CalCCA Statement on CPUC Approval of Controversial ‘Exit Fee’ Reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2018
Press Contact: Leora Broydo Vestel
(415) 999-4757 | leora@cal-cca.org
CalCCA Statement on CPUC Approval of Controversial ‘Exit Fee’ Reforms
Commission Decision Shifts Costs to Departing Load Customers
Concord, Calif. – The California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) today released the following statement from Beth Vaughan, executive director of CalCCA, after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to approve controversial revisions to the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA).
“CalCCA is very disappointed that the Commission approved changes to the PCIA that favor the investor-owned utilities and will stifle competition from locally-run CCAs,” Vaughan said. “However, we remain undeterred in our efforts to support a new PCIA that lowers costs for all consumers and fosters a competitive environment that offers communities more energy options. We will consider all avenues going forward.”
The PCIA is an “exit fee” charged by the state’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to CCA and other departing load customers to compensate for electricity generation built or contracted in the past at prices that are now above-market.
Today’s action by the CPUC will result in a sharp increase in PCIA rates for CCA customers. This devastating blow to the flourishing CCA movement in California could deter further market entry by CCAs. At a minimum, the action will impair CCAs’ abilities to accelerate the state’s decarbonization and economic justice policy goals and to better tailor electric service to meet the needs of local communities.
CalCCA thanks Administrative Law Judge Stephen Roscow for putting forth common sense, legally-supportable reforms to the PCIA based on the hearing record, that would have provided a more balanced result. The rejection of Roscow’s proposal by the Commission is at the expense of both CCA and IOU ratepayers in California.
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About CalCCA: The California Community Choice Association supports the development and long-term sustainability of locally-run Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) electricity providers in California. CalCCA is the authoritative, unified voice of local CCAs, offering expertise on local energy issues while promoting fair competition, consumer choice and cost allocation and recognizing the social and economic benefits of localized energy authorities. There are currently 19 operational CCA programs in California serving an estimated 8 million customers in 2018.
For more information about CalCCA, visit www.cal-cca.org.
Press release is here.
