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.

As a Public Relations Officer for the Power Enterprise at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Elisa Rodriguez Furey is committed to helping by building awareness and education about CleanPowerSF’s options for clean and affordable energy to all San Franciscans. She has teamed up with her colleagues on critical initiatives for the Power Enterprise such as the Our City Our Power Campaign, affordable housing customer engagement, and clean energy discount programs to residents. “As a community developer, engagement, and communications professional, I find the utilities industry so interesting and a great opportunity to engage with our constituencies in so many different ways,” she said.