Logo courtesy of the City of Biggs

BIGGS, CA (MPG) – The Biggs City Council approved several measures last week to strengthen the city's compliance with state requirements, including adopting an updated renewable energy procurement plan after discovering a required update had been overlooked for five years.

Gauthier acknowledged the city had fallen behind on one of its required state filings.

“All cards on the table," Gauthier said. "This paperwork was due in 2021. Something happened, it got dropped. So the city has been out of compliance for five years.”

Gauthier said the Northern California Power Agency identified the oversight and worked with the city to prepare the required update. He said the state granted Biggs flexibility because of the city's size and unique electric portfolio.

"The city is going to be fine," Gauthier said. "The state would still like us to make sure we do this every five years."

The council adopted the updated Renewable Energy Resources Procurement and Enforcement Plan, which formally establishes the city's renewable energy purchasing policies and enforcement procedures required under California's Renewable Portfolio Standard program. Gauthier said the action is administrative, carries no fiscal impact and ensures the city's program reflects current state requirements.

Gauthier said the updated plan replaces an earlier version adopted by the council and incorporates changes in state renewable energy laws, including long-term contracting requirements and provisions allowing publicly owned utilities to limit costs under certain circumstances while remaining in compliance.

The council also approved continued participation in the North Sacramento River Corridor Interconnected Surface Waters planning effort, a regional effort involving multiple agencies working to coordinate groundwater management.

Gauthier said the current proposal establishes a framework for participating agencies to share information, conduct joint analyses, coordinate communication, pursue mutually beneficial projects and resolve issues as the planning process moves forward.

"They want to know we're taking baby steps," he said. "We need to know, is everyone okay with this being the framework?"

He said participating agencies will add more detail to the framework during future meetings as work continues on the regional groundwater management effort.

The council also approved a resolution clarifying its intent when adopting 2024 water rate adjustments.

Gauthier said city officials discovered language in the original ordinance that could be interpreted as applying different annual increases to metered and flat-rate customers. After reviewing recordings of the original council meeting, public notices and consulting with the city attorney, officials determined the council intended both customer groups to receive the same annual increases.

He said customers have been billed according to that intent since 2024, meaning the resolution does not change rates or generate additional revenue.

"This is just good housekeeping to keep ourselves clear and transparent with the public,” Gauthier said.

The council approved all three compliance-related actions unanimously.