S.D. WANTS AT LEAST $80M FOR UTILITIES AGREEMENT

Faulconer calls for 20-year deal, wants multiple bids

Walt Disney Co. officials added their voices to a chorus of politicians, business owners and tourism industry leaders Tuesday to press California’s governor to let Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen, vowing to adopt specific health precautions to help protect guests from the COVID-19 pandemic.

If allowed to reopen, Disney officials suggested the Anaheim parks would add hand-washing stations, offer attendance by reservation only, add a team of designated employees to enforce face-covering requirements, mandate temperature checks for all guests, expand the use of mobile food ordering and put stickers on the ground to remind parkgoers to keep their distance

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After months of debate about the city of San Diego’s franchise agreement that is set to expire in four months, outgoing Mayor Kevin Faulconer today released the requirements a utility must meet to win the right to provide electric and gas services within the city limits.

Faulconer’s formal “Invitation to Bid” calls for a new agreement lasting 20 years and stipulates the prospective winner to pay at least $80 million upfront — $70 million for the electric franchise and $10 million for the gas franchise.

“San Diego has the largest, most valuable electric franchise and second-largest gas franchise in the state, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get the most bang for our buck with this agreement,” Faulconer said in a statement.

The current franchise agreement, held by San Diego Gas & Electric, has been in place since 1970 but expires Jan. 17. Faulconer’s office has looked to create a competitive process among other energy companies in the hopes of driving a better bargain for the city.

Thus far, three companies have expressed interest in winning the exclusive use of public right-of-ways for transmission and distribution in San Diego, as well as the right to install and maintain wires, poles, power lines, and underground gas and electric lines — SDG&E, Orange County-based Indian Energy and Berkshire

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