Pioneer Community Energy Information
How it Works
Under the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, the provider manages where and how local electricity is generated while the local investor-owned utility (IOU) provider (PG&E in Western Nevada County) continues to deliver the power to the community. The CCA program allows for consumer options, local economic development (profits are invested back into the local community instead of paid out to shareholders), transparency in rate setting, and cleaner energy opportunities. PG&E continues to be responsible for customer billing.
Consistency with Neighboring Communities
Pioneer currently provides energy to many of our neighboring communities, including Grass Valley, Nevada City, Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Rocklin, Loomis, Placerville, unincorporated Placer County, and unincorporated El Dorado County, with Sutter County, Tuolumne County, Butte County, Chico, Live Oak, Oroville, Paradise, Yuba City, Glenn County, Orland, and Willows, joining Pioneer in October 2027.
Once a local government decides to partner with a CCA, all customers within the jurisdiction will be automatically enrolled in the CCA; however, customers retain the option to “opt out” of the CCA program and continue to receive power from PG&E.
About Community Choice Aggregation
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a program that allows local governments in California to purchase and/or generate electricity for their residents and businesses instead of relying on investor-owned utilities like PG&E.
Visit the CalCCA website to learn more about Community Choice Aggregation.
Consumer Choice
When Pioneer service goes live in the City of Sonora and & Tuolumne County customers will be automatically enrolled with Pioneer. However, each customer will have the option to opt out of Pioneer service and stay with PG&E.
Customer Savings
On average, Pioneer provides an opportunity for customer savings.
Maintenance of CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline Benefits
All current members of these programs will see no changes to their benefits.
Additional Benefits to Solar Customers
- Pioneer currently pays ½ cent more than PG&E for excess kWh (Net Surplus Compensation)
- Pioneer solar customers pay monthly when consumption exceeds generation instead of receiving one annual electric true-up bill.
- If a NEM produces less electricity than they generate, they receive the same discount to PG&E as non-NEM customers receive.
- Unused solar generation credits rollover from month-to-month with Pioneer.
- Consumer Choice: Sonora customers will have the option to stay with PG&E.