Consumer choice, consumer protection, and local control
What is Community Choice Aggregation?
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) allows local governments to pool (or aggregate) their electricity load in order to purchase and/or develop power projects on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts. Established by law in seven states thus far, CCA is an energy supply model that works in partnership with the region’s existing utility, which continues to deliver power, maintain the grid, provide consolidated billing and other customer services.
How Community Choice Works
Why CCA?
What CCAs Are Doing
CCAs are making good on their commitments to invest in new renewable energy facilities throughout California. To date, CCAs have contracted for more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new clean generation capacity, mostly through power purchase agreements with terms of 20 years or more. See map below for project locations.
2,269 Megawatts
New Solar Panels
915 Megawatts
New Wind Turbines
11.5 Megawatts
New Biogas Generation
240 MW/788 MWh
New Energy Storage
CCAs: Putting Renewable Energy on the Map in California
Community Choice Aggregation in California
CCA: Power in Numbers
CCA Programs and Choices
Apple Valley Choice Energy
Apple Valley Choice Energy (AVCE) began serving customers in 2017 in the Town of Apple Valley, located in San Bernardino County. AVCE’s default energy supply option, “CoreChoice,” is 35% renewable and is offered at competitive rates. A premium option, “MoreChoice,” is 50% renewable and is supplied by solar, wind, and geothermal resources. AVCE also offers a net energy metering program, “YOURchoice,” which pays a compensation rate for excess solar energy of 6 cents per kilowatt hour.
CleanPowerSF
CleanPowerSF (CPSF) started service in 2016 and supplies power to the city of San Francisco. They offer a 40% renewable power option (Green), and a 100% renewable option (SuperGreen).
Clean Power Alliance
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) initiated service in 2018 and will serve approximately one million customers across 31 communities throughout Southern California including unincorporated Los Angeles County, unincorporated Ventura County and the cities of: Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo, Claremont, Carson, Culver City, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Paramount, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Simi Valley, South Pasadena, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, West Hollywood, and Whittier. Each member agency will select a default energy option to begin service.
East Bay Community Energy
East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) launched in 2018 within its service area of Alameda County and 11 cities therein: Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, San Leandro, and Union City. EBCE offers three clean electricity services: Bright Choice (similar to PG&E power but at a 1.5% discount), Brilliant 100 (greener than PG&E at the same cost) and Renewable 100 (100% renewable energy for an additional 1 cent per kilowatt hour).
King City Community Power
King City Community Power (KCCP) began providing CCA service in 2018 to residents and businesses in King City in Monterey County. KCCP’s rates will average a half percent below PG&E’s current rates.
Lancaster Choice Energy
Lancaster Choice Energy (LCE) is the first stand-alone city CCA in California and the first CCA in Southern California Edison (SCE) territory. LCE serves the City of Lancaster exclusively and offers three power options: CLEARChoice, which is 35% renewable sourced energy; SMARTChoice, which offers 100% Green-e certified renewable wind power; and PERSONALChoice, a Net Energy Metering program for solar customers, which provides a buyback rate for net-generation that is 50% higher than SCE. Additionally, LCE’s 2018 targeted portfolio content is 60% carbon-free.
MCE
MCE, the first CCA program in California, began serving customers in 2010. MCE (formerly known as Marin Clean Energy) serves residents and businesses in Marin and Napa county, and the cities and towns of Benicia, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. MCE offers three renewable energy service options — Light Green 50% renewable energy, Deep Green 100% renewable energy, and Local Sol 100% locally-produced solar energy from a new, solar farm in Novato in Marin County.
Monterey Bay Community Power
Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) begam serving residents and businesses in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties in 2018. MBCP procures power from carbon-free sources including wind, solar, and hydroelectric. The default option, MBchoice, matches PG&E’s rates while providing a 3% annual rebate. MBgreen+ allows customers to redirect their rebate to support the procurement, and eventually the development of local renewable resources located within our tri-county region. MBshare allows customers to donate their rebate to fund local non-profit projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions and support low income ratepayers.
Peninsula Clean Energy
Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) launched in 2016 and serves San Mateo County and all the cities therein: Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco and Woodside. PCE offers a 50% renewable power option (ECOplus) and a 100% renewable power option (ECO100).
Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy
Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy (PRIME) began serving the city of Pico Rivera in 2017. PRIME offers three different options for customers to choose from. Prime Power is the default option that residents are automatically enrolled in, which offers 50% renewable energy, Prime Future is their 100% renewable energy plan which residents may opt up to, and Prime Partner is available for those who generate solar/wind power. PRIME’s net energy metering program for rooftop solar provides a compensation rate of 6 cents per kilowatt hour for excess power.
Pioneer Community Energy
Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer) launched in 2018 in unincorporated Placer County and the cities of Auburn, Colfax, Loomis, Lincoln and Rocklin and offers a 33 percent renewable power supply. Pioneer’s residential E-1 rates provide for a 7.5% discount compared to PG&E’s rates, while commercial rates allow for a 9% discount, on average. Enrollment of net energy metering (NEM) customers will begin in September; compensation for excess energy will be 3 cents per kilowatt hour.
Rancho Mirage Energy Authority
Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA) began serving the City of Rancho Mirage in 2018. “Base Choice,” RMEA’s default electricity service offering, is 50% carbon-free. It is comprised of 35% renewable energy and 15% hydroelectric, with an anticipated 5% rate discount compared to rates offered by Southern California Edison. RMEA’s “Premium Renewable Choice” rate plan offers customers the option of “opting-up” to 100% renewable energy at an affordable price. The authority has a net energy metering program featuring a net surplus compensation rate of 6 cents per kilowatt hour.
Redwood Coast Energy Authority
Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) started service in Humboldt County in 2017. They offer a 40% renewable option called REpower (costing slightly less than PG&E), and a 100% renewable option called REpower+ (costing slightly more). RCEA utilizes solar power from Southern California, hydropower from the Pacific Northwest, and biomass from local timber operations. RCEA also offers a net energy metering program, a peak day pricing alternative, and is actively pursuing new sources of local electricity generation.
San Jacinto Power
San Jacinto Power (SJP) began serving the City of San Jacinto in 2018. “PrimePower,” SJP’s default power option, is available at a price discount compared to Southern California Edison’s default energy option yet is still very eco-friendly with 35% renewable energy content. SJP’s “PureGreen” option is available for customers who want to opt-up to 100% renewable energy at a competitive rate.
San Jose Clean Energy
San Jose Clean Energy is operated by the City of San Jose and began serving municipal accounts in September 2018. Service to residential and commercial accounts began in February 2019. SJCE’s “GreenSource” service is 45% renewables and 35% hydropower (80% Carbon-Free), while the “TotalGreen” service is 100% renewables.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) initiated service in 2017 in Santa Clara County. It serves the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and unincorporated areas of the county. SVCE is committed to providing renewable and carbon-free electricity at competitive rates compared to those of PG&E. Its default “GreenStart” power mix is 50% renewable and carbon free, while the “GreenPrime” option is 100% renewable and carbon free.
Solana Energy Alliance
Solana Energy Alliance (SEA) is operated by the City of Solana Beach and initiated service to residents and businesses in 2018. It is the first CCA program in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service territory. SEA offers a default energy supply, “SEA Choice,” that is 50% renewable and 75% greenhouse gas-free, at rates that provide a discount compared to SDG&E’s rates. “SEA Green” is a voluntary 100% renewable energy option that is available at a slightly higher, but very competitive rate.
Sonoma Clean Power
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) started service in 2014 and provides power to Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. SCP offers two power mix options to their customers. Their default service, CleanStart, is 49% renewable, 42% large hydropower, and 9% system power. Their premium service, EverGreen, is 100% renewable and all locally-sourced. EverGreen is made up of geothermal energy and solar energy. SCP also offers a net energy metering program and a Feed-in Tariff to help encourage the development of local renewable energy sources in its service territory.
Valley Clean Energy
Valley Clean Energy (VCE) started serving customers in 2018 and serves the cities of Davis and Woodland and the unincorporated portions of Yolo County. VCE delivers 42% renewable, 75% carbon-free energy as the standard option. VCE’s UltraGreen product provides 100% renewables. VCE benefits the community it serves by providing local control, higher levels of renewable energy, lower rates and investment in the local community.