San Joaquin County

Your elected representatives voted for Ava to be your electricity generation service provider. The law that governs agencies like Ava requires that all customers within the participating jurisdiction be automatically enrolled in the service.

Even though enrollment is automatic, you always have the choice to opt out. Those who prefer to have PG&E generate their electricity can easily choose to do so at any time.

Electricity service has 2 parts: generation and delivery. PG&E handles delivery, but you choose your generation. Your options are:

• Ava Bright Choice (San Joaquin County’s default): 0.5% cheaper than PG&E
• Ava Renewable 100: 100% clean energy at 1¾ cents more per kWh than PG&E
• PG&E service: the only option before Ava existed

No. Ava electric generation charges replace PG&E electric generation charges. With Ava, you’re paying 0.5% less for generation service.

PG&E continues to deliver the electricity, maintain the power lines, handle billing, and respond to outages and emergencies.

Ava’s Bright Choice plan has been priced lower than PG&E ever since we launched service in 2018. All new customers in San Joaquin County will be enrolled in this lower-cost plan.

After becoming an Ava customer, look on page 4 of your PG&E bill for “Bright Choice.” The negative number shows your monthly savings—it’s 0.5% lower than what PG&E would have charged.

If you choose to switch to our 100% renewable plan, you’ll see “Renewable 100” with a small charge (1¾ cents more per kWh than PG&E).

Yes! All your existing discount programs continue exactly as before. Plus, Ava’s Bright Choice service gives you a small discount on top.

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in 2024 to join Ava, following an extensive public process and feasibility analysis. This was a local decision made by your elected representatives to provide your community with a more affordable option for electricity supply.

You can choose to opt out of Ava at any time, and we’ll process your request within 1-2 billing cycles.

If you’ve been with Ava for more than 60 days, PG&E’s policy gives you 2 options: 

• Option 1: Return to PG&E at the end of the current billing cycle. PG&E charges transitional rates for 6 months, then standard rates. Transitional rates vary with market prices, so they may be higher or lower than standard rates.
• Option 2: Give 6 months’ advance notice to return directly to PG&E standard rates.

No, there is no fee for opting out of Ava service.

As a not-for-profit public agency, Ava has these advantages:

• No shareholders
• Lower taxes and less overhead than large corporations
• Cheaper financing through municipal bonds

We buy clean electricity directly and reinvest savings in the community, not shareholder dividends.

Ava is a not-for-profit agency focused on providing more renewable energy options at lower rates, and returning value to the communities we serve. The benefits include:

• Competitive rates: Bright Choice is 0.5% lower than PG&E rates, so you’re saving a little bit on every energy bill.
• More programs: You have access to both Ava and PG&E programs that help you save money and increase your energy efficiency.
• Community investment: Ava reinvests in our communities through programs, grants, and sponsorships.
• Local control: We’re governed by local representatives who don’t profit from our operations. You can join our Board meetings and submit public comment to make your voice heard.

When you are enrolled in Ava service as a solar customer, you sell your surplus solar generation to Ava instead of PG&E, and you buy electricity from Ava instead of PG&E when you consume more electricity than your panels produce. You can find more information about solar with Ava, including webinar recordings, or call our customer support team for specific questions about your account.

*NEM or SBP customers whose true-up date with PG&E is January-June will be enrolled in Ava service in June 2026. Other NEM or SBP accounts will be enrolled during, or the month following, their true-up month.

Our Board is made up of City Councilmembers, County Supervisors, and Mayors from each of the jurisdictions we serve. As a not-for-profit public agency, we do not have shareholders and there are no profit motives.

The only compensation Board Members receive is $130 to attend Board meetings, which are open to the public. This is typical when representatives are appointed to serve on governing boards.

Ava’s Bright Choice rates are 0.5% lower than PG&E’s. If your bill has increased suddenly, it may be:

• Seasonal electricity usage (electricity costs more in the summer for all PG&E and Ava customers)
• Rate adjustments that affect all PG&E customers equally
• Different true-up timing for solar customers
• Gas charges from PG&E (Ava only provides electricity) 

Ava customer support can always walk you through your bill and situation, and compare it to what you would have paid PG&E.

No! Ava does not go door-to-door to customers’ homes, nor does Ava have any relationship with gas service providers. If someone comes to your door representing themselves as being with Ava, please ask for their name and report them to Ava and/or local authorities.