Logo courtesy of the City of Biggs

BIGGS, CA (MPG) – The Biggs City Council stopped short of deciding this month on the future of the city’s senior electric discount program, directing staff to gather more information on potential outside funding before bringing the issue back for further discussion.

The program, established in 2005, provides a 10 percent discount on residential electric rates for qualifying seniors.

City Administrator Nicolas Gauthier told the council the program was intended to do more than lower utility bills.

“It was kind of a two-part goal,” Gauthier said. “Number one is providing financial relief, obviously with a 10 percent discount. But number two, it was also to meet our energy efficiency goals as a city.”

Gauthier said participants were required not only to qualify as senior citizens but also to enroll in a weatherization program designed to make homes more energy efficient through improvements such as sealing leaks, upgrading appliances and reducing energy consumption.

The city has recently operated under the belief that the weatherization provider was no longer available, effectively pausing the program for new applicants while allowing existing participants to continue receiving the discount.

Gauthier said further review found the county program remains active.

“They’re still very much operating,” Gauthier said. “They still have the income thresholds; they still update it every year to match both federal and state low-income thresholds.”

Gauthier said the discovery prompted him to bring the issue back to the council because the city’s discount program was never formally discontinued by resolution. As a result, council members were asked whether they wanted to continue the program and reopen it to new applicants or formally end it while grandfathering current participants.

Gauthier said 17 residents currently receive the discount, reducing electric utility revenue by about $2,900 annually. If the program is reopened and participation expands, he estimated the annual cost to the city could increase to between approximately $5,000 and $7,000 for roughly 43 qualifying individuals in the community.

Mayor Bo Shepard said the city should resolve ongoing utility rate and budget concerns before reopening the discount program.

“I'm really not for keeping this going,” Shepard said, while acknowledging he would probably benefit from the discount. "Until we get our house in order and our rates lined out, I would not be for it.”

Other council members favored keeping the program, noting that some residents struggle to pay utility bills and that the program's cost to the city is relatively small.

Rather than take immediate action, the council agreed to explore whether greenhouse gas reduction funds or other energy-related programs could offset the cost of the discount.

Gauthier said he would research potential funding sources and return with recommendations before the council considers the program's future.