REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Silicon Valley Power Three-Year System Growth Plan Strategy, Related Budget Amendment (Five Affirmative Votes Required), and Addition of New Positions
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's Electric Utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), has provided dependable electric service for 125 years. SVP's current peak load is about 600 MW and provides nearly 4,110 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) a year to SVP's customers. Currently, eight additional projects have received entitlements with the City of Santa Clara which represents an increase of 618 MW. There is an additional 114 MW of planned Commercial and Residential development. This represents 732 MW of expansion over the next ten years. In addition, new developments have made initial requests for more than 400 MW of new load. Based on SVP's experience with how new load develops, SVP is preparing for its system peak load to double over the next 10 years and increase the number of substations from twenty-three (23) to up to thirty-three (33) by 2026.
Previous Council Discussion and April 6, 2021 Quarterly Report
On November 2019, SVP management met to discuss the strategic priorities for SVP. At this time, it was identified that the City was going to experience significant continued growth, and SVP needed to develop a capital improvement strategy to meet the City's potential load growth. Staff determined the need to develop a near-term and long-term strategy to accommodate approved growth and develop the necessary infrastructure plan options. Although there were delays due to shifting priorities to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, staff continued to move forward with the growth needs strategy and provided updates to the Council as part of the SVP quarterly report. On April 6, 2021 staff provided a comprehensive review to the City Council of upcoming load growth, capital projects, and next steps.
April ...
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