COMMISSIONER BALDASSARRE RETIRES

ALAMEDA, Calif., September 1, 2005 — After 8 years of service to the citizens of Alameda on the Public Utilities Board, Commissioner Sebastian Baldassarre has retired. Commissioner Baldassarre first was appointed to the Board in 1997 and served in several capacities over two terms, including that of Vice President and President. At its August meeting, his fellow commissioners passed a resolution commending him, "...for his honest, loyal, faithful, and dedicated service to Alameda Power & Telecom and to the citizens of the City of Alameda."

The resolution cites one of Commissioner Baldassarre's initial actions, the approval of a Telecommunications Business Plan, and that he had been a shepherd of that Plan since its inception. Further beyond his official duties, he committed significant time and personal funds as a private citizen to the battle for Measure A, in essence playing David to our competitor's Goliath, and the change to our City's Charter to allow us to provide telecommunications services.

Almost 2 years prior to the foment in our State's electric industry, he moved to defer implementation of any "direct access" process, thus insulating Alameda from the upcoming volatility of California's energy markets. When others were left in the dark, his efforts helped keep the lights on. And while overall inflation during his tenure was approximately 21%, residential electric rates rose only 2%.

As our representative on the Northern California Power Agency Commission, he assisted in the direction of a joint powers agency with assets in excess of $1 billion.

Many other initiatives came to fruition with his help, including Project EASE, the 4-kilowatt solar photovoltaic project, the Efficient Refrigerator Rebate and Recycle Program, the Balanced Payment Program, the Clean Future Fund, the Metropolitan Area Network, a power portfolio that includes a renewable resource content in excess of 80%, multiple public financings, the Thompson Field Lighting Project, SchoolNET, an expansion of the electric system serving Bay Farm Island, and many more.

Commissioner Baldassarre is a retired employee of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company having worked for that utility in a number of capacities for approximately 30 years. He is also well known as a volunteer for a variety of civic organizations.

The five member Board determines and directs policy for Alameda Power & Telecom. Four members of the Board are appointed by the Mayor and City Council; one member is the City Manager. Meetings of the Board are held regularly on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers and are open to the public.