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Power

Supporting Customers at Affordable Housing Properties

Supporting Customers at Affordable Housing Properties
  • Elizabeth Grubb
John Bidwell presenting and Pam Gee translating to Chinese customers at 735 Davis Street

Affordable housing is at the intersection of so many issues in our city: sustainability, racial equity, disability justice, the housing crisis, and more. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is proud to energize the majority of affordable housing properties in San Francisco through the Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF programs. The SFPUC is committed to supporting neighbors in affordable housing by meeting them where they’re at.

In response to the housing shortage, May is recognized as Affordable Housing Month in the Bay Area. The goal of this month is to support and sustain the fight for more affordable housing, while taking care of our community.  

That is why Power’s Customer Engagement Group and SFPUC Communications department developed a customer onboarding strategy centered on hosting in-person, on-site Town Halls for residents living in affordable housing. At these Town Halls, customers can learn about their new electricity provider, walk through billing issues, and get their questions directly answered by SFPUC staff. To help address initial low participation at some housing sites, the team piloted an enhanced customer notifications process which has resulted in a 200% increase in attendance at most Town Halls over the past year.   

Elizabeth Grubb and John Bidwell presenting to customers at Town Hall.

Since Affordable Housing Month in May 2023, SFPUC staff have met with over 220 customers at nine Town Halls in the Mission, Bayview, Tenderloin, and other neighborhoods throughout the City. The SFPUC has met a diverse range of customers – from communities with lots of young families to senior citizens, and formerly unhoused veterans. All of these encounters were filled with meaningful conversation, and the SFPUC was able to provide one-on-one support on bills and questions about energy conservation. The SFPUC discussed available assistance programs with customers who fell behind on their bills, and also helped get customers enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program, which is a 30% monthly discount for Hetch Hetchy Power customers. 

At Maceo May, an affordable housing site on Treasure Island, the SFPUC let residents know about Electrify My Ride, a $1,000 rebate on a new e-bike. Everyone was excited to learn about this program; one resident even showed his e-bike and said he loves commuting with it.  

Learn more about the City’s efforts to expedite new affordable housing development with the Housing for All plan.