund to fulfill approved customer applications to the payment relief program; to authorize the City Auditor to cancel appropriation within the Electricity Grant Fund; to authorize the transfer of funds in an amount up to $2,485.24 between grants within the Electricity Grant Fund and to appropriate these funds. ($2,485.24)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
11/9/2023	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
11/8/2023	1	MAYOR	Signed
11/6/2023	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
11/6/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
10/30/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Read for the First Time

Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to transfer funds from the American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) award for the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant, G602100, in the amount of $2,485.24, to G601800, the 2017 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant and authorizes the expenditure of said funds. This is a transfer within Fund 6316, Electricity Grants Fund.

The EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant program was instituted by AMP to return unused funds to participating members, recognizing EcoSmart Choice participating communities that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through the promotion of environmentally focused, community-based grant projects. Funds are unused if market renewable energy certificate (REC) prices are lower than anticipated. Last year, the City had 97,333,022.5 kWh enrolled in the program, or 97,334 RECs. AMP approved the Division of Power’s (DOP) plan to use the 2022 grant award funds to offer smart thermostats at no or low cost to customers in connection with the ongoing Enhanced Meter Project (670500-100000). Expenditures of prior year EcoSmart Grant Funds contributed to DOP’s SMART Street Lighting Project and payment relief programs.

ORD 1219-2018 authorized the acceptance of the 2017 EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant. The Division of Power’s application included a power payment relief program for economically disadvantaged customers and appropriated $147,684.00 for this purpose. ORD 1309-2020 reallocated funding from other EcoSmart Choice grants into the payment relief program. The program invoices monthly and is nearing completion. However, between the most recent invoices, customer applications were approved in amounts greater than the available funding remaining on the grant. The Department intends to honor these applications prior to closing out the grant, and AMP approved transferring the necessary funds from the 2022 EcoSmart Choice Award for smart thermostats.

2. FISCAL IMPACT
Fu...