Belvedere City Manager’s Blog

At the December 14 City Council meeting the City Council heard the final loop out presentation by the Marin Energy Authority on the option for Community Choice Aggregation (check out the audio).

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) was established by the California legislature in 2002 (AB 117) to give cities and counties the authority to procure electricity on behalf of customers within their jurisdictions.  Under a CCA program, PG&E would continue to deliver the electricity to the end use customers and PG&E would continue to read the electric meters and issue monthly bills to customers, as well as maintain the infrastructure.  However, the “source” of the electric supply (the generation portion) and the price paid by the customers for that generation would be procured by the CCA program and determined locally.  Customers within the territory of the CCA have the choice of being automatically enrolled in the program (here called Marin Clean Energy) or remaining with PG&E.

Presently, the members of the Marin Energy Authority are: the City of Belvedere, Town of Fairfax, County of Marin, City of Mill Valley, Town of Ross, Town of San Anselmo, City of San Rafael, City of Sausalito, and Town of Tiburon.  If you live in one of these cities or towns, or in the unincorporated areas of the County of Marin, you are in the CCA/MCE territory.  The purpose of the MEA is to address climate change by reducing energy related greenhouse gas emissions and securing energy supply, price stability, energy efficiencies and local economic and workforce benefits.  It is the intent of the MEA to promote the development and use of a wide range of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency programs, including but not limited to solar and wind energy production at competitive rates for customers.

On January 11, the City has the option to withdraw from the MEA prior to the adoption of the MEA’s first energy service provider power purchase agreement.  If the City withdraws from the MEA, residents of Belvedere will NOT have the opportunity to participate in the program and will remain with PG&E.  If the City remains in the MEA, residents of Belvedere will RETAIN THE OPTION to participate in the MEA or opt out and return to PG&E.

The individual property owner decision to stay in the MEA or opt out and return to PG&E is unique to each property owner and one that needs to be weighed individually.  For details on the MEA program – the basics, how it would be implemented, renewables, risk, and liability – visit the MEA website.  Also on the website is an article/video from ABC7 News on the issue.

http://marinenergyauthority.org.

To give the City Council input as they make the broader community decision for the entire community on whether to remain in the MEA or withdraw, send us a note or plan to attend the January 11 City Council meeting to give some input.