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Power

Hetch Hetchy Power Recognized for Reliable Public Power with Prestigious RP3 Designation

Utility field services staff in SFPUC's Power Enterprise
  • Donald Pollitt II

At the Engineering and Operations Conference on April 1, the SFPUC's public power utility, Hetch Hetchy Power, earned a Reliable Public Power Provider Gold Designation from the American Public Power Association. This prestigious recognition highlights the SFPUC’s commitment to providing reliable and safe electric service to the San Francisco community.

The Reliable Public Power Provider designation, also known as RP3, is awarded to public power utilities that excel in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. These utilities must demonstrate adherence to sound business practices and a steadfast commitment to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity. With this achievement, the SFPUC joins an elite group of more than 250 public power utilities nationwide that hold an RP3 designation. The designation is valid for three years.

Danny Phung, Asset Manager in the Power Enterprise, accepting the APPA RP3 Gold Designation award.
Danny Phung, Asset Manager in the Power Enterprise, accepting the APPA RP3 Gold Designation award.

“This is a source of pride for us,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “This is the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people who really care about powering our community. But this designation is not a final destination. We are committed to improving our operations and service to further benefit our customers. We’re also making progress on expanding public power so that all San Franciscans can benefit from the cleaner, reliable, and affordable electricity we provide.”

As part of our mission to deliver clean and affordable energy to San Francisco, the SFPUC operates two major power programs: Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF. Hetch Hetchy Power generates and delivers 100% greenhouse gas-free electricity to over 6,300 customer accounts. This includes municipal buildings and facilities, such as San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco International Airport, schools, libraries, and the Muni transit system. Additionally, Hetch Hetchy Power supplies electricity to select commercial and residential developments, including affordable housing sites.

Complementing Hetch Hetchy Power’s efforts since its launch in 2016, CleanPowerSF has been a leader in providing San Francisco residents and businesses with renewable electricity at competitive rates. The program procures clean energy from various producers, including through long-term contracts, and now serves more than 380,000 customer accounts. CleanPowerSF has played a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use in San Francisco by 93% compared to 1990 levels.

In addition to providing clean energy, the SFPUC’s power programs have also delivered substantial cost savings to customers. In 2023 alone, SFPUC Power collectively saved customers more than $170 million on electric bills compared to for-profit utility PG&E. Together, these programs meet over 75% of the electricity demand in San Francisco, underscoring SFPUC’s role as a leading provider of sustainable and affordable power.

The RP3 designation serves as a testament to the SFPUC’s dedication to maintaining excellence in reliability, safety, and innovation. Looking ahead, the SFPUC remains committed to enhancing its operations and ensuring a sustainable energy future for all San Franciscans. 

Congrats to the Power team on this notable achievement!