This letter was addressed to Loretta Lynch, president of the Public Utilities Commission
Dear Loretta,
I am writing to request your assistance and that of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to avoid the interruption of educational services to the students of California.
During a time when we are all attempting to increase the number of days and instructional minutes provided to our students, it is ironic that the energy crisis is stealing precious hours by interrupting meaningful instruction, and in extreme cases, causing some schools to shorten the school day and send students home early.
I am gravely concerned about the potential closure of schools as a result of the energy crisis. As you know, many classrooms have no windows or only one small window in the door and therefore have no natural lighting in which to conduct classes–ironically, this was typically done to save energy. Some schools have small cafeterias and many more do not even have a single multipurpose room where children can gather. As a result, students have been sent home early–too often to houses that lack adult supervision. There are two areas where I believe the Commission can help.
First, I request your assistance in intervening with the local power companies to recognize schools as essential services just as they have with other entities, such as television stations, and therefore, exempt them from being subjected to energy outages. Schools are entrusted with the health and safety of the students in their care as well as with their educational advancement. In addition to the need to carry out uninterrupted instructional programs, the safety of the students cannot be compromised by losing lights, power, and heat while they are on campus. In some schools, the toilets do not flush unless the electricity works. If television stations are essential services then, surely, schools are as well.
If schools cannot be totally exempted from power outages, I request that any interruption of power to a grid containing school be implemented after regular school hours when most students are not on campus. The evening peak demand hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., coincide with the times that most students are not on campus; this would be the best time to shut down power in the schools if necessary.
Second, some school districts that have not suffered an actual interruption of power have had to cut the instructional day and send students home early or curtail school tutorials to save energy because the unexpected, exorbitant cost of energy bills has already depleted their annual energy budget.
One such program that has caused this problem is the Southern California Edison Schedule 1-6 Program, PUC Sheet No. 20177-E. School districts that entered Southern California Edison’s 1-6 Interruptible Program several years ago have been paying a fairly stable rate. They have budgeted their energy costs based on several years of experience with the program. Now, suddenly in the middle of the school year, the rates have increased more than a hundredfold.
I request your assistance in working with us to devise strategies to provide financial assistance to school districts so they do not have to close schools solely to pay their energy bills. As you know, school districts must carefully budget their financial resources prior to the start of the school year. While they budget a specified amount as a reserve, the reserve is intended to address one time, unanticipated emergencies.
School districts need immediate financial relief to address this year’s unexpected rise in energy bills, but they also need multi-year solutions for the rising cost of energy, such as a special rate structure for schools. It is unconscionable that students are being deprived of instructional time during the school day simply because the school district does not have the financial resources to keep the heat and lights on.
Any assistance the PUC can provide would greatly benefit the students of California. I would appreciate you prompt attention to this matter. If you feel I must seek relief through the legislative process, please inform me and I will proceed in that direction at once. If you have any questions, please contact me or my Chief Deputy, Scott Hill, at 916.657.2644 at your earliest convenience.
This crisis weighs heavy on us all, but surely the health, safety, and education of our six million school children invites special consideration.
Delaine Eastin
State Superintendent of Public Instruction