HomeMy WebLinkAboutA5290 - SO CAL EDISON DISPUTE RELEASE CO-GEN POWER SELL BACK This agreement contains a
non-disclosure clause . Do not
release without City Clerk/City
Attorney consent.
Southern California Edison
Dispute Release
AGREEMENT #A5290
CM signed, 4-28-06
RELEASE —_----. -- —_. .--_.
This RELEASE (this "Release"), dated effective as of April, 2006 (the "Effective
Date"), is entered into by and between the City of Palm Springs (the City), a California
governmental entity and Southern California Edison Company ("SCE"), a California
corporation, (jointly, the "Parties" and individually a "Party").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, SCE provides certain electrical services for the City's facility located at
3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California, known as Service Account number 3-001-
1635-73 (the"SCE Services");
WHEREAS, SCE and the City are parties to an electric power purchase agreement (SCE
QFID 2040) (the "Qualifying Facility Agreement")pursuant to which the City sells to SCE
electric power generated by a City-operated cogeneration facility under the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act, as implemented by the State of California:
WHEREAS, there is a dispute between the City and SCE over payment for the SCE
Services and power purchase payments under the Qualifying Facility Agreement due to a meter
constant error for the period commencing July 1, 1999 and ending on July 1, 2005 (the
"Period'); and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to fully resolve and settle the foregoing dispute on the
terns set forth herein.
STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT
NOW,THEREFORE, in consideration of the payment and releases provided for below
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Parties agree and stipulate to this Release as follows:
1. Release(s). As of the Effective Date and subject to SCE's receipt of the Release
Amount provided for in Section 2 below, and except as otherwise provided in this Release, the
Parties, on behalf of themselves and their respective predecessors, successors and assigns, each
hereby release and discharge the other Patty and each of its respective principals, agents,
representatives, attorneys, stockholders, members, partners, officers, directors, employees,
subsidiaries,parent and affiliated corporations, successors, heirs, executors, grantees, transferees,
and assigns from any and all claims, causes of action, rights, liabilities, damages, costs and
obligations, whether known or unknown, arising from, concerning, or pertaining to (i) metering
associated with the provision of the SCE Services and SCE payments under the Qualifying
Facility Agreement for the Period, (ii) SCE's biillings to the City for SCE Services during the
Period, (iii) SCE's payments to the City under the Qualifying Facility Agreement during the
Period, and/or(iv) the City's obligation to make payment for the SCE Services for the Period.
Law-#1273177 1
1.1. Unlurown Claims; Different Facts. The Parties acknowledge that they
are fully familiar with the facts and assumptions giving rise to this Release, but
agree that this Release shall remain fully effective and binding as to each of them
even if the facts or assumptions turn out to be different from what they now
believe them to be. In addition, as to the matters expressly released herein, the
City and SCE expressly waive the application of California Civil Code Section
1542, which reads as follows:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not
laiow or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the
release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or
her settlement with the debtor."
Notwithstanding this waiver of California Civil Code Section 1542, the Parties
each acknowledge that the mutual releases in this Section 1 are specific to the
matters set forth in the releases and are not intended to create general releases as
to all claims, or potential claims, between the Parties based on matters other than
those specified in the releases.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this Release, the
mutual releases in this Section 1 shall not apply to or foreclose any billing
adjustments, surcharges, or rate changes that are required by law or regulatory
mandate enacted or issued subsequent to the Effective Date of this Release and
which are applicable to all customers or a class of customers.
2. Release Payment. The City shall pay to SCE the sum of$244,702.51 (the
"Release Amount), which Release Amount, when paid, shall be deemed full payment for the
provision of the SCE Services to the City during the Period for service account 3-001-1635-73.
The Release Amount shall be paid over a 36 month period consisting of 35 monthly installment
payments of$6797.29 and one installment of$6797.36. Beginning in July 2006, the City shall
pay the first installment of$6797.29. Noncompliance with this payment arrangement will result
in a default, upon which, the unpaid balance of the Release Amount will be due and payable
immediately.
3. Energy Conservation. The City agrees to work cooperatively with SCE toward
achievement of cost savings through the implementation of energy conservation measures and
energy best practices.
2
4. Persons Designated to Receive Notices.
(a) Representatives and Addresses. All notices required or permitted under
this Release shall be in writing, and shall be delivered in person or sent by certified mail, postage
prepaid,by overnight delivery, or by electronic facsimile transmission with an original sent
immediately thereafter by postage prepaid mail, and properly addressed as follows:
SCE: The City:
Lin Juniper, Region Manager Troy L. Butzlaff,Assistant City Manager
Southern California Edison Company City of Palm Springs
36100 Cathedral Canyon Dr. 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Cathedral City, CA 92234 Palm Springs, CA 92263-2743
Telephone: (760) 202-4231 Telephone: (760) 322-8336
Facsimile: (760) 202-4136 Facsimile: (760) 323-8207
(b) Changed Representatives and Addresses. A Party may change its
representative or address upon written notice to the other Party.
5. No Admissions. The Parties agree that this Release does not constitute an
admission by either Party of any violation of state or local law, ordinance or regulation, or of any
violation of SCE's policies, procedures, or tariffs, or of any liability or wrongdoing whatsoever.
This Release shall not be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of liability or wrongdoing by
either Party, but may be introduced in any proceeding to enforce the Release.
6. Governing Law. This Release will be governed by and construed and enforced
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and to
be performed entirely within California, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
7. Entire Agreement; Drafting of Agreement;Amendments. This Release
embodies the entire understanding between the Parties hereto concerning matters addressed in
this Release and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether oral or written,
express or implied, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein. The
Parties acknowledge that each of them has fully participated in the preparation of this Release,
which shall be deemed the mutual product of the Parties, and therefore no ambiguity shall be
construed in favor of or against either of the Parties on the basis that either of the Parties was
responsible for the ambiguity. This Release may not be amended except in a writing executed by
both Parties.
8. Successors and Assigns. This Release shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
9. Representations. The Parties hereto, and, if applicable, their undersigned agents,
warrant and represent that they have read this Release; that they have conferred with their
attorneys concerning this Release and the terms and conditions thereof, that they fully
understand the terns, conditions, requirements and effect of this Release; and that they have not
previously assigned, or purported to assign,by operation of law or otherwise, any claim that is
the subject of the mutual releases set forth in Section 1 herein. Each of the Parties, and, if
3
applicable, their undersigned agents, warrant and represent that the person signing this Release
on its behalf have full power and/or authority to bind the Party to all terms of this Release.
10, Counterparts and Effective Date. This Release may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be
considered one and the same agreement, and shall be effective as of the Effective Date when it
has been executed by both Parties. Facsimiles of the signatures by the Parties' designated
representatives shall be deemed the equivalent of original signatures for all purposes.
11. Nondisclosure. Subject to the provisions provided below, the Parties agree to
1.eep the teens of this Release confidential. The City agrees to designate this Release as
confidential and/or proprietary and agrees that it will not publish the Release or the terns of the
Release in any press release, newsletter, or other written form for dissemination to the public.
The Parties recognize that this Release is a public record subject to the provisions of the
California Public Records Act (Govermneut Code Section 6250 et seq.) and may be disclosable
to the public. In the event a request for disclosure of the Release is made, the City will promptly
notify SCE in writing of such request. SCE may then pursue, at its sole cost and expense, all
appropriate legal action necessary to maintain the confidentiality of the Release. hi the event
SCE does not initiate such action within ten days of receiving notice of the request for disclosure
of the Release, the City may disclose the Release to the requestor and the provisions of this
section of the Release shall be null and void and no longer enforceable against either of the
Parties.
The Parties further recognize that SCE is a public utility and is subject to the regulatory authority
of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). California Public Utilities Code Section
314 provides, in pertinent part: (a) The commission, each commissioner, and each officer and
person employed by the commission may, at any time, inspect the accounts, books,papers, and
documents of any public utility.
Accordingly, SCE may be required to disclose the terns of the Release to the CPUC. If so, SCE
shall request confidential treatment by the CPUC under California Public Utilities Code Section
583, which provides: "No information furnished to the commission by a public utility, or any
business which is a subsidiary or affiliate of a public utility, or a corporation which holds a
controlling interest in a public utility, except those matters specifically required to be open to
public inspection by this part, shall be open to public inspection or made public except on order
of the commission, or by the commission or a commissioner in the course of a hearing or
proceeding. 4ny present or former officer or employee of the commission who divulges any such
information is guilty of a misdemeanor. " If the CPUC requests disclosure of the Release, SCE
shall promptly notify the City of such request.
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Release to be executed as of the
date written below.
THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
By.
Name Da1vid H . Ready
Title: City Manager
Date: 4/28/2006
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
Ely:
Name: S zr�; svo
Title: /c,C—
Date: p/
APPROV AS TO FORM:
By:
Title:
5