Community Choice Energy
South San Francisco has joined Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), a new energy consortium composed of all cities in San Mateo County and county government, which enables the purchase of electricity directly from energy providers instead of going through PG&E. This new program will allow us to purchase energy from renewable sources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas and combating global warming and likely result in slightly lower monthly electric bills. Peninsula Clean Energy is governed by a local Board of Directors, which includes as a board member South San Francisco Mayor Pradeep Gupta, with City Manager Mike Futrell as the alternate board member.
Although Peninsula Clean Energy will purchase the electricity, PG&E will still deliver the electricity to homes and business using existing transmission and delivery lines. PG&E will also still handle all trouble calls, issue and collect monthly utility bills and offer the same rebate and assistance programs currently available. Under California law, all residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled in Peninsula Clean Energy. You can, however, opt to stay with PG&E as the source for your electricity if you so desire.
Background
Residents received multiple notices starting July 2016 with information about Peninsula Clean Energy, and information on how to stay with PG&E, if you so choose. The launch of the program began October 2016.
PCE did three phases of enrollment:
- The first phase included 20% of residential accounts and all small/medium businesses,
- The second phase included 35% residential and all large commercial and industrial customers, and
- The third phase included the remainder of the residential accounts (45%) and all other accounts (e.g. streetlights).
You can get more information on the Peninsula Clean Energy website. If you have specific questions about the PCE program, email: info@peninsulacleanenergy.com.
Watch the Community Choice Energy Town Hall Meeting, February 3, 2016.
How Does Community Choice Energy Work?
California law allows local communities to pool the electricity needs of business and residents, and purchase electricity directly from an energy producer. Peninsula Clean Energy, or PCE for short, is a Community Choice Energy program that will provide electricity to all of the cities in San Mateo County, as well as the unincorporated areas. Under Peninsula Clean Energy, you will be able to choose between multiple power options, each with a different amount of renewable energy content, to meet your needs and goals. Peninsula Clean Energy will offer competitive rates and clean energy from renewable sources. Peninsula Clean Energy will be only the source of electricity. All power, whether generated by Peninsula Clean Energy or PG&E, will be delivered over PG&E infrastructure, and PG&E will continue to handle all billing, maintenance, and repair of power lines, and handle any service requests calls.
