EBCE Begins Service in New Service Areas on Third Anniversary
Jun 8, 2021
Community choice energy program also announces millions in customer savings while donating to local community COVID-19 relief efforts.
Oakland, CA – East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), the public agency that provides electricity generation service throughout most of Alameda County, today announced service has started in Newark, Pleasanton, and Tracy. EBCE also announced today that in their first three years, customers have saved more than $26 million dollars on their PG&E bills. Lastly, EBCE released details on their local COVID-19 relief efforts. EBCE was formed by Alameda County and 11 of its partner cities in 2018, and marks their third anniversary in June.
“It is remarkable to witness what EBCE has accomplished in three years. From including new communities, like Tracy where I live, within their service area to funding local COVID-19 relief efforts, EBCE’s demonstrated a deep commitment to the greater East Bay. EBCE consistently goes above and beyond their role as a public power agency,” said William Muetzenberg, a member of EBCE’s Community Advisory Committee. “As a Tracy resident, I welcome their service in my community.”
When launched in 2018, EBCE started with 11 cities in Alameda County. Today, EBCE celebrates officially beginning service in Newark, Pleasanton, and Tracy. Residents and businesses in these cities now have access to EBCE’s Bright Choice and Renewable 100 programs. Each program offers a different mix of renewable energy including wind, solar, and hydropower. Customers in these new service areas will benefit from green energy at low rates.
For the last three years, EBCE has been steadfastly committed to supporting the East Bay community. Since 2018, they have provided the following donations and relief:
In 2020, EBCE donated more than $2 million to local organizations. The Alameda County Food Bank and Meals on Wheels received a combined $175,000 to support food distribution to low-income and senior community members during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, EBCE was one of Meals on Wheels’ top three donors. EBCE also donated to various local hospitals to assist with PPE procurement and vaccine distribution efforts. A complete list of donations distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic is available here: https://ebce.org/covid-19-response/.
EBCE has provided sponsorships to more than 50 local groups, from little-league teams to robotics clubs to civic orchestras. Most recently, EBCE sponsored Sunhower Hill, a Pleasanton program supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A complete list of sponsorships is available here: https://ebce.org/community-sponsorships/.
EBCE has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to community-based organizations. Recent grant recipients include Ecology Action and Re-volv. Ecology Action designed an Electric Vehicle charging program for low to moderate income residents in EBCE’s service areas and Re-volv installed a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley. A partial list is available here: https://ebce.org/community-innovation-grants/
Since launching, EBCE has saved customers more than $26 million dollars. In 2020 alone, EBCE saved customers $10 million dollars with their Bright Choice program.This program offers residential and business customers at least 5% more renewable energy than PG&E forecasts at rates 1% below PG&E. Bright Choice provides customers with cleaner energy at a lower cost.
“EBCE prioritizes our residents and businesses in times of need. At the core of our organization is a deep sense of community partnership. We will continue to support and reinvest in our local communities.” said Nick Chaset, CEO of EBCE. “As we celebrate our third anniversary, we are also thrilled to expand into the cities of Newark, Pleasanton, and Tracy. The more local communities we serve, the more renewable energy we bring into the Bay Area with the ultimate goal of providing 100% clean energy by 2030.”
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About East Bay Community Energy (EBCE)
EBCE is a not-for-profit public agency that operates a Community Choice Energy program for Alameda County and fourteen incorporated cities, serving more than 630,000 residential and commercial customers throughout the county. EBCE initiated service in June 2018 and expanded to the cities of Pleasanton, Newark, and Tracy in April 2021. As one of 19 community choice aggregation (CCA) programs operating in California, EBCE is part of the movement to expedite the climate action goals of their communities and those of California. EBCE is committed to providing clean power at competitive rates while reinvesting in our local communities. For more information about East Bay Community Energy, visit ebce.org.
Contact
Dan Lieberman
925-579-1591