The City of Fremont is a founding member of Ava Community Energy and has been receiving Ava electricity generation service since 2018. In August 2025, the default service plan for Fremont residential accounts is transitioning to Renewable 100.
Fremont residents: Your service plan has changed from Bright Choice to Renewable 100.
To switch back to Bright Choice or opt out to PG&E after your next billing cycle, please call our customer support team at 833-699-3223 during business hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays).
Fremont joins 10 other cities and Alameda County to launch Ava (formerly East Bay Community Energy)
2018:
Fremont begins receiving electricity service from Ava at a discount to PG&E rates
2022:
Municipal accounts in Fremont opt up to Renewable 100, powering city facilities, streetlights, parks, and public EV chargers with 100% renewable electricity
2024:
Fremont City Council votes unanimously to make Renewable 100 the default service plan for the entire community
2025:
Residential customers transition to Renewable 100
2026:
Business customers transition to Renewable 100
Renewable 100
100% renewable energy priced at 1/4 cent per kWh above PG&E rates.
Bright Choice
Our basic plan: 61.8% eligible renewable energy (2023) priced at 5% below PG&E rates.
PG&E
For comparison, PG&E’s basic plan: 23% eligible renewable energy (2023).
Renewable 100 service is sourced from clean sources like wind and solar, including the Scott Haggerty Wind Energy Center in Livermore, and is priced at 1/4 of a penny more per kWh than PG&E rates. For the average Fremont household, switching from Bright Choice to Renewable 100 costs $3–$6 extra per month.
By joining Fremont’s transition to clean energy, you’re helping our community reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting Ava’s mission to provide 100% carbon-free electricity for all customers by 2030.
Just as you have since 2018, you will continue to get one monthly bill from PG&E that has PG&E gas charges, PG&E transmission and delivery charges, and Ava’s electricity generation charges. On the bill page titled “Details of Ava Community Energy,” under rate schedule, you will see your Ava service plan listed as “Renewable 100” or “Bright Choice.” For more information, visit Understanding Your PG&E Bill and read about how we work.
Special Rates and Non-Residential Info
If you are on a special rate (such as CARE, FERA, or Medical Baseline), your default plan is Bright Choice, but you can choose Renewable 100 service or PG&E at any time.
If you are a business customer, your transition to Renewable 100 will be in August 2026. You will receive additional information before then.
Rate Discounts, Bill Assistance, and Energy Programs
An elected official from each of the participating jurisdictions and one representative (non-voting) from the Community Advisory Committee make up the Ava Board of Directors. Fremont’s current appointments to Ava’s Board are:
Vice Mayor Teresa Keng (primary)
Councilmember Desrie Campbell (alternate)
Our Board meets once a month and all meetings are open to the public. Visit the Public Meetings page for more information about the Board’s meetings.
I don’t want to be on Renewable 100. What are my options?
If you do not want Renewable 100 service, you can choose Bright Choice (a discounted rate) or you can opt out of Ava service and choose PG&E. Both of these choices require you to take action by filling out the online form to Change Your Plan, calling Ava customer support at 833-699-3223, or emailing customer-support@AvaEnergy.org. Changes will take effect in one to two billing cycles.
What happens if I missed the July 23 deadline for choosing to remain on Bright Choice?
You can still change your plan by filling out the online form to Change Your Plan, calling Ava customer support at 833-699-3223, or emailing customer-support@AvaEnergy.org. Changes to your plan will take effect in one to two billing cycles.
Who made the decision to change my service plan?
The Fremont City Council voted unanimously in June 2024 to change the default service plan for the entire community to Renewable 100 to facilitate Fremont’s Climate Action Plan. This transition began for residents in August 2025 and will begin for businesses in 2026. However, you still have the same choices you have always had: you can choose Bright Choice (priced at a discount to PG&E’s standard rates), choose Renewable 100 (priced at 1/4 of a penny more per kWh than PG&E rates), or opt out of Ava and choose PG&E.
How much does Renewable 100 cost?
Renewable 100 is priced at ¼ of a penny more than PG&E standard rates. For an average residential customer in Fremont, switching from Bright Choice to Renewable 100 will increase your monthly bill by about $3-$6.
My bill has increased. Why is that?
There are several reasons why your bill may have increased, but higher bills in the summer are often caused by increased air conditioner usage and seasonal rates, which begin on June 1 and remain in effect through October 31. Switching to Renewable 100 service from Bright Choice will also slightly increase your monthly bill, typically about $3-$6 per month for the average residential customer.
We recommend checking out your rate options at pge.com/myrate to ensure you are on the best rate for your household. PG&E reads the meter, so if you’re concerned that your usage is not as high as indicated on your bill, please reach out to PG&E for a meter check.
I’m on CARE or FERA. What plan am I on?
CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline customers are automatically placed on Bright Choice service, which is 5% lower than PG&E rates (in addition to your existing discounts). You can choose a different plan at any time using the online Change My Plan form.
I have solar. How will the different Ava plans change my bill?
The structure of your solar billing will remain the same on either Bright Choice or Renewable 100, but the price of the electricity you buy from the grid (when your solar panels are not producing enough electricity to power your home) will change depending on your service.
My business is in Fremont. Will this change impact my business’s electricity rates?
Commercial accounts in Fremont will transition to Renewable 100 in 2026. We will send information to businesses before that change next year.
Why is Ava Community Energy on my PG&E bill?
There are two components to electricity service: generation and delivery. Before Ava existed, you paid PG&E for both. Now, Ava provides your generation service, and PG&E continues to provide delivery service. These two services appear as separate line items on your PG&E bill, and PG&E is solely responsible for the delivery rates. Ava’s generation rates are not additional charges; they replace what PG&E would have otherwise charged for providing this service. Since PG&E owns the poles, wires, and meters that deliver electricity to your home or business, it handles the billing for both services.
Ava was founded by Alameda County and its cities to provide cleaner energy, local choice, and competitive rates to their communities. Under California law, when cities join a community choice aggregator like Ava, we become the default electricity provider. This means residents and businesses are automatically enrolled in our service, though you can opt out at any time.
What is Ava Community Energy’s relationship to Fremont?
The City of Fremont is a founding member of Ava Community Energy and has been receiving Ava electricity generation service since 2018. Fremont helped launch Ava to provide cleaner energy, local choice, and competitive rates to its residents and businesses. As a public agency, Ava’s Board of Directors includes a locally elected official from each jurisdiction it serves. A member of Fremont’s City Council represents Fremont on Ava’s Board.
Questions?
You can reach an Ava representative at 833-699-3223 during business hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays)
