The Board voted to withdraw from the Salton Sea Authority and refocus efforts on the Salton Sea Conservancy for managing habitat restoration and air quality projects. Water conservation programs are performing strongly, though the 2026 fallowing program may be cut in half without additional federal funding, with staff estimating these efforts could add 2–3 feet to Lake Mead's elevation if fully funded.
The Board approved major substation projects in the Coachella Valley, using innovative funding partnerships with cities, counties, and developers who will reserve capacity for 20 years. The district maintained its AA- bond rating, securing favorable financing terms at 3.84% interest on about $107 million in bonds. New infrastructure models provide flexibility to the development community while addressing rising electrical capacity demands in the region.
The board approved $100 million in electric refunding revenue bonds to finance system improvements while saving ratepayers $312,000 annually, and authorized a $10 million transmission line upgrade to enhance export capacity. Significant concerns were raised about mobile home park residents facing doubled or tripled electricity bills due to billing transparency issues and inability to access rate assistance programs.
The 2025 deficit irrigation program concluded successfully with $30 million in payments to be completed by October's end, while two major storms caused an estimated $12-15 million in electrical infrastructure damage requiring extensive repairs. Most critically, the Colorado River faces a challenging outlook with Lake Powell potentially dropping below critical elevations that could trigger reduced water deliveries to the lower basin as low as 6 million acre-feet.
The board reviewed their 2024 power source disclosure showing continued reliance on natural gas generation. Directors discussed potential changes to governance policies ahead of December elections, particularly whether to maintain higher voting thresholds for selecting leadership positions. The district is actively pursuing FEMA reimbursement for extensive storm damage that required replacing approximately 300 power poles, marking their first major test of the federal assistance process.
