In October of 2023, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail, a 10-mile-long trail in the Peninsula Watershed that has served over 18,000 guests since its opening in 2003. The Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail (FCRT) has played a crucial role in introducing Bay Area nature lovers to the beautiful ecosystems and carefully operated reservoirs in the Peninsula Watershed. The FCRT program provides recreational access to an area of the Peninsula Watershed that was closed to the public prior to the trail’s opening.

SFPUC boosts its commercial washer rebate amount from $500 to $5,000 to support laundromats.

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the many contributions and accomplishments of the Hispanic and Latino/a/e/x community. Vera Dueñas-Argueta works in the Customer Service Bureau at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Working with Customer Service, she helps customers get set up with their utilities services and provides them assistance in helping them potentially lower their bills. She talked about the importance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and how younger Latino/a/e/x students can begin a career in the utilities industry.

Working within the Internal Communications team at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Marina Garcia helps tell the story of the agency to all of the employees. From writing articles to sending critical information to the agency, Garcia is proud of the work her and her team accomplishes.

Public Power Week, celebrated in the first full week of October in the United States, is more than just a date on the calendar. It's a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible impact of community-owned utilities and the benefits that public power provides to 50 million people across the country. This year, we are reflecting on our own public power story and what it means to embrace public power’s values of affordability, local control, and community reinvestment.

Those who have experienced the western coastline of San Francisco will agree, Ocean Beach is a community treasure. But it is also a challenging environment, impacted by storm-driven waves and suffering from climate-induced erosion of the coastal bluffs. South of Sloat Boulevard, erosion has also undermined and damaged beach parking lots, stormwater drainage facilities and the Great Highway itself. Storms continue to threaten critical wastewater infrastructure and limit public shoreline access and recreational opportunities.

Public Power Week recognizes community-owned utilities, like the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and all the benefits they bring to the communities that they serve. Some of these benefits include affordability, a commitment to clean energy, and accountability to the public.

It is not a surprise to see PG&E once again asking its customers to dig into their own pockets to pay for its mistakes. It’s how the utility wriggled out of its first bankruptcy two decades ago, and how the company emerged from its most recent bankruptcy in 2020.