Power For the People

In this episode – Power For the People . . .

People often ask me, "You work for a solar company; don’t you have solar on your home?”

Nope!

“With an astonished look, they exclaim, “Why not?”

Here’s the short answer: "I monitor our yearly electricity consumption, which totals approximately 2,500 kWh.”

For comparison, a Walmart Supercenter could use about 10,000 kWh daily on average.

Okay, I get it. Most people might not be familiar with this terminology; they only care about how much they're billed monthly.

Welcome back to On the Fly! Today, our virtual assistant, Professor Watts, will join us to discuss a program called Community Choice Aggregation, or CCA, that helps Californians choose a cleaner energy future with better rates.

San Diego County is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant community. Now, the cities of Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista are leading the way in sustainability thanks to their participation in a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program.

This is very recent. On May 1, 2021, The Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) began offering energy services, providing residents with cleaner energy, competitive rates, local programs, and local control. In July 2022, CEA expanded into the cities of Oceanside and Vista.

What exactly is CCA?

Professor Watts: Community Choice Aggregation allows communities to join forces and buy electricity. This gives residents more control over their energy source and potentially lower rates. Traditionally, your electricity comes from a big utility company; in San Diego County, it’s San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), but with CCA, communities have more autonomy.

That's an interesting explanation, Professor Watts! But how can CCA specifically benefit Vista residents?

Professor Watts: Here’s how it works:

Clean Energy Alliance purchases electricity directly from energy suppliers for residents and local businesses. San Diego Gas & Electric manages billing, transmission, and distribution, ensuring customers receive energy at competitive prices.

"OK, but what are the financial advantages for residents?"

Patrick: Here’s a direct example from our most recent SDG&E bill. Our utility rate for electricity is about $0.41 per kWh, while our CCA rate varies between $0.05 and $0.13 per kWh, depending on time-of-day usage.

How is this possible?

Residents benefit from lower rates with the CCA provider because they buy electricity in bulk as a community. Additionally, some CCA plans offer more renewable energy, which might cost a bit more but allows residents to support clean energy sources directly.

That’s a win-win in my book! Investment-wise, owning a rooftop solar system does not provide a better electricity rate. Rooftop solar benefits its owner during peak production hours, typically 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The highest rates charged by the utility are from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. When you're not using the power generated by your solar system at home, it is sent to the grid for the utility to sell to others on demand. Since you're connected to the grid, you will be billed by the utility at a higher rate. Check your utility bill for the On-Peak rate to see the difference.

How can local residents discover more and potentially switch to a CCA provider?

Click the link to view the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) provider. The provider offers detailed information on plans, pricing, and a straightforward enrollment process.

Thanks, Professor Watts, for that breakdown! Residents of San Diego County, if you're interested in cleaner, potentially cheaper electricity, explore the options offered by the Clean Energy Alliance.

Remember, with CCA, you can choose a greener future for your city!

Power for the People!

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

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