Ava and PG&E’s Annual Rate Comparison Mailer
If you received an email or postcard that looks like this, it’s because you live in Ava Community Energy’s service area. That means you have options for electricity generation service that not all PG&E customers have.
Every eligible customer in Alameda and San Joaquin Counties can choose from three electricity generation options. This communication is sent annually to help you compare them side by side. Here’s how to interpret the rate comparisons and choose the right service plan for your household or business.
What’s on the Rate Comparison Mailer
The mailer contains two tables: a rate comparison table and a power mix table.
Components of the Rate Comparison Table:
The Rate Comparison table estimates average monthly electricity charges for the most common rate schedule for your customer class (market-rate residential, income-qualified residential, small commercial, or large commercial). The rates in that table are blended estimates based on averaged usage across Ava’s service area for 12 months (February 2025 to March 2026). So while they’re a useful reference point, they may not be a precise reflection of your bill.
Generation Rate
Generation Rate is the cost of creating and sourcing electricity to power your home or business. The generation rate varies based on your energy provider (Ava or PG&E) and the mix of electricity sources they use. These electricity sources are listed in the second table on the mailer.
Residents and businesses in Ava’s service area have three options:
- Ava Bright Choice: over 60% renewable energy priced 0.5% below PG&E rates
- Ava Renewable 100: 100% renewable energy priced 1¾ cents per kilowatt-hour above PG&E rates
- PG&E: a mix of energy sources at PG&E’s standard bundled rate
PG&E Delivery Rate
PG&E Delivery Rate is a charge assessed by PG&E to deliver electricity to your home or business. The PG&E delivery rate depends on your electricity usage, but is the exact same price for both Ava and PG&E customers.
As of March 2026, certain transmission and distribution infrastructure costs were separated out from the “per kWh” rate to create the Base Services Charge for residential customers. This is a fixed rate of about $24 per month for most residents, or $6 for CARE customers and $12 for FERA customers. This fee isn’t called out separately in the rate comparison table, but is included in the “Average Monthly Bill” calculation. Residents will see it as a line item on their bills in the PG&E Delivery section every month.
PG&E PCIA/FF
This line represents two charges PG&E assesses to customers regardless of their electricity provider: the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) and the Franchise Fee surcharge (FF).
The PCIA is a fee all PG&E customers pay in some form. It covers the difference between what PG&E originally contracted to pay for power on your behalf and what that power is worth on the market today. The PCIA varies depending on your vintage year. If you’re an Ava customer, your vintage year is the year your community joined Ava. If you’re a PG&E generation customer, your vintage year is the most recent year.
The Franchise Fee surcharge is collected by PG&E and then paid to your municipality, for the purpose of supporting local services.
Ava factors the PCIA and Franchise Fee surcharge into our rates, so that your Bright Choice discount or Renewable 100 premium remain consistent, regardless of how high these fees are.
For the most up-to-date rate comparison, you can check AvaEnergy.org/rates or pge.com/cca. The rate comparison documents on these pages are updated within 60 days of a PG&E or Ava rate change.
Power Mix Table:
Here is where you can see an estimated breakdown of where the electricity comes from for each plan.
These numbers have been submitted to the California Energy Commission for verification. Later this year, you’ll receive another mailer with an exact breakdown of Ava and PG&E’s electricity sources for 2025 (called the Power Content Label).
How to Change Your Plan
You can make changes at any time by calling our customer support team or using our online Change My Plan form. Service plan changes take effect within the next 1-2 billing cycles.
If you’re currently receiving generation from PG&E and want to return to Ava:
- If you opted out before starting Ava service or within your first 60 days of Ava service, you may return to Ava at any time.
- If you opted out after your first 60 days of Ava service, PG&E requires you to wait one year before rejoining Ava.
If you are choosing to opt out of Ava and return to PG&E, you have two options:
- Return at the end of your current billing cycle. PG&E will charge a transitional rate for six months, then standard PG&E rates.
- Give six months’ advance notice to return to PG&E service. You’ll be billed on Ava rates and Ava service for six months, and then return to PG&E at standard PG&E rates after that period.
Read More
We know that electricity rates are confusing, and there are a lot of different line items and components to wade through. Ava prices our offerings to be as transparent and clear as possible: Bright Choice customers pay less than they would with PG&E, and Renewable 100 customers get 100% renewable energy. Learn more at the links below.
