Central Coast Community Energy overhauls rates, looks to ramp up local energy programs
New Times SLO
Since Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) first launched in 2018, it’s made two promises to its ratepayers from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara counties: that it will provide carbon-free electricity, and it will provide that electricity at a discounted rate.
While the regional public power provider says it still intends to keep both of those promises, 3CE is about to officially untether its rates from PG&E’s.
On June 16, the 3CE policy board approved a new three-year rate structure that’s based on its own costs, not its competitor’s prices.
“Discounts themselves—that goes away entirely,” 3CE Chief Operating Officer Rob Shaw told the policy board. “We need to be able to demonstrate our customer value separate from just where our relationship to PG&E rates are, because we have our own costs of providing service. We still need to remain competitive, and our cost-of-service proposal allows us to do so.”
Along with 3CE’s rate overhaul, the policy board also talked about 3CE’s local energy programs—which include incentives and rebates for electric car (EV) purchases, EV charging port installations, and building upgrades—and how they can get more investment and participation.
