LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - During the Jan. 15 Live Oak City Council meeting’s public comments, resident Cruz Mora requested an update about the city’s wells’ re-testing to determine the level of PFAs (also called forever chemicals) in the water system. 

Another resident submitted a written comment expressing concern about the city’s contract for backflow prevention services, stating that it has led to “significant financial implications for the city taxpayers.” He suggested that the cost be billed to the individual homeowners where the repairs and maintenance are needed: “The current policy of subsidizing these maintenance costs for a small number of water users with the taxes of the larger community is not only inequitable but also contrary to state requirements.”

City Council then considered the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the implementation of an Electric Power Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program, allowing Live Oak to join Pioneer Community Energy. 

Pioneer Community Energy is a community choice aggregation that provides local control over the electricity supply, with the primary goal of offering lower rates to residents and businesses within its member jurisdictions. It is a Joint Power Authority that includes Loomis, Auburn, Colfax, Grass Valley, Lincoln, Nevada City, Placerville, Rocklin and the counties of Placer and El Dorado. 

Pioneer Community Energy can purchase electricity and sell it to its user at a lower rate than what is offered by PG&E but PG&E still transmits and delivers the energy through its existing infrastructure. The customers will receive just one bill, issued by PG&E, with distribution costs going to PG&E and the energy costs to Pioneer Community Energy. 

Pioneer Community Energy’s communications director Gina Stassi-Vanacore spoke to City Council, explaining the benefits of joining the community choice aggregation and laying out the expected timeline. Pioneer Community Energy offers stable and competitive rates, local control, legislative and regulatory influence and advocacy, local jobs and local power supply resources, and specialized programs. As a result, Stassi-Vanacore said that members generally see at least 20% savings on their energy costs. She added that there is no cost to Live Oak to join Pioneer Community Energy and no costs for the customers. And customers can opt out and remain with PG&E. 

In December, Pioneer Community Energy’s governing board unanimously approved an expansion of its services to include the counties of Butte, Nevada, Sutter and Tuolumne; the cities of Chico, Oroville, Live Oak, Sonora and Yuba City; and the town of Paradise. Live Oak, Yuba City and Sutter County shared the cost of an Impact Assessment Study to evaluate the potential benefits of joining Pioneer Community Energy and city staff recommended approval of the new ordinance. 

If approved by the Live Oak City Council, Pioneer Community Energy will submit an implementation plan in March and then begin the process of securing the additional energy resources needed to cover the new members. The expected service launch would be October 2027. 

Councilmember Bob Woten said he supports the proposed timeline since it will allow plenty of time to inform and educate residents about the change so they will know what to expect. 

Councilmember Ashley Hernandez said she was in full support of the program. 

“The more choice our residents have is huge and the cost savings could be really impactful to everyone’s budget,” Mayor Jeramy Chapdelaine said.

City Council voted unanimously to approve the amendment and authorize the expansion process through the Public Utilities Commission. 

During city manager items, Interim City Manager Rick Crabtree provided an update about the PFAs testing: 

“Unfortunately, we just got the results back and we repeated the positive results.” 

Crabtree said the new results are consistent with the previous levels and a full report will come before City Council at a February meeting. 

Interim Public Works Director Jeff Nelson said that the first test showed levels at 3.3 in Well 2 and the new test was at 3.4, which is still well below the action level of 20.

Councilmember Woten asked what the levels are when the water comes out of a faucet. Nelson explained that Well 2 mixes with Well 1 before distribution. After that blending process, the final result is 2.1, which is not considered a health threat level and does not legally require any action or notification. 

“No one is happy about having these types of things in their water but you know, it’s such a low level and people should not be alarmed,” Nelson said.

Vice-Mayor Aaron Pamma said that he appreciated the update because it is important for the public to hear accurate information, rather than pick up misinformation online. 

Councilmember Hernandez said she would like to see a comparison of the levels in the water with the levels encountered during other activities, such as visiting a fast-food restaurant. She said that residents are unfortunately frequently exposed to PFAs in their day-to-day activities, so it would be helpful for residents to understand those exposure levels to help reduce public fear. 

Councilmember Nancy Santana asked if shutting down Well 2 and digging a new one would remove the PFAs from the water supply or if PFAs were found in other wells. Nelson said that lower levels of PFAs were found in some other wells, so determining the source of the PFAs will be part of the ongoing evaluation. Nelson said that more details, as well as potential mitigation options, will be presented at a future meeting. 

The next Live Oak City Council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5. 

Jan. 25 Clarification, Pioneer Community Energy's Communications Director Gina Stassi-Vanacore said, "Our Board of Directors approved rates with an average discount over PG&E of 10% for 2025, with some members having savings greater than 20% on the generation portion of their bill.