AB 854 not dead, but dormant for now

SACRAMENTO — An Assembly bill that would change the makeup of the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors and shift the majority of its representation to Riverside County was placed on hold at Thursday’s Assembly Appropriations Committee in Sacramento.

Assembly Bill 854 was designated a two-year bill, meaning no vote will take place this year, but can be brought back in 2020.

IID was represented in Sacramento Thursday by Board President Erik Ortega and Government Affairs and Communications Officer Antonio Ortega.

Erik Ortega called Thursday’s decision good news.

“Today’s action by the State Legislature to hold AB 854 is welcomed news for the Imperial Irrigation District and our ratepayers,” he said. “As we have said all along, this is an important issue to be discussed at the local level.”

The IID board president said sitting down to talk about the district’s continued electrical service in the Coachella Valley with its state representatives, the Coachella Valley Water District, and IID ratepayers to respect all points of view is something it not only supports, but has committed to doing and can be more productive without the threat of AB 854.

“We have communicated our willingness to engage in such discussions with Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and the bill’s author, (Chad) Mayes, and we will meet with them soon,” Ortega said.

Garcia said Mayes is scheduled to meet with IID officials today.

Garcia, D-Coachella, hopes the Imperial Irrigation District and Riverside County can come together with some type of agreement before next year to make the need for a bill a moot point.

Mayes, a Republican Assemblyman from Yucca Valley, introduced the bill on Feb. 20. It would add six seats to the IID Board of Directors, all of which would be filled by Riverside County in an election to be held in 2020.

Garcia said he does not support the bill in its current form, but thinks the Coachella Valley should have representation. While he does not support the board gaining six members, he said he does not want to put a number on how many representatives Coachella Valley should have.

“After speaking with both Imperial Irrigation District and the Coachella Valley Water District, they have both agreed to begin meetings to examine the 1934 agreement and the possibility of extending the electricity service agreement in the Coachella Valley service area,” Garcia said in a press release.

The 1934 agreement mandates IID to provide power service to the Coachella Valley service area.

“The willingness of parties to come to the table demonstrates good faith efforts on all sides to resolve this matter locally without the need for legislation,” Garcia said “Putting AB 854 on a hold will allow for these negotiations to move forward.”

Garcia said he is hopeful that these discussions will lead Imperial Irrigation District to remain as the power provider in the Coachella Valley service area past the current agreement and for many, many, years to come, adding this outcome would be in the best interest of ratepayers in both counties.”

“I will continue engaging to bring everyone together to reach a common, equitable solution that prioritizes the rights and power affordability for ratepayers.” Garcia said.”

District 3 IID Director Bruce Kuhn called Thursday’s decision a small win.

“I would have preferred that it would have been killed,” Kuhn said. “But it gives us time to start some dialogue to bring it to a resolution.”

Kuhn also said he is not surprised with Thursday’s delay.

“I have been annoyed by the whole process,” he said. “What is it they are not getting that we are getting here?”

Robert Schettler with the IID’s communications office, said the news could have been better.

“The fact the bill is still alive is disappointing,” he said.