For the past several years, Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs have proliferated across California. Since the launch of Marin Clean Energy (now known as MCE) in 2010, new CCAs have formed in communities across the service territories of California’s three largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs): Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). According to Cal-CCA, the trade association representing CCAs in California, there are currently 19 CCAs serving millions of customers in the state, with many additional communities considering joining a CCA or forming their own.
CCA programs are expected to become the dominant energy provider model in California. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Staff estimate that as much as 85% of bundled retail load will be unbundled, with generation provided by CCAs, Electric Supply Providers (Direct Access), or distributed generation rather than the incumbent utility by the mid-2020s. PG&E directly attributes 42% of bundled load loss to the growth of a dozen CCAs in its territory.
Here are the top ten things to know about CCAs in California:
- CCAs give communities, businesses and families a choice in energy.
- CCAs are required to contribute to a safe and reliable power grid.
- CCAs are governed by locally elected public officials.
- CCAs focus on local development and, when possible, use local union labor.
- CCAs have signed long-term renewable energy contracts totaling 2 gigawatts and are now the largest driver of clean energy growth in California.
- Many CCAs are lowering customer electric bills.
- CCAs have low “opt out” rates.
- CCA customers pay non-bypassable charges.
- CCAs share best practices.
- CCAs are bankable.
Community Choice Aggregation in California - An Opportunity for the Geothermal Industry [July/August 2016 Bulletin] by Paul Brophy, Past-President, Geothermal Resources Council, and Community Advisory Committee, Sonoma Clean Power.