The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors, during its regular meeting of Tuesday, March 10, unanimously opposed recently introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 2629,  by Assembly Member Chad Mayes (42nd Assembly District).

If enacted, the legislation would require the California Energy Commission to produce a report to the Legislature that recommends options for the district’s continued electrical service to its customers in the Coachella Valley. The rights to provide those same customers with electrical service were part of a broader 99-year compromise agreement reached between local governments IID and the Coachella Valley Water District in 1934. That agreement will reach its full term in 2033.

The introduction of AB 2629 is yet another attempt to bypass a locally driven process in favor of a top-down approach from a state agency and raises serious concerns for the district, said IID Board President Norma Sierra Galindo.

“We intend to continue to oppose any action by outside interests who wish to insert themselves into our governance structure and policy-making responsibilities,” Galindo said. “But IID’s customers can rest assured that we are making this issue a top priority. We will do all we can to maintain the local authority and responsibility that comes with serving low-cost, efficient and reliable service to all of our customers.”

Last February, Assembly Member Mayes introduced similar legislation, AB 854, which was ultimately held in committee. However, since then IID has met with the assembly member on numerous occasions to keep him apprised of the local discussions that have taken place between the district and key stakeholders in the Coachella Valley, including the CVWD, to hear directly from them their priorities and needs relating to their continued electrical service.

As a result, IID has initiated an options analysis of its own and plans to convene stakeholders to share information and solicit feedback in the very near future.