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San Jose’s Clean Energy Program

What is the San Jose Clean Energy Program (Why Should You Care?)

If you live in San Jose, you probably have already received a couple postcards from the San Jose Clean Energy program indicating that you will be switched to a new energy supplier.  This is part of San Jose’s goal to become more environmentally friendly, but it may have caused some confusion to you and your family. We are here to help explain how this program works, what are your options and how going solar is still the best option.

In a push toward 100 percent renewable energy over the next decade, San Jose plans to switch its residents to a city-owned electricity provider by March 2019. Residents have already received postcards announcing the switch to San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE) with an option to opt out back to regular PG&E service. Effective February 2019, SJCE will become the city’s official electricity provider.

Here is what you need to know:

  • First, if you already have solar you will remain on your same rate and nothing will change. The SJCE program will announce solar rates later in the year to be effective in 2020. For now, there is nothing you need to do if you have solar, except continue to save money by generating your own electricity.
  • The SJCE program is known as a community choice aggregation program. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a program that allows cities and counties to buy and/or generate electricity for residents and businesses within their areas. PG&E continues to deliver the electricity through its transmission and distribution system and provides meter-reading, billing, maintenance and outage response services.
  • There are two choices under the SJCE program, Green Source which is 45% renewable energy and at least 80% carbon free and Total Green is 100% renewable and carbon free.
  • The Green Source program is pegged to be 1% less cost than what PG&E charges. The Total Green will cost a little more than what PG&E currently charges.  The examples used by SJCE is an average homeowner spending $109.97 per month will spend $109.49 ($0.48/mo savings) on the Green Source program and $113.94 ($3.97/mo additional cost).
  • While the SJCE program is pegged to be 1% cheaper than the current PG&E rate that you are currently on, going solar can still save you a lot of money versus even clean grid power.

Contact Golden Bear Solar to learn how going solar can provide savings to your family while helping your city achieve its renewable energy goals for the future.