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 will transition to Renewable 100.
Fremont residents: If you do not want to transition to Renewable 100 in August, use this form to remain on Bright Choice by July 23:
96%of accounts in Fremont receive electricity from Ava
$23,346,194 saved with Bright Choice service since 2018
2025year transitioned to Renewable 100
Fast Facts data as of 12/31/2024. These numbers are estimates.
Fremont’s Energy Transition
2016:
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 service is sourced from 100% renewable facilities, 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 about $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 a change from “Bright Choice” to “Renewable 100.” 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), you will not be automatically transitioned to Renewable 100 service, but you can choose Renewable 100 service at any time.
If you are a business customer, your transition to Renewable 100 will be in 2026.
Representation on the Ava Board of Directors
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:
Councilmember Teresa Keng (primary)
Vice Mayor 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 switch to Renewable 100. What are my options?
If you do not want to transition to Renewable 100, you can choose to remain on Bright Choice or you can opt out of Ava service and choose PG&E. Both of these choices require you to take action by filling out our online form to Remain On Bright Choice, calling Ava customer support at 833-699-3223, or emailing customer-support@AvaEnergy.org. Submit your request to remain on Bright Choice by July 23 to avoid receiving any bills on Renewable 100 service.
What happens if I miss the July 23 deadline for requesting to remain on Bright Choice?
You can still change your plan at any time by filling out our online Change My Plan form, 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 will begin for residents in August 2025 and businesses in 2026. However, you still have the same choices you have always had: you can choose to remain on Bright Choice (the current default plan, priced at a discount to PG&E’s standard rates), transition to Renewable 100, 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 already on Renewable 100. Will this change impact me?
No, this transition will not affect your account.
I’m on CARE or FERA. Will this change impact me?
No. CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline customers will not be affected by the automatic Renewable 100 transition. You will remain on Bright Choice unless you choose a different plan. To enroll in Ava’s Renewable 100 service, please go to Change My Plan.
I have solar. Will this change impact me?
Yes. While the structure of your solar billing will remain the same, the electricity you buy from the grid (when your solar panels are not producing enough electricity to power your home) will change from Bright Choice to Renewable 100. Customers on NEM will also generate credits at the Renewable 100 rate.
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)
