Our Story: How Ava Became the Community Choice Energy Provider for Alameda and San Joaquin Counties
Ava Community Energy (Ava) was founded so our local communities could have a choice over where their electricity comes from and where their money goes. We provide our customers with renewable energy options at competitive rates.
As one of 25 community choice aggregators (CCAs) operating in California, Ava is part of the movement to provide energy choice while expediting local and state-wide climate action goals.
Our History
A state assembly bill paved the way for CCAs to operate in 2002, and the movement has grown ever since. The County of Alameda and 11 of its cities created Ava (named East Bay Community Energy at the time) as a not-for-profit public agency in 2016. On June 1, 2018, Ava launched electricity generation service.
Over time, more communities have voted to join Ava’s Joint Powers Authority. Today, Ava serves more than 2 million people across 16 cities (Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Lathrop, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Stockton, Tracy, and Union City) and the unincorporated areas of Alameda County and San Joaquin County.
In 2023, we changed our name to Ava Community Energy, a name that unites “Alameda” with “the Valley” and reflects our growing service area.
What is a CCA?
A CCA is a local public agency that serves as the default electricity generation provider for its service area. There are currently 25 CCAs operating in California, together serving more than 15 million customers across more than 200 cities, towns, and counties.
Timeline of Service
Click on the dates to learn more about Ava service through the years.
2015
Alameda County commissions a feasibility study to explore community choice aggregation
2015
Alameda County commissions a feasibility study to explore community choice aggregation
2016
East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) forms as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA)
2017
EBCE’s founding staff, Board of Directors, and Community Advisory Committee are formed; The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approves EBCE’s first implementation plan
2018
Service begins in 11 cities and in unincorporated Alameda County
2019
Cities of Tracy, Pleasanton, and Newark join JPA
2020
EBCE invests $2.2 million in local COVID-19 relief efforts
2021
Service begins in Tracy, Pleasanton, and Newark
2022
City of Stockton joins JPA
2023
City of Lathrop joins JPA; EBCE rebrands as Ava Community Energy
2024
Unincorporated San Joaquin County joins JPA
2025
Service begins in Stockton and Lathrop
2026
Service begins in unincorporated San Joaquin County
Our mission is to drive increasing access to clean energy, serving the needs of our customers and the well-being of our community.
Our Impact
Over $183 million
in electricity bill savings
Over 2,450 MW
in new wind, solar, geothermal, and battery storage
Over $114.8 million
invested in our community through programs, grants, sponsorships, and more
Benefits of Being an Ava Customer
Competitive Rates
Ava sets our rates so that they’re easy to compare with PG&E. We always offer a lower cost option (Bright Choice) and a 100% renewable energy option (Renewable 100) so that customers can choose the one that best fits their budget and priorities.
More Renewable Energy
Ava contracts with energy developers to add more renewable energy to the grid. To date, we’ve contracted for more than 2,450 MW of new wind, solar, geothermal, and battery storage. We’re constantly expanding our portfolio to meet the goal of 100% carbon-free electricity for all customers by 2030.
Local Investment, No Shareholders
Instead of giving revenue to shareholders, Ava invests in the communities we serve. When we have excess revenue, we use it to reduce rates, develop programs, and support local organizations.
Customer Programs
We reinvest a portion of our revenue into customer programs that promote electrification, support energy resilience, reduce barriers to clean energy adoption, and help our customers save money.
Transparency and Control
Ava’s processes, budgets, and decisions are completely transparent. All of our Board meetings are open to the public, and our Board of Directors includes a representative from every community we serve. Contact your local Board representative or submit a public comment to make your voice heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA)?
In 2002, Assembly Bill 117 was enacted into law to establish Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) opportunities in California, sometimes also referred to as Community Choice Energy (CCE). It allows a city or county (or groups of cities or counties) to become the default electricity supplier in its jurisdiction(s). By doing so, it offers an opportunity for Californians to locally influence the sources of their electricity. For more information visit our trade association website.
How does Ava save me money?
If you are on Ava’s Bright Choice service, you are paying 0.5% less every month on your PG&E bill than you would have otherwise paid for electric service with PG&E. Your PG&E bill now includes charges from Ava Community Energy and a monthly Generation Credit from PG&E (because you are no longer buying electricity from their power plants). The Generation Credit more than offsets Ava charges and PG&E fees. You had been previously paying PG&E for electricity generation, as well as for transmission and distribution. Now, your bill shows that you’re receiving electricity from Ava and transmission and distribution from PG&E.
Learn more about how to understand your bill. Note that customers on Renewable 100 service pay a little bit more (1¾ cent per kilowatt hour more) for 100 percent renewable energy.
Which cities does Ava serve?
Ava serves most of Alameda County and San Joaquin County. That includes the following cities: Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Lathrop, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Stockton, Tracy, and Union City. We also serve the unincorporated areas of both counties.
Incorporated cities in San Joaquin County not listed above (Escalon, Manteca, Mountain House, and Ripon) have not voted to join Ava. The cities of Alameda and Lodi are not eligible for Ava service, as they have their own municipal electric utilities. Customers in San Joaquin County who already get their electricity from an irrigation district, such as Lathrop Irrigation District, are also not eligible.